Starting Date: As soon as possible

Contract type: Full-time and open-ended

Salary: 67’950 CHF, commensurate with relevant experience and skills

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Application closing date: 9^th January 2024

About the Job
Are you passionate about making a difference and ready to help shape the future of sustainable cotton? Join us at Better Cotton as a Senior People & Culture Officer and be part of a global team that fosters a positive and inclusive workplace for the world's largest cotton sustainability initiative – we support more sustainable farming practices and farm livelihoods for nearly 3 million farmers in the Better Cotton network in 23 countries around the world.

We are searching for a skilled and hands-on Senior People & Culture Officer – someone who works well in a fast-paced not-for-profit setting. Supporting the People Operations Manager, you will provide practical, timely support, and advice to Better Cotton staff in Geneva on the full life cycle of HR activities. You will be responsible for HR administrative tasks and delivery of objectives in line with a wider HR work plan.

If you are passionate about HR and highly efficient, give us a chance to meet you. We expect you to have knowledge of various HR functions. We want to see a committed and approachable individual and be impressed with your character and skills. The goal will be to provide excellent assistance and support to employees and managers and contribute to making Better Cotton a better place to work.

The Challenge
Looking ahead to 2030, we are targeting reducing GHG emissions from cotton production by half, big cuts in synthetic pesticide use, improve soil health across our network, improve farm income and support women’s empowerment among farmers and farm workers.

As Senior People & Culture Officer, you will provide comprehensive HR support, including administrative tasks and practical, timely advice, to Better Cotton staff in Geneva.

Areas that play to your strengths

(All the responsibilities we’ll trust you with)

We are seeking a motivated Senior People & Culture Officer to join our People & Culture team. In this role, you will be responsible for the following workstreams:

Employee Administration

• Manage relationship with the external payroll provider, ensuring staff are enrolled under all compulsory and Better Cotton optional benefits (e.g. social security, pension scheme, tax at source) and salaries are processed in an accurate and timely manner;
• coordinate the request and renewal of work permits;
• handle accident or illness cases with the insurance companies;
• handle special absence and leave requests in line with Better Cotton policies;
• maintain employee records according to policy and legal requirements;
• record all payroll procedures to ensure compliance with internal policies and local regulations[MR1] ;
• draft employment contracts and work certificates, as well as consultants' agreement letters, and
• assist in reviewing employment and working conditions to ensure legal compliance.[MR2] 

 Talent Management

• Support the development and implementation of HR policies, initiatives, and systems;
• provide counselling on policies and procedures;
• assist with recruitment by conducting job analysis, preparing job descriptions, posting ads, and managing the hiring process;
• Support the development of onboarding plans and ensure their smooth implementation;
• assist in performance management processes;
• support with data collection and the preparation of various reports (e.g. headcount, turnover), and
• carry out any other people projects or tasks as requested by the People Operations Manager.

We are looking for someone who has

the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

Essential

• Proven experience of at least 3 years as HR officer, generalist, or other HR position
• Bachelor's degree in HRM, Business Administration, Social studies, or relevant field
• Knowledge of HR functions (recruitment, pay & benefits, training, and development, etc)
• Solid understanding of Swiss Labour Law. Swiss HR credentials are required
• French mother tongue/proficiency in French, and fluency in English
• Technically savvy, strong computer skills and quick understanding of new systems
• Ability to work independently and under pressure
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Outstanding time management and organisational capabilities
• Proactive, approachable, with a team player attitude and able to work in a fast-paced international environment
• Service-oriented attitude and good interpersonal skills enabling effective relationships with internal clients and other stakeholders

Desirable

• Problem-solving and decision-making aptitude
• Strong ethics and reliability
• Experience in remote team support to several countries
• Interest in and commitment to sustainability
• Experience of working in a small to medium size not for profit organisation
• A good sense of humour, positive attitude, committed to continuous improvement

What we offer

• Competitive salary
• Hybrid working – Two days/week in the office
• 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 discretionary days off over Christmas period
• 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 Geneva, Switzerland. You are a Swiss/EU citizen or in possession of a valid work permit for Switzerland.

Better Cotton offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm and the option to work from home one to three days a week.  Travel might be required on an occasional basis.

Apply now

Send us your CV (2 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.