Starting Date: ASAP

Contract type: Full-time. Fixed term for 1 year with a possibility to extend into permanent role

Salary: Commensurate with relevant experience and skills 

Location: New Delhi, India

Application closing date: 24.11.2024

About the Job 

Better Cotton is seeking an experienced and passionate Regenerative Project Coordinator. The Coordinator will champion the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices and outcomes among programme partners, smallholder farmers and key stakeholders, whilst coordinating regenerative projects across India and supporting our teams in Africa. Supporting fundraising efforts to further expand our impact is a crucial element of this position.

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.  

If you are a seasoned professional with a passion for promoting regenerative agriculture, empowering smallholder farmers, and addressing climate change in India's cotton landscapes, we invite you to join us in our mission to make global cotton production better for people and the planet. Apply now and be a part of the Better Cotton team! 

Areas that play to your strengths

We are seeking a motivated Regenerative Project Coordinator to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for:

1. Regenerative Project Coordination: Provide project coordination support, including, but not limited to, project planning, fundraising support, communication and report writing, resource and budget coordination.  
2. Promote Regenerative Cotton Production: Collaborate with programme partners, knowledge partners and extension services to engage smallholder cotton farmers in India in the adoption of climate-smart and regenerative agricultural practices, tailored to the local landscape and socio-economic context. 
3. Data Collection and Analysis: Work with the local MEL team on the collection, analysis, and reporting of data on greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon sequestration, and other climate-related metrics from cotton farms in India, ensuring accuracy, relevance, and alignment with regenerative agriculture principles. 
4. Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, including programme partners, farmers, community-based organisations, government agencies, NGOs, and research institutions, to coordinate regenerative agriculture initiatives and leverage existing resources and networks. 
5. Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Strengthening: Facilitate knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning among country teams, programme partners, smallholder farmers and key stakeholders, promoting the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices and sharing success stories and best practices within the cotton-growing community in India and globally.  
6. Monitoring and Evaluation: Support programme partners to further improve their monitoring and reporting of regenerative agriculture interventions and contribute to regular reporting and documentation of project outcomes. 
7. Fundraising Support: Assisting in the preparation of funding proposals through drafting compelling narratives, locally applicable budgets, and identifying locally relevant activities and outcomes. 

We are looking for someone who has

the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

Essential

1 Master's degree in agriculture, environmental science, or a related field. 

2 At least 4 years of experience working with smallholder farmers in agricultural development or extension services, with a focus on promoting regenerative agricultural practices and addressing climate change. 

3 Strong knowledge of regenerative agriculture principles and practices, with expertise in applying these principles to cotton-growing landscapes in India. 

4 Proven abilities to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including farmers, community leaders, government officials, and international experts. 

5 Experience in data analysis and reporting tools is a plus, using e.g. Excel or Power-Bi to produce high-quality reports and publications. 

6 Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with fluency in English required, proficiency in other local languages spoken in India would be advantageous. 

What we offer

• Competitive salary 
• Hybrid working – 1 week in every six weeks 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 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 Delhi. Better Cotton offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm.  The position will require limited travel within out outside the country. 

Apply now

Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 24.11.2024 via this form. 

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.