USA Country Manager (Consultant) - US, Home based

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Job Description

 

The consultant assigned the role of BCI Country Manager is responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of the BCI USA Country Plan that will lead to a strong recognition of Better Cotton amongst national stakeholders and a significant scale-up in the volume of Better Cotton produced, and pulled through the supply chain. This will involve implementing a Pilot Project in the first year with farmers and producer groups, and increasing the number of farmers BCI works with via the development of innovative partnerships. The Country Manager will work closely with the head office Partnership Team in the coordination and delivery of a Country Plan that supports the BCI 2013-2015 Strategic Plan.

 

Responsibilities

 

Strategic Accountability

1. Lead on the development and implementation of the USA Country Plan, in collaboration with other BCI Managers and the BCI leadership team, to enable delivery of BCI’s global strategy and goals.
2. Establish and deliver, in cooperation with the Partnership Director and key strategic partners, a national embedding strategy that ensures national ownership of Better Cotton and the financial viability of BCI in the USA.
3. Develop, oversee and strengthen a network of Implementing Partners within the USA, with support from the Partnership Team, and ensure partners meet their obligations and are recognised for their success.
4. Oversee and manage delivery of core programme activities, in close cooperation with the Partnership Team, to ensure all parties have the capacity and capabilities to deliver on programme objectives.
5. Ensure appropriate escalation to the Partnership Director, of important risks to credibility of operations in-country.
6. Collaborate closely with the Program Director and the Membership Team on the engagement with brands and retailers to increase the demand for Better Cotton.

 

BCI Team

1. Ensure the efficacy and integrity of BCI and Better Cotton in the USA through sound recruitment, induction, management and coaching of partners, including oversight of farm monitoring and licensing processes, collection of results and impact data, communication of stories of best practice, and provision of membership services and training.
2. Oversee, in particular, the selection, training, and monitoring of Better Cotton gins and other  suppliers and manufacturers, on the use of the Better Cotton Traceability System. 
3. Take responsibility for sharing knowledge from the USA program to build on best practice and facilitate the transfer of USA farming know-how to other BCI country partners around the globe.
4. Contribute as required to the development of the global programme team, by providing ideas to improve ways of working, sharing knowledge and building the reputation of the BCI as a leading organisation in both the textile and sustainable agriculture sectors.

 

External Representation

1. Represent BCI in high-level national fora and ensure that BCI maintains a credible status and a solid reputation across the cotton sector.
2. Lead on national policy engagement in order to embed Better Cotton and develop a sound long-term strategy for its continued growth in-country.
3. Contribute written materials, video messages and other front-line communication pieces in order to build BCI and Better Cotton into a well-known and respected brand within and beyond the sustainable cotton sector.

 

Financial Accountability

1. Oversee income, expenditure, and associated reporting, ensuring efficient and effective use of financial resources nationally.
2. Oversee, as required, monitoring of project costs by Implementing Partners.

 

Global Interface

1. Facilitate and support matrix management within the BCI organisation across different global units to ensure coherent and effective international delivery of membership services, income generation, communications and partnerships to maintain the credibility and integrity of Better Cotton.

 

Beyond these specific responsibilities the consultant USA Country Manager is expected to collaborate on activities as agreed with the Partnership Director to support the delivery of the USA Country Plan and the overall BCI Strategic Plan.

 

Working Arrangements

The consultant appointed to this role will report to the Partnership Director.

 

The consultancy role is estimated to require approximately 40 hours per week, and will be home-based in the USA. The consultancy contract will be for an initial one year term, with a conditional renewability clause, and include a 3 month initial trial period.

 

The consultant may have other clients, provided that they do not interfere with completion of assigned tasks.

 

The consultant is expected to attend special events, some of which may occur in the evenings or weekends. Frequent travel will be required.

 

Annual fee (paid monthly) $70,000-$85,000 dependent on skills and experience.

 

All reasonable, business-related expenses will be reimbursed by BCI (subject to BCI guidelines).

 

Applications

Interested applicants with the required attributes are asked to send, in English, a detailed CV and a brief motivation letter (2 pages maximum) to BCI by e-mail to: recruitment@bettercotton.org

 

Application deadline:         14 March 2014 08.00 GMT

 

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates short-listed for a telephone interview will be contacted.

 

The BCI is an equal opportunities employer, and is committed to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human and financial resources.

 

BCI regrets that it will only be able to accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the USA.

Profile

To be successful, candidates for the USA Country Manager (Consultant) role will have the following attributes:

Core Competencies
Business Acumen	Solid understanding of how to manage, analyse and report performance against budget Strong analytical and problem solving skills, with a proactive approach to finding and proposing solutions to challenges within clearly defined boundaries
Results Orientation	Solutions focused Focused on successfully building Better Cotton in the USA and globally Can create solutions from differing opinions
Leadership	Good understanding of how to lead negotiations within a complex context, with multiple stakeholders and yet deliver a desirable outcome Presence and outgoing personality to externally represent BCI and inspire commitment from a wide range of stakeholders, including senior officials within government and potential funder organisations Ability to interpret global strategies and guidelines for national implementation Well-developed personal strategies for time and complex process management
Relationship builder	Works and plays well with others Excellent collaboration skills across cultures and levels of seniority Can work across a matrix organisation and achieve results Can influence with impact where they have no direct power Excellent ability to nurture and guide partnerships to high performance with high levels of trust

 

Skills & knowledge

Essential

Excellent English writing, public speaking, influencing and presentation skills

Proven knowledge of national agriculture (esp. cotton) landscape with a good existing network

University degree, or equivalent higher education qualification, in a field relevant to the agriculture or textile sector

Proven interest in sustainability in the agricultural production sector

Deep understanding of policy making and influencing within the USA context, including the role of partnership with business

IT literacy, to include: Word; PowerPoint; Excel; Outlook

Willingness to travel frequently (circa 30%) and to carry out administrative tasks

Desirable

Trained facilitator of professional relationships and / or groups

Knowledge, or a proven keen interest, in cotton production and processing

 

Experience

Essential

At least 5 years’ experience in either the agriculture or the cotton / textile sector within the USA, ideally both

Prior experience in developing and leading a major, complex project including planning, implementation and reporting

Proof of achieving tangible results in an independent operating context, with only minimal direct assistance

Prior experience in overseeing and reporting against a budget

Proof of substantial public speaking experience to inform and persuade audiences to adopt a new initiative

Proven ability to partner effectively internally to ensure successful completion of a programme / project

Experience of strategic planning and execution working in a matrix-style organisational design

Experience of leading or coordinating collaborative programmes involving multiple partners

Proven experience in negotiating partnership / collaboration agreements with suppliers, customers and government agencies

Desirable

Experience of working within the agricultural side of the cotton sector

Existing network of contacts within US/state government organizations regarding the agriculture and/or textile production sector

Experience of working with farmers

Experience of working in sustainability in relation to responsible business practices, in either a not-for-profit or profit-making organization

Familiar with data-gathering and analysis techniques

Good understanding of partnership theory and practice as well as knowledge of the key enablers and barriers to effective and efficient account management