Impacts and Assurance Associate, Sustainability and Compliance

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Impacts and Assurance Associate, Sustainability and Compliance

Department: Impacts and Assurance

Reports to: Impacts and Assurance Director

Employment type: Full time

Salary range: SGD 45,000 to 63,000 annually, excluding employer CPF

Other benefits: Flexible working arrangements, learning and development budget, employee insurance, generous leave allotment

Work arrangement: Flexible, hybrid

Location: Singapore

Start date: As soon as possible

Purpose of the Role

The Impacts and Assurance Associate manages GPSNR’s assurance system, an ESG performance and verification mechanism through which member companies demonstrate progress in making and implementing sustainability commitments to manage social and environmental risks. The role covers the full assurance cycle: policy alignment review, data reporting management, third party audits and assessments, assessor training, complaints handling, and continuous improvement of the assurance model. It also plays a central role in briefing members on their obligations and keeping them engaged with GPSNR’s wider work.

This is a strong fit for someone who wants to build a suite of skills in assurance, auditing, and verification systems within the sustainability and supply chain sector, while working directly with a wide range of companies, NGOs, and other stakeholders across the natural rubber value chain.

About GPSNR

Founded in 2019, GPSNR is an international, multistakeholder, voluntary membership organisation working to improve the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. GPSNR has over 250 members, representing more than 50% of globally traded natural rubber volume.

Our members span every segment of the value chain, from smallholder farmers to tyre manufacturers, and every region of the world. We maintain a flexible, dynamic organisational culture, and we are committed to driving real improvement in the natural rubber supply chain.

GPSNR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity of experience and background, including but not limited to race, gender identity, nationality, age, disability status, parenthood, sexual orientation, and religion. Every employee’s perspective contributes to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

This role covers three connected areas of work:

  1. Policy Compliance and Member Obligations
  • Review, approve, and update members’ policies for compliance with GPSNR’s Policy Framework.
  • Brief members on their obligations under the Policy Framework, Reporting Requirements, and Assurance Assessments
  1. Assurance System Management
  • Oversee the operation of GPSNR’s reporting requirements, including data publication and analysis.
  • Administer training for and approval of third party assessors.
  • Schedule, conduct, and close members’ annual third party assessments.
  • Publish the results of members’ assessments.
  • Handle complaints linked to assurance assessments.
  • Analyse assurance assessment results to identify trends and risks.
  • Conduct regular reviews of the assurance system and propose improvements.
  • Track and manage members’ assurance related terminations and suspensions.
  1. Stakeholder Engagement and Governance
  • Work with the Oversight Body, the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Task Force (MELTF), Assurance System Task Force (ASTF) and internal stakeholders to improve the assurance system.
  • Brief members on the platform’s latest developments, tools, and resources.
  • Brief members on GPSNR’s history and ongoing work.
  • Facilitate member discussion in the Assurance System Task Force.

Duties may evolve as the assurance system develops, and the role may take on other reasonably related tasks over time.

About You

You care about managing social and environment risks well and you’re motivated by creating change at scale in a global supply chain. You’re comfortable reviewing detailed technical and policy documents, and you don’t lose sight of the bigger picture while doing so.

You communicate clearly and diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders, including company representatives, NGOs, smallholder farmer representatives, and governance bodies, some of whom may have competing interests. You can hold a firm line on compliance requirements while keeping relationships constructive.

You work well independently, manage multiple concurrent workstreams without losing track of detail, and adapt your approach as the assurance system evolves.

You are comfortable working with data sets to analyze performance, and you are keen on making changes to promote improvements in process.

You actively build positive relationships with those whom you work with, both internal and external to the organization.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical or procedural requirements clearly to non specialist audiences.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, including experience managing sensitive conversations with diverse stakeholders.
  • Ability to manage several ongoing workstreams independently and prioritise in a dynamic environment.
  • Comfort with data analysis to identify trends or issues in reporting and assessment results.
  • Initiative to develop and improve procedures, templates, and processes.

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Experience reviewing compliance, audit, or policy documentation closely and accurately.
  • Experience with assurance, certification, or audit systems (for example ISO 19011, PEFC, FSC, ISCC, or similar).
  • Experience handling complaints, grievances, or dispute resolution processes.
  • Experience working within multi-stakeholder initiatives or membership organisations.
  • Background in agricultural commodities, supply chains, or sustainability.
  • Experience training or coaching others.
  • Proficiency in more than one language.

How to Apply

To apply, email your CV to aidan@gpsnr.org with the subject line “IA Associate Application 2026, [Your Name].” In the body of your email, please include a response in 100 words or less on why this role interests you and what makes you a strong fit.

Applications that don’t follow this format, or that are submitted only via LinkedIn’s Easy Apply, will be deprioritized.

More To Explore

News

GPSNR Working Groups Update: June 2023

Strategy and Objectives Working Group: 

The Traceability pilot field trials for the Risk Subgroup, led by consortiums Agridence and Koltiva, are now in full swing. Agridence provided a midpoint update during the June Hybrid meetings, highlighting their progress thus far.

Looking ahead, the Risk Subgroup is actively strategizing the next steps for ASI’s deliverable on the Risk Assessment Framework. This includes conducting internal piloting and aligning the tool with GPSNR commissioned studies to identify any potential gaps.

In an effort to standardize country levels within the tool, the Risk Subgroup will be issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to engage consultants who can contribute their expertise. Furthermore, the Risk Subgroup is in the preliminary stages of discussions with the Basel Institution, exploring a potential collaboration to address corruption risks in the supply chain. 

