Standard & Assurance Officer (LOCAL HIRE!)

The Sustainable Rice Platform e.V. (SRP) is a global multi‐stakeholder alliance comprising over 100 institutional members from the public, private, research, civil society, and the financial sector. SRP is registered as a not-for-profit member association working to transform the global rice sector by improving smallholder livelihoods, reducing the social, environmental and climate footprint of rice production, and by offering the global rice market an assured supply of sustainably produced rice.

SRP works together with its members and partners to transform the global rice sector. SRP promotes resource-use efficiency and climate change resilience in rice systems (both on-farm and throughout value chains) and pursues voluntary market transformation initiatives by developing sustainable production standards, indicators, incentive mechanisms, and outreach mechanisms to boost wide-scale adoption of climate-smart, sustainable best practices among small farmers. See www.sustainablerice.org.

Roles and responsibilities

• Management of SRP normative documents
  • Support the SRP Technical Committee to implement an ISEAL-compliant governance system and processes to manage all SRP normative documents.
  • Coordinate the planning and implementation processes for periodic revision of SRP normative tools, including scheduling, formation and facilitation of working groups, public consultations, documentation of all changes and decisions and communication with stakeholders.
  • Reply to information requests from stakeholders on SRP normative documents.
  • Manage disputes and complaints related to SRP normative documents, following specified policy and procedure.
  • Coordinate the drafting of position statements on technical issues for consistent application of the SRP normative documents.
  • Ensure continuing alignment of draft National Interpretation Guidelines with the SRP Standard in order to maintain equivalence.
  • Serve as resources to SRP’s approved Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) in carrying out agreed activities to strengthen the SRP Assurance Program
  • Conducting the oversight program to monitor performance of Assurance Program, including compliance of CABs’.
  • Maintaining SRP Assurance Platform, to analyze and report technical data of assurance program.
  • Analyze and report technical data and coordinate feedback on external benchmarking assessment exercises.
  • Ensure full regulatory and ISEAL compliance as well as compliance with SRP’s own policies and standards.
  • Deliver timely reports including documentation to track progress against deliverables.
  • Identify training requirements to meet quality standards.
  • Maintain documentation of any internal technical audits and quality assurance activities, including Integrity Audits, and develop and monitor agreed corrective measures.
  • Receive and Process draft labels to ensure compliance with SRP policies, liaising closely with the Communication manager.
• Upgrading SRP normative documents to meet ISEAL Codes
  • Lead SRP’s active participation as an ISEAL Community Member, including preparation and submission of annual improvement plans and reports.
  • Support all activities relating to SRP’s application to become an ISEAL Community Member.
• Supplementary tools
  • Coordinate development of supplementary tools (e.g., FAQ, member support portal, farmer support tools, value chain assessment tools, apps) to promote wide-scale adoption of the SRP Standard among value chain actors, governments, and the international development community.

Required qualifications, competences, and experience.

• Bachelor/Master Degree in agricultural/crop-based discipline (forestry is also acceptable).
• A background in sustainability, social and environmental concerns would also be an advantage.
• A background in farm cultivation practices and an understanding of the technology and technical aspects of rice cultivation are preferable.
• At least 5 years of professional working experience in certification system, experience in auditing, reviewing, interpreting, and communicating results, preferably on a sustainability theme relevant to the organization.
• Proven understanding and experience in use of Microsoft program and tools.

• Strong analytical skills.
• Problem-solving skills – to be able to identify and resolve any assurance issues as they arise.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to seek all relevant information, liaise with stakeholders and analyse issues from different perspectives.
• Written and verbal English proficiency.
• Capable of working under pressure, both in a multitasking position and in a multicultural environment.
• Good leadership – to be able to effectively manage and communicate with staff at all levels of the organisation; mentoring competencies and experience are an advantage.
• Strong organisation skills – to manage and keep track of multiple assurance activities simultaneously.
• Time management skills – to ensure deadlines are met.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with the ability to express own views in a constructive and diplomatic way.
• Ability and willingness to travel at least 20% of the time nationally and internationally.
• Familiarity with the codes and processes of ISEAL is an asset.

Reporting and working arrangements:

This fulltime position will report to the Standard & Assurance Manager and Managing Director, together with other staff members, are based at the SRP’s global Secretariat, located in the Sathorn area, Bangkok.

Please submit your application including cover letter and CV to info@sustainablerice.org. The deadline for submission is 30 April 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.