Starting Date: March 2025 

Contract type: Full-time and fixed term (maternity cover, up to 12 months) 

Salary: if hired in London – 57’400 GBP, if in Geneva – 95’450 CHF, if in Sweden – 840’000 SEK, if in the Netherlands – 78’000 EUR, commensurate with relevant experience and skills 

Location: London, Geneva (hybrid) – Sweden and the Netherlands (remote). 

Application closing date: 9 January 2025 noon GMT 

About the Job   
Are you a seasoned HR professional passionate about driving exceptional people operations and enhancing employee experiences? Better Cotton is looking for a dynamic People Operations Manager to join our team on a temporary basis, covering a maternity leave for up to 12 months. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to Better Cotton’s mission while playing a pivotal role in managing and enhancing our people operations processes globally. 

As the People Operations Manager, you'll oversee all aspects of people operations, policies, and compliance within our organisation, reporting to the Senior People and Culture Manager. You'll manage the full employee lifecycle, supervise People Partners/Generalists and a Payroll Administrator, and optimise processes through data analysis and reporting. 

Areas that play to your strengths 

We are seeking a motivated People Operations Manager to join our People and Culture team. In this role, you will be responsible for: 

• Employee Lifecycle Management: Own and manage end-to-end employee processes, including onboarding, integration, employee relations, exits, and record maintenance.  
• Policy Development: Develop and refine people policies that comply with local regulations and support our Employer of Choice agenda.  
• Employee Engagement: Propose and implement initiatives to engage and develop employees, fostering growth and wellness.  
• Expert Guidance: Act as a subject matter expert, guiding People and Culture team and managers on policy interpretation and implementation.  
• Data Analysis: Analyse policy and compliance data to identify areas for improvement and recommend changes.  
• Project Coordination: Lead expansion projects into new office locations, including planning, budgeting, and implementation.  
• Relocation Management: Coordinate approved relocations, focusing on established office locations and ensuring smooth transitions.  
• Vendor Partnerships: Partner with vendors and service providers to ensure high-quality service delivery and accountability.  

We are looking for someone who has 

the following skills, knowledge, and experience: 

• You've done this before—you have experience in a high-growth startup environment with constant change as your companion; proven experience working as a People Partner, HR Manager or similar role. 
• Strong values with a clear inner core of purpose-driven leadership.  
• Strong problem-solving, reporting and analytical skills. Skilled in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. 
• Knowledge of HRMS and payroll systems. 
• Demonstrated ability to research and analyse problems, providing feedback, guidance, and direction.  
• A clear understanding of Human Resources practices and legal requirements.  
• Working knowledge of the critical components of a successful HR department including employment law, performance management, resolving conflict, having difficult conversations, employee engagement, training, maintaining employee files, and managing operational budgets.  
• Clear, strong verbal communication and consulting skills.   
• Well-developed writing and presentation skills. Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly across all levels of an organisation.  
• Discretion, sensitivity, and confidentiality. Demonstrated ability to listen, analyse and inform appropriately while maintaining the required sensibilities in handling confidential information.  
• Must possess a Bachelor’s Degree with demonstrated ability to understand the language of business. SPHR or other HR certification preferred.  
• Experience with change management and organizational development is a plus.  
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (up to 20%).  

What we offer 

• Competitive salary 
• Hybrid working – Two to three days/week in the offices central London, Geneva,  
• Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time 
• Pension scheme 
• 25 days paid annual leave, plus 8-9 Bank Holidays and a further 3 days off over Christmas 
• Enhanced parental benefits 
• A warm, positive working environment where everyone is valued 
• The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference. 

Working arrangements 

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based either in London, Geneva, Lahore, Delhi, Sweden or the Netherlands. Better Cotton offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm.  The position will require up to 20% of domestic/international travel. 

Apply now 

Send us your CV (two pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (one-page maximum) by or before 09.01.2025 via this link.  

In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us. 

Our hiring process

Initial Screening:

Applicant screening is a crucial step in our recruitment process. This stage may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate your suitability for the position. During this screening, we review resumes and cover letters, and may conduct initial background checks to narrow down the pool of applicant. Internal candidates are encouraged to inform their line manager about their application to promote transparency and help facilitate a smooth transition if selected.

Interviews:

If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management. As an internal candidate, you may have discussions regarding your current responsibilities and how they will transition to the new position.

Assessment and Testing: 

Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. Internal candidates may have the option to demonstrate their existing skills through current job performance or past project outcomes.

Reference Checks: 

Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history. Internal candidates may be asked for references from current or previous supervisors within Better Cotton to provide insights into their performance and capabilities.

Offer stage:

After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a discussion about how your transition to the new role will be managed and any support needed for a smooth handover.

About Better Cotton

Better Cotton is a global not-for-profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world’s cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide.

About our Values

The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are:  

• Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible) 
• As having Integrity (including responsible, authentic) 
• Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic) 
• Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic) 
• Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing)  

Being you @ Better Cotton

Better Cotton is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.