JOB OPENING

Position title: Verification Officer
Duty location: Bonn, Germany
Reports to: Verification Manager
Terms of employment: 1st January 2015 (or earliest availability) until 31st December 2015 (limited one-year contract)

The 4C Association is recruiting for a qualified candidate to support the Verification team of the 4C Secretariat.

Background
The 4C Association aims to unite all relevant coffee stakeholders in working towards the improvement of the economic, social & environmental conditions of coffee production and processing to build a thriving, sustainable sector for generations to come.
The 4C Association is the leading multi-stakeholder sustainable coffee platform and provides a recognized entry-level standard as a first step in continuous improvement towards sustainability; promotes and partners with other standards and initiatives in the market and addresses the broader coffee sustainability agenda.
The entry-level standard and verification system is one of the core functions provided by the 4C Association to its members.

1. Role
The Verification Officer is part of the verification team and responsible for different tasks and activities related to the verification process and compliance of 4C Units against the 4C Code of Conduct. In this role, the Verification Officer contributes to the credibility of the 4C Association and actively participates in providing core services to members of the 4C Association.

2. Main functions and responsibilities
- Follows up with 4C Units with regard to their improvement plan, annual update (send reminders, keep tracks of their compliance) and re-verification
- Follows up with verifiers with regard to their approval and maintenance status (send reminders for annual update, etc.)
- Keeps log of all encounters with 4C Units (CRM update regarding verification)
- Continuously monitors the verification status of all 4C Units
- Prepares verification update on monthly basis
- Supports the filing of documents (virtual/physical)
- Provides support for mailings and other communication activities
- Supports members getting familiarized with the system
- Revises/ improves verification tools
- Supports in preparing and conducting information webinar for 4C Members/ Unit (on demand)
- Reviews 4C Units' annual update and improvement plans and give feedback to steer their improvement process to the right direction
- Creates/ provides input to documents, reports, training materials and presentations on 4C verification
- Supports in coordinating and implementing verifier workshops
- Other projects and activities related to the verification system as deemed necessary

3. Profile & qualifications
- University degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject (Economics, Agriculture, Food Science, Agronomy, Social Science, etc.)
- At least three years of working experience in the certification/ verification/ auditing business, preferably with social/environmental standards (e.g. Organic, UTZ Certified, Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade International, Forest Stewardship Council, GlobalGAP, SA8000 etc.)
- Work experience as an auditor/ accreditation in relevant standards as mentioned above
- Ability to work well in an international team as well as independently
- Pro-active working style and passion for details
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; fluency in Vietnamese, and/or Bahasa and/or Mandarin is an asset
- Customer-oriented and results-oriented approach
- Adequate computer skills (Microsoft Office, internet and ERP system)
- Passion for coffee!

4. Terms and Conditions

Contract: Initially, we offer a limited one-year contract until 31st December 2015 with a competitive salary and a pleasant and dynamic working environment with a highly dedicated team.
Working hours: Full Time - 40 hours per week
Starting date: As soon as possible, latest 1st February 2015
Location: The position is based in Bonn, Germany

For more information about 4C Association please visit: www.4c-coffeeassociation.org.