Smallholders Representation Working Group Update – March 2020

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The appointed Country Champions have been in contact with the smallholders to ensure a good understanding of GPSNR through familiarization with the Statutes and Code of Conduct. These socialization efforts were carried out by means of teleconferencing, some taking place with the aid of interpreters. To complement these preliminary engagement sessions, the Working Group is creating a customised programme for the smallholders prior to this year’s General Assembly. It is important for the smallholders to meet face-to-face and have the chance to get to know each other, considering that some of them have never stepped foot outside their own country. As they will have to decide who will represent them in the Executive Committee if the new ‘Smallholder Producers’ membership category is approved, interaction with each other is imperative for them to make informed decisions.  

The sub-Group specially formed to focus on this issue has proposed a first draft of the programme, which was discussed at the recent Working Group meeting. At the moment, the programme includes sessions for the smallholders to learn more about each other, about GPSNR and the impact of their votes. They will also guide the smallholders in identifying their priorities and needs, and include sharing from GPSNR members in the other categories, so that smallholders can better understand how they can be effective members and work with others at both Working Group and Executive Committee levels. Aside from these proposed sessions, a half-day field trip is also being considered as a socio-cultural component. 

Looking towards the future, the Working Group is having ongoing discussions on how best to integrate smallholders into the various Working Groups. The language barrier has been identified as a key issue to address in order to achieve full inclusivity of smallholders. .

More To Explore

Impacts and Assurance Associate, Sustainability and Compliance

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.

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