Verification Management Expert (Cashmere) – (m/f/d)

Join our team as an expert for verification management for „The Good Cashmere Standard®“ by the Aid by Trade Foundation in Hamburg – initially limited to 2 years with the possibility of permanent employment

The Aid by Trade Foundation brings together various partners from business, politics, science and NGOs with its initiatives Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA), Regenerative Cotton Standard® (RCS) and The Good Cashmere Standard® (GCS) and builds demand alliances for the purchase of sustainably produced raw materials in the spirit of a „social business“.

The Good Cashmere Standard® is an independent standard for sustainably produced cashmere developed by the Aid by Trade Foundation and first implemented in 2020. It was created to improve cashmere goat husbandry, the lives of farmers and farming communities in Innner Mongolia, China, and the environment in which they live in.

Your responsibilities

• You plan and coordinate the implementation of the GCS verification
• You control the entire verification process and ensure that the defined processes are adhered to.
• You are responsible for the partner management of the GCS Units („Managing Entities“, primary processors of cashmere and herders) in the planning and implementation of the verification cycles.
• You are responsible for the selection and qualification of the commissioned assurance provider (control body) and are responsible for the training and further qualification of the auditors.
• The management and quality monitoring of the verification missions are in your hands.
• You coordinate the development of a suitable software solution for the verification management – from self-assessments of partners, to verification reports, to the creation of continuous-improvement plans following the verification cycles.
• You will oversee the evaluation of the verification results of the GCS units and be responsible for issuing certificates.
• You will work closely with AbTF’s Expert in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and the GCS representative based in China on the evaluation of data and results from the verification rounds in order to jointly draw conclusions for project priorities and other support measures within the Standards & Outreach Team.
• You will further develop the processes of the GCS verification system as well as standard-relevant background documents, position papers, training materials, etc.
• You are responsible for the regular standard revisions.
• You create data analysis and reports for the AbTF management and boards as well as external stakeholders.
• You are the contact person for internal and external inquiries regarding GCS verification.
• Further activities include supporting the organisation of workshops and conferences on the GCS.

What we look for

Must-have:

• A completed degree in agricultural science, animal science, animal and livestock farming, biology or veterinary medicine or a comparable qualification & solid professional experience (at least 3 years)
• Experience with audits and/or sustainably produced (agricultural) raw materials
• Ability to manage complex tasks and set priorities
• Team player with an independent and careful working style, goal orientation and decision-making ability
• Affinity for numbers and digital solutions
• Fluent German and business-fluent English
• A high intercultural competence
• Legally allowed to work in Germany

Nice-to-have:

• Salesforce knowledge
• Knowledge of Chinese is an advantage
• Practical experience in livestock farming, ideally sheep or goat husbandry

What we offer

• A meaningful task at the interface between development cooperation and social business
• A motivated, successful team and flat hierarchies with room for your own ideas and a lot of creative freedom
• Further training measures and 30 days of vacation
• Christmas bonus, travel allowance, BusinessBike Leasing as part of deferred compensation

The position of 39 hours per week, with the option to work from home for part of the working hours (2 Office days per week). Please note that AbTF cannot sponsor working visas. The position is initially limited to two years, with the possibility of becoming permanent.

We look forward to receiving your detailed application (preferably by email) including at least one reference, your salary expectations and the earliest possible start date.

For inquiries and applications:

Marvin Heuduck, Aid by Trade Foundation marvin.heuduck@abt-foundation.org