Standards Manager

Fair Trade USA, a four-time winner of Fast Company Magazine’s Social Capitalist award, promotes sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. We are an entrepreneurial, non-profit organization and the leading independent third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the U.S. Our unique market-based model for sustainability links millions of farming families in the developing world to more than 1,000 leading US companies through more direct, equitable trading partnerships.

Fair Trade USA is a fast-paced, dynamic environment driven by a passion for doing good in the world. We seek bright, talented changemakers who are passionate about our mission. We are social entrepreneurs, flexible and adaptive to change. We value integrity, innovation, idealism and impact. Among Fair Trade USA’s core values are fairness, community, and personal development. Fair Trade USA is committed to inclusive and equitable hiring practices and offers a generous benefits package, including flexible scheduling and a retirement savings match plan.

Position Overview:

Fair Trade USA’s Standards team defines program requirements based on Fair Trade principles. We seek a detail oriented and dynamic Standards Manager to support and project manage the revision of Fair Trade USA Standards, compliance criteria, and implementation guidelines across a range of categories with a focus and expertise in Apparel and Home Goods supply chains. The Manager will work across the supply chain, on Standards related to traceability and chain-of custody as well as those that apply at the producer level.

The Manager writes clear, unambiguous standards and associated policies in line with the objectives of Fair Trade, facilitating stakeholder outreach processes on standard content, facilitating public consultations, and ensuring balanced decision making in determining the final standards. The Manager also ensures Standards are appropriately interpreted by stakeholders and develops training materials and guidance documents. Acting as the subject matter expert, the Manager handles a centralized Standards Help Center and will be responsible for website updates and research projects as requested.

Key Responsibilities:

Ensure Standards revisions are impactful, inclusive, credible, and aligned to the objectives of Fair Trade:

• Project manage reviews of and updates to Fair Trade USA’s Apparel and Home Goods Standard, which outlines the social, economic and environmental requirements for supply chain partners.
• Collaborate with team members on the review and update of Standards related to trade, agricultural production and seafood, ensuring harmonization of processes and requirements across programs.
• Write clear and auditable Standards and Compliance Criteria.
• Identify and engage with stakeholders to enrich the standard writing process, including liaising with technical consultants and experts.
• Design and facilitate public consultations on draft standards using a variety of participation methods.
• Track, interpret and summarize feedback on Fair Trade USA Standards and associated documents, especially during public consultation periods and other major outreach phases.
• Support updates to and setting of Fair Trade Premiums for the Apparel and Home Goods category.

Ensure Fair Trade Standards are accurately interpreted and implemented:

• Develop policies, tools and guidance to accompany Standards to support interpretation and implementation (for Apparel and Home Goods as well as across categories).
• Advise internal and external stakeholders on interpretation questions.
• Contribute to internal and external communications on standards.
• Foster cross-departmental collaboration.
• Ensure the Standards content on the Fair Trade USA website is up to date, managing content and quality control.

Support the on-going evolution of the broader AHG Program approach:

• Conduct research and other activities as necessary to support innovations in the cross-departmental AHG program approach, including support and/or project management of cross-cutting projects.
• Conduct literature reviews, identify and compile information on various internal and external models to support potential changes to the AHG Model.

Qualifications:

• Four to six years of experience working in an analytic, stakeholder engagement, technical writing or international development capacity; preferably in the social and environmental apparel and home goods arena.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related field such as social responsibility, supply chain management, or international development.
• Experience and demonstrated understanding related to social and environmental issues in apparel and home goods manufacturing. Understanding of trade, supply chains, and chain-of-custody and product traceability.
• Demonstrated strength managing processes, and an ability to work well with all levels of staff including executives as well as a broad range of stakeholders and partners.
• Ability to interpret, translate and synthesize complex data into presentable information that can be communicated to varying audiences in a simple, meaningful way.
• Detail-oriented, logical, systematic, methodical, and highly organized.
• Ability to identify, review and analyze information from a wide range of internal and external sources.
• Excellent writing and presentation skills, including technical writing.
• Strong English verbal and written communication skills and capacity for communicating and collaborating respectfully and effectively with non-native English speakers.
• Proven ability to make recommendations balancing a variety of stakeholder interests, including the ability to pull out key findings and conclusions from complex sets of sometimes disparate feedback.
• Ability to work in a flexible, yet fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment, able to meet deadlines and share progress regularly.
• Positive outlook, diplomatic and adept at conflict resolution.
• A passion for Fair Trade USA’s mission, vision, and accomplishments.
• High degree of proficiency in MS Office applications including Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and internet applications.
• Fluency in Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin Chinese, and/or Vietnamese always desired.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.