Department – Partnership Development
Location – Paris or Hong Kong
Reports to – HERproject Program Manager
Status – Open
Date – January 7, 2013
Organization
BSR works with its global network of nearly 300 member companies to build a just and sustainable world. From its offices in Asia, Europe, and North and South America, BSR develops sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration. We are proud to say that we have a team of some of the most talented and motivated people in the industry working in our offices around the globe with offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, Copenhagen, San Francisco and São Paulo.
Visit www.bsr.org for more information about BSR’s more than 20 years of leadership in sustainability.
Position Overview
Based in one of BSR’s offices in Paris, Copenhagen, or Hong Kong, the Associate will contribute to BSR’s grant-funded and advisory services work, with a strong focus on Bangladesh. Specifically, the Associate will play a critical role on BSR’s HERproject team, to support the aggressive growth of our program activities in Bangladesh. The Associate will also contribute to BSR’s broader work on supply chain, in particular supporting programs and activities related to Bangladesh.
BSR’s HERproject is a global women’s empowerment initiative which provides education and access programs to women working in factories and farms in Asia and Africa. Working in partnership with over twenty multinational companies, fifteen local NGOs, and with support from the Swedish and Dutch governments, the Levi Strauss Foundation, and others, HERproject has aggressive scale ambitions to empower millions of women in global supply chains.
The Associate will work closely with the HERproject global team, and will be supervised by the global program manager based in San Francisco. A background and skills in Bangladesh and/or global manufacturing supply chains, is strongly preferred. Up to 40 percent international travel (mostly to Bangladesh) is anticipated.
The position represents a unique development opportunity for individuals seeking to be part of a dynamic, truly global team, to contribute to the scaling up of a successful and innovative project in the intersection between business and development, and to assume significant responsibilities with potential for great personal and organizational impact.
Responsibilities
- Program Support: The Associate will be responsible for supporting HERproject program activities in Bangladesh, working in collaboration with the local BSR contractor based in Dhaka, and our three NGO implementing partners in the country, including in-person and remote support via phone and email. The Associate will also be responsible for supporting and supervising new partnerships in Bangladesh, to be developed with the global HERproject program manager and BSR’s Bangladesh based contractor.
- Relationship Building in Bangladesh: The Associate will conduct research, outreach, and follow-up to identify new and support and/or manage current stakeholders and partners and to support the logistics and content of partnerships. They will also use frequent visits to Bangladesh to support the BSR contractor based in Dhaka to build relationships with key national stakeholders – government, civil society, and private sector – related to HERproject, and to support other relationships relevant to BSR’s objectives in Bangladesh more broadly.
- Project Contribution: The Associate will support project managers in implementing partnership development and advisory services projects related to the intersection of business and development, particularly project work related to Bangladesh. Roles will include research, writing and project assistance on project activities and related fundraising.
- Internal Roles: The Associate will take responsibility for sharing lessons and transferring knowledge and relationships related to Bangladesh activities to others within the BSR global team.
Qualifications
NOTE: Only candidates with these specific requirements will be considered:
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in relevant area preferred.
- Minimum 5 years relevant work experience, in the area of international development and/or responsible business.
- Exceptional research and writing skills, project execution and basic project management skills required, including partnership management.
- Practical field experience working and/or living abroad in country(s) in the developing world. Experience in Bangladesh a plus.
- Strong organizational skills, including the ability to meet stringent deadlines, communicate progress on projects, and work with managers to coordinate multiple projects concurrently.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, building strong relationships with internal and external persons, including colleagues, business, public sector, and NGOs.
- Fluent in English. Some knowledge of Bengali preferred.
- Knowledge of, or experience in supply chain issues, garment/apparel, women’s empowerment, and/or women’s health a strong plus.
- Capacity to work and thrive in a growing, fast-paced, entrepreneurial organization with a collaborative environment.
- Willingness to undertake business travel including to challenging environments (~40% time).
- High ethical standards and commitment to BSR core values of Leadership, Respect and Integrity.
Diversity
BSR is committed to developing an inclusive work environment where diversity of thought, style, culture and skill and is valued in support of individual performance and potential, as well as our business goals and mission.
Please apply online at www.bsr.org/bsrjobs
