The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership to make palm oil sustainable. Today, the RSPO is a global, non-profit organisation with over 6,000 voluntary members across 104 countries and territories, representing every link in the supply chain: oil palm producers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social or developmental NGOs.
At RSPO, we believe that our success is built by the passion, dedication, skills, and expertise of our people. They are the ones who drive our organisation to new heights and guide us through the next phase of our development.
The Manager, Assurance (Africa) will be responsible for ensuring the credibility of RSPO Assurance system which include Certification, Integrity, and Risk management are effectively implemented in the Region.
The location of this role is West or Central Africa.
KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties include but will not be limited to the following:
Certification and Integrity:
- Ensure the delivery of credible RSPO certification and verification in Africa by, among other things,
- Developing and implementing measures that will enhance the performance of certification bodies in the Region; this includes continually assessing training needs of auditors, and developing and delivering the appropriate training modules (in collaboration with the relevant departments in the Secretariat).
- Continually assessing gaps in the implementation of the RSPO Systems, Standards, and Procedures (NPP, RaCP, etc.), and providing technical support to close the gaps.
- Translating / proofreading French versions (if required) of relevant documents to ensure technical accuracy and clarity.
- Provide input into the development of the RSPO Certification Standards, Systems, Procedures (NPP, RaCP, etc.), and related documents, based on the Regional dynamics and realities.
- Support the work of the Assurance Standing Committee (ASC), related Working Groups (WGs) and Task Forces (TFs) by facilitating the participation of African stakeholders, and by providing Region-specific contents/contexts/perspectives.
- Collaborate with other divisions/units within the RSPO Secretariat in ensuring adequate communication and socialisation of newly developed and/or revised documents related to RSPO certification to all relevant stakeholders in the Region.
Risk Management:
- Proactively identify social and environmental risks associated with the operations of RSPO members in the Region and provide feedback/input to the Risk Unit team for further evaluation.
- Proactively identify reputational risks associated with the implementation of the RSPO scheme in the Region and provide feedback/input to the Risk Unit team for further evaluation.
- Liaise with the Risk Unit to assess, manage, and monitor the identified risks.
Apart from the duties stated above, to perform any duty or duties reasonably
THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT
Education
- A university degree in Agriculture/Environmental Management/Forestry/Social Sciences or other field relevant to sustainability in the agroforestry sector.
Experience
- A minimum of five (5) years of working experience in a mid- management role specifically in the areas of sustainability, and/or certification.
- Experience in auditing the RSPO standards and/or implementing the RSPO Certification Systems is an added advantage.
Technical and Professional Knowledge
- Familiarity with sustainability certification in palm oil / forestry or any other commodities, or comparable environmental and social certification scheme.
- Broad knowledge of the palm oil sector in Africa.
- Technical proficiency in English and French, with good communication skills, and ability to effectively engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Ability to work independently with minor supervision, and willingness to take responsibility.
- Excellent teamwork skills.
- Ability to establish cooperation and rapport with internal and external parties of different backgrounds and/or nationalities.
- High integrity and a good team player.
- Goal oriented and organised.
- Self-motivated and self-directed.
HOW TO APPLY
Qualified applicants are invited to send in their updated CV giving comprehensive details of educational background, work experience, and related achievements to [email protected]. Please state “Job Application – Manager, Assurance (Africa)” in your email subject line.
**RSPO is an equal opportunity employer. Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
