First Mile Traceability Coordinator

Starting Date: ASAP 

Contract type: Full-time and open-ended 

Salary: 41,400 GBP 

Location: London 

Application closing date: 31/01/2025 

About the Job 

Are you purpose-led and ready to embark on a journey to shape the future of sustainable cotton? Join us at Better Cotton as First Mile Traceability Coordinator and coordinate across country contexts and teams to deliver traceability to farm level 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. 

Better Cotton has recently launched a new traceability service for suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and brands in the cotton, apparel and textiles sector. The service will support the tracing of Better Cotton through complex supply chains, connecting our licensed producers to increasingly regulated international markets. To continue improving supply chain transparency, our next step is to transform data collection and connectivity at the first mile between farm and gin. 

In many countries, farm to gin traceability is a largely paper-based process. Defining solutions and engaging our 2.2 million farmers in a new way of working is no small challenge but the potential benefits are huge. Improving visibility of farmers creates new commercial opportunities and greater access to finance for a group that ultimately relies on cotton for their livelihoods. First mile traceability will form the foundation for new services for Better Cotton farmers including an impact marketplace. 

Better Cotton is looking for a motivated and adaptable First Mile Traceability Coordinator to improve arrangements surrounding the sale and transport of cotton from the farm to the gin, in favour of farmers and transparency. 

In the Better Cotton system at present, we aim to help farmers survive and thrive, with improved incomes and more sustainable practices. Day to day will encompass supply chain engagement, solution design and piloting, implementation and working to solve complex but fascinating problems with the opportunity to drive real impact. Previous international experience in agriculture, operations, or supply chains will be highly regarded. 

The work environment is high paced but within a supportive and energetic team. You will be excited about getting things done, have the ability to prioritise, work with cultural sensitivity, and enjoy delivering high quality work in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. Interest in supply chain technologies is desired, experience in this sector is a plus. The role offers excellent opportunities for personal and professional development, together with a competitive benefits package. 

Areas that play to your strengths

(All the responsibilities we’ll trust you with) 

We are seeking a motivated and organised First Mile Traceability Coordinator to join our traceability team. In this role, you will be responsible for: 

• Coordinating and reporting on first mile traceability pilots 
• Coordinate first mile traceability pilots in India, Pakistan, Türkiye and other countries, working closely with Better Cotton country supply chain teams 
• Design and develop training resources to effectively communicate pilot objectives to stakeholders, ensuring clarity and alignment with project goals 
• Analyse and draw insights from pilot data, regularly presenting findings to project team 
• Facilitate the sharing of learnings across countries and contexts to ensure alignment across contexts 
• Desk based research and analysis 
• Conduct desk-based research on first mile traceability interventions within the cotton sector, identifying best practices, trends, and emerging technologies 
• Analyse and compile findings to provide insights into the effectiveness of traceability solutions in improving supply chain transparency and sustainability 
• Monitor and evaluate global developments, reports, and case studies related to first mile traceability in the cotton industry 
• Enabling cross-functional collaboration 
• Maintain internal communications on first mile traceability to ensure synergies are identified and teams are aware of their role in the first mile traceability workstream 
• Work closely with the supply chain, programmes, and IT teams 
• Develop and deliver presentations to both internal and external stakeholders, providing regular updates on first mile traceability progress, key findings, and ongoing developments 
• Supporting fundraising 
• Develop fundraising proposals in line with the first mile traceability strategy 
• Collaborate with the fundraising team to coordinate grants and donor reporting needs 
• Ensure the timely delivery of activities of externally funded projects 
• Coordinating external consultants 
• Support external consultants on assignments and research related to first mile traceability 
• First mile traceability team support 
• Work closely with the First Mile Traceability Manager to ensure project deliverables are met 
• Support with regular weekly or monthly team meetings as required 
• Manage and organise online file storage in SharePoint, ensuring efficient document retrieval, version control, and adherence to organisational standards

We are looking for someone who has

Essential 

• University degree, or equivalent higher education qualification, in a relevant field with an interest in sustainability, farming, and/or traceability 
• Paid work experience in the field of sustainability, supply chains, IT, textiles or agriculture 
• Demonstrated experience in project coordination particularly in diverse geographical regions such as India, Pakistan, and Türkiye 
• Experience in conducting desk-based research 
• Strong analytical skills including the ability to analyse and draw actionable insights from data, presenting findings clearly to diverse audiences 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills 
• Experience in maintaining internal and external communications, delivering presentations, and engaging stakeholders 
• Experience in supporting teams and ensuring project deliverables are met, as well as facilitating team meetings 
• Ability to inspire and champion the introduction of new practices across multistakeholder environments 
• Demonstrated organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage time efficiently while maintaining attention to detail 
• Self-starter, comfortable with navigating uncertainty 
• Demonstrated integrity and business ethics 
• Experience working remotely with teams across contexts 
• Proficient IT skills, including but not limited to MS Office suite (PowerPoint, Word and Excel) 
• Fluency in English 

Desirable 

• Experience working with smallholder farmers in global contexts 
• Knowledge of traceability and associated technologies 
• Experience with fundraising or grants 
• Experience with data visualization tools e.g. Power BI 
• Experience working with innovative field data collection tools e.g. CommCare, ODK 
• Knowledge of a second or third language 

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 London. Better Cotton offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm.  The position will require some travel. 

Apply now

Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 31/01/2025 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.