The Assurance Model Task force will convene to receive updates on the alignment of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the due diligence system, ensuring that progress is being made and objectives are being met. In order to create an Assurance Manual under the Members Progress Model, an RFP will be crafted and sent to consultants. This step aims to gather the necessary input and expertise to develop a comprehensive manual.

 

Smallholders Representation and Capacity Building (SCB) Working Group: 

The Smallholders Policy-Equivalent (SPE) Taskforce has successfully presented the final recommendations to the SCB WG, marking a significant milestone in their work. They are actively working towards obtaining endorsement from the SCB WG for their final recommendations as outlined in the report.

The HCSA-HCVN Field Trials have reached an important stage, with the preliminary final report being submitted for review and assessment. The HCSA-HCVN will soon submit the final report, marking the completion of this endeavor.

In an effort to promote knowledge sharing, the digital Knowledge Sharing Platform (KSP) Taskforce organised a meeting on 24th May 2023 for SCB WG members. The objective was to facilitate a better understanding of the KSP, and the service provider has already begun developing new features for the platform.

The Indonesia National Subgroup has taken the initiative to prepare quarterly progress reports for the GAP Coaching and Disease Fighting projects, providing updates to the SCB WG.

Meanwhile, the Thailand National Subgroup is currently in the process of evaluating proposals received for the Thailand GAP Coaching project. The deadline for proposal submissions is 30th June 2023.

The Agroforestry-Income Diversification Taskforce is working to finalize the schedule of workshops planned for 2023-2024.

Lastly, the SCB WG will continue to oversee all ongoing projects.

 

Policy Toolbox Working Group: 

In order to enhance the reporting process, input has been collected from members through a survey and stakeholder-specific meetings as part of the Year 1 Reporting Review process. The feedback received will play a crucial role in informing revisions to the Reporting Matrix and disclosure requirements for Years 2 and 3, as outlined in the Transparent Reporting Roadmap (TRR). Furthermore, discussions are underway to reach an agreement on the TRR for Year 2 reporting, with the Working Group currently finalizing updates received from the OEMs. To reflect the proposed changes to the reporting matrix, the Reporting Guidance will be updated accordingly, providing clear and comprehensive guidelines for reporting.

The Working Group has carefully selected consultant Petra Westerlaan to propose a quantitative orientation for the reporting matrix. This includes conducting a crosswalk analysis with other established reporting frameworks such as CDP Forest, GRI, and ZSL-SPOTT. The integration of quantification will not only facilitate data aggregation but also simplify the evaluation of annual progress. The consultant’s proposed revisions to the reporting framework will be evaluated and decided upon, and recommendations will be made to improve the reporting process and timelines.

In parallel, the Compliance Panel Terms of Reference (TOR) and operational guidance are being finalized based on the Assurance Model, ensuring a robust framework for ensuring compliance and accountability.

 

Shared Responsibility Working Group: 

During the face-to-face meeting, the Governance and Guiding principles were presented, highlighting their importance in shaping the future direction of GPSNR. Manufacturers are now required to seek internal approval regarding the Governance Framework and subsequently provide a final version for approval to the GPSNR Executive Committee (EC) and General Assembly.

The SR WG is actively engaged in defining an inclusive shared investment framework, encompassing various forms of contribution such as in-kind support, financial contributions, and external funding. The outcomes of discussions at the Manufacturers category level will play a crucial role in shaping this framework.

Collaborating with the Secretariat and other WGs, the SR WG is committed to revamping discussions on data sharing and value transfer, recognizing their significance in achieving our objectives. These discussions will seek to optimize the sharing of data and the value derived from it.

To provide clarity and transparency, the WG aims to define the value and benefits associated with each category within GPSNR, ensuring that all stakeholders are aware of the advantages and opportunities available.

Furthermore, the WG, in collaboration with the Capacity Building WG, is working on developing a protocol to filter and evaluate proposals based on the Equity definition and the stakeholders identified by the EC. This process will ensure fair and comprehensive evaluation of proposals.

Lastly, an open co-chair position is available, and volunteers are welcomed to contribute their expertise and leadership to drive the WG forward. If you are interested in taking on this role, please step forward and join us in this important endeavor.

By establishing effective governance, inclusive investment frameworks, and clear protocols, we are working towards a sustainable and equitable future for the natural rubber industry. Your participation and engagement are vital to our collective success.

News

GPSNR Working Groups Update: April 2024

Strategy and Objectives Working Group: Feedback on the Assurance model resolution has closed, and the finalised version of the resolution will be released shortly, along with other voting materials. The agenda for the in-person meetings has been released, and discussions will focus on further developing the assurance model. Members will now vote on the assurance model resolution at the Extraordinary General Assembly. Members are encouraged to participate in the in-person meetings and provide input on the assurance model content.

 

Smallholders Representation and Capacity Building (SCB) Working Group: A consultation call was held with smallholder members to discuss resolutions for the upcoming Extraordinary General Assembly. Instructional videos have been developed to aid smallholders in effectively using Zoom. All projects are progressing as planned, and we continue to oversee all ongoing projects.

Currently, the Income Diversification and Rubber Agroforestry Taskforce is actively preparing for a rubber agroforestry workshop in Liberia, planned for May 2024. Additionally, the project proposal template has been finalised, and we will soon issue a call for proposals to both members and the public. Once submitted, these proposals will be added to our project library for member review and potential funding.

Shared Responsibility Working Group: The Value Transfer Group has held subsequent meetings to discuss the value transfer proposal. The group continues to meet to refine this proposal, which will be presented at the in-person meetings in June. After the in-person meeting, the group hopes to run a pilot to test the proposal in the field.

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