Program Manager Apparel and Footwear

The organization

The IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative helps to accelerate and upscale sustainability within mainstream international commodity markets and producer landscapes, driving sustainability from niche to norm. We build ambitious public private coalitions of companies, civil society organizations and governments and high-impact programs in order to benefit people, planet and profit. With co-funding from the Dutch, Swiss, Danish and Norwegian governments and from business partners, IDH organizes scoping, development and implementation of public private partnerships in 11 sectors such as coffee, tea, cotton and palm oil and in 11 landscapes worldwide. IDH is a dynamic organization of app. 60 staff members based in Utrecht, The Netherlands, with hubs in Asia and Africa. In the last year IDH has expanded its activities and now runs around 600 projects in 50 countries, together with a wide range of private and public partners.

To strengthen its team in Vietnam, IDH is recruiting a: Program Manager Apparel and Footwear. This role is based in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City

Job profile

IDH is currently looking for a staff member who can support the activities in the area of sustainable development of Vietnam apparel and footwear sector, including building, electrical, and fire safety. The person would be in charge of a small team of employees and a larger team of service providers, to manage the two programs of Race to the Top (RttT; focused on reducing the environmental footprint and the worker engagement in productivity improvement) and work on technical building safety in Vietnam (focused on the assessment and remediation of the structural, fire, and electrical risks, as well as the evacuation readiness). Next to that an important part of this role is the engagement with the Vietnamese government to align program approaches and objectives and Vietnamese government policy under the Public and Private Partnership Cooperation Agreement.

The Program Manager reports to the IDH Program Director Cotton and Apparel, and is responsible for the successful implementation of IDH’s apparel and footwear program in Vietnam. The Program Manager will work closely with a diverse group of stakeholders, including the Vietnam Government and the Vietnam apparel and footwear industry.

IDH is looking for an organized, service-oriented, self-motivated, team player with leadership skills and a strong interest in supply chain sustainability.  You are both analytical and practical, able to work independently and learn fast. Working in a results-oriented, flexible and hands-on manner, you execute given projects quickly and thoroughly, maintaining a good overview on delegated tasks.

Key responsibilities

1. Strategic program development (especially the first 6-12 months)

• Contribute constructively to strategic planning.
• Supports the development of the program.

2. Program management

• Responsibility for ensuring targeted results and impact in the development and implementation of the program with operational support and guidance from IDH HQ Program Management.
• Run the required Vietnam program facilitation, administration, and reporting within the overall regional structure.
• Manages contracts with implementing partners, engineers, and consultants (with legal and administrative support of the IDH Operations team in Utrecht).

3. Stakeholder management and networking

• Responsibility for working on the maintenance and expansion of the relevant network in the sector.
• Manage and support public sector engagement.

Requirements

Candidates will be selected on the basis of six key criteria:

• Deep technical knowledge of Vietnamese apparel and footwear industry.
• Strong track record in OH&S, especially related to building, electrical, and fire safety.
• At least 5 years experience on senior sourcing, manufacturing or sustainability level in the sector.
• Strong knowledge of and working relationship with the Vietnam government in this sector.
• Able to manage programs with an inclusive attitude diverse group of stakeholders, define common goals and implement actions able to act both on a strategic level and an operational level.
• Able to address implementation issues and resolve conflict.
• Fluent in Vietnamese and English.

Next to these criteria, the following traits are expected of applicants:

• Experience with construction and/or building codes.
• Works to achieve agreed objectives and is accountable for meeting or exceeding them
• Plans and manages own time effectively.
• Track record in process management and change management.
• Working and thinking at Master degree level.
• Experience in working with people from different cultural backgrounds.
• Willing to travel (national and regional, up to 25%).

Conditions

IDH offers a challenging position with opportunities for growth within an enthusiastic and passionate team.  As an IDH team member you can contribute to positive global change. The position is for 40 hours per week.  The successful applicant will be offered a consultancy contract for one year with competitive remuneration, but with the possibility to extend. This role is based in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

For more information about IDH, please visit www.idhsustainabletrade.com. For questions about this position, please contact Sibbe Krol at [email protected].

How to apply

Interested candidates should send their CV/resume and application letter (in English), explaining your interest and capabilities for the position, to Iris van Oort, HR Officer, at [email protected]  before February 24, 2017.

IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative
Arthur van Schendelstraat 500 - P.O. Box 1241
NL - 3500 BE UTRECHT
www.idhsustainabletrade.com