Starting Date: 1st June 2025
Contract type: Full-time and open-ended
Salary: PKR 5,256,150/year
Location: Lahore
Application closing date: 20th April 2025
About the Job
Better Cotton is looking for a Due Diligence & Sustainable Partnerships Coordinator to support field level partners endorsement and partners capacity strengthening.
Better Cotton implements its country programmes through an important network of in-country Programme Partners (40+ partners to date). To ensure the optimal implementation of Better Cotton programmes and to support the achievements of our 2030 impact targets, it is crucial for Better Cotton to mitigate partnership risks by endorsing partners with the highest organizational effectiveness. When gaps are identified at the partners level, it is also crucial for Better Cotton to support our partners in strengthening their management tools and implementation practices.
To this end, Better Cotton has developed its own Due Diligence framework, aligned with OECD and UN Due Diligence guidelines, to assess and mitigate the following areas, at partners level: Ethics, human resources, governance, environment, operation, finance and partnership engagement.
The framework is built around two main principles:
1. Partners internal policies and practices assessment to identify any risks or gaps and propose a remediation plan to our partners.
2. Partners capacity strengthening and remediation plan implementation to support improvement in their policies and practices.
The Due Diligence & Sustainable Partnerships Coordinator will coordinate the implementation of this framework, for existing and potential new partners (from grass roots NGOs to international corporate entities and commercial farms), with the country Better Cotton teams, internal thematic leaders (Finance, decent work, safeguarding, gender, data management, human resources) and external service providers who will carry out the partners assessments and Due Diligence reports writing.
The Due Diligence & Sustainable Partnerships Coordinator will work under the supervision of the Partnerships Manager, in the Global Programme function, in very close coordination with the country teams.
The Challenge
Better Cotton is the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme, working to help cotton communities thrive while protecting the environment. Today, one in four cotton bales globally is grown under the Better Cotton Standard. With over 2.5 million farmers trained across 23 countries, we’re driving impact through a global network of field-level partners and uniting stakeholders from across the cotton supply chain.
Our focus is on reducing the environmental impact of cotton production and improving farmer livelihoods. This change is delivered through our field partners – known as Programme Partners (PPs) – who support farmers in adopting practices aligned with the Better Cotton Standard System (BCSS).
To ensure the integrity of our work, we have a robust PP Endorsement and Due Diligence process. This helps us select competent partners and reduce risk, while supporting partners with Corrective Action Plans to build long-term capacity.
The Due Diligence process helps ensure partners have strong governance, policies, and operational systems. It also aligns with international and domestic laws and broader corporate due diligence standards. The process includes:
Areas that play to your strengths
We are seeking a motivated Due Diligence & Sustainable Partnerships Coordinator to join Global Programme function. In this role, you will be responsible for:
Partner Due Diligence and Endorsement
· Oversee due diligence activities, ensuring that responsible teams (External service providers, Better Cotton country teams and thematic leads) are following due process within appropriate timeframes and proactively supporting them to overcome challenges along the way.
· Manage the procurement process to select external service providers. When relevant, support country and regional teams with identifying and contracting suitable external service providers to conduct due diligence.
· Play a leading role in the Due Diligence reports revision and coordinate the Due Diligence reports revision by the Due Diligence committee members.
· Prepare the Due Diligence Committee material.
· Maintain an up-to-date set of tools and guidelines for endorsing, contracting and onboarding new programme partners.
· Maintain accurate and up to date Due Diligence records and findings in the internal ERP.
· Support improvement of the Due Diligence framework to have a more user-friendly tool (for Better Cotton, partners and 3rd parties) and consider digitalisation or IA options.
· Support the oversee partners due diligence across all Better Cotton operations, including maintaining oversight of due diligence status of all partners.
· Maintain oversight of evolving legislation and emerging requirements with relation to Better Cotton’s due diligence activities.
· Support in updating the core due diligence framework to meet new international due diligence standards (mostly from the OECD).
· Support the process to adapt the core due diligence framework to meet the requirements of different types of partnerships in different contexts whilst maintaining its credibility.
· Ensure that the endorsement process is completed before entering into a new operational partnership.
· Collaborate with 3rd parties, service providers, to support the implementation of Due Diligence.
Partners capacity strengthening
· As part of the capacity strengthening of our partners, support the design of specific Corrective Action Plans (CAP) in line with due diligence findings and follow-up on their implementation, in close collaboration with country/regional teams and thematic leads.
Other duties and responsibilities
· Maintain a high level of understanding and follow the evolution of international rules, regulations and guidelines: Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), OECD and UN Due Diligence guidelines…
· As part of the Partnerships Team, contribute to building and delivering a cohesive approach to effective partnerships that will drive excellence and impact at the field level : Partner performance monitoring, partnership agreement management, partnership exit approach…
· As part of the Global Programmes Team, participate in working groups and support on additional tasks as reasonably requested by the Senior Director of Programmes and Director of farms programmes quality and partnerships.
We are looking for someone who has
Essential
· Very detail oriented, proactive and self-motivated.
· Collaborative team player with a positive attitude and excellent interpersonal skills in a remote and international context.
· Outstanding organisational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
· Strong analytical and research skills with the ability to interpret complex cross-information and identify key insights.
· Excellent problem-solving skills.
· Integrity and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.
· Ability to remain calm under pressure.
· Proficiency in Microsoft office suite and familiarity with Due Diligence and compliance tools.
Desirable
· At least a bachelor's degree in business/public administration, law, finance, accounting or a relevant subject.
· At least 5 years of professional experience in Due Diligence, audit activities, risk assessment, sustainable compliance or related fields.
· A proven track record in delivering due diligence assessments or audits in international context with a various range of players.
· Being familiar with Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
· Proficiency in improving systems and processes and designing supporting tools.
· Experience of working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
· Ability to analyse and synthesise information and data and use for continuous improvement.
· Fluent in English and any language to one or more of Better Cotton’s countries such as Mandarin, Portuguese, Hindi, Urdu, or Turkish would be beneficial.
· Experience of working in the agricultural sector.
What we offer
- Competitive salary
- Hybrid working – Two to three days/week in the offices central London, Delhi or Lahore
- The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year
- Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time
- Continuous learning and development
- 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 in Lahore. Better Cotton offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm.
Apply now
Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 20.04.2025 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:
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.
Programmes
Lahore, Pakistan
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