Apparel Program Officer

IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative

The mission of IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative is to catalyze systemic change through collaborative action and to achieve market transformation for impact at scale. IDH convenes companies, CSOs, governments, and others in public-private partnerships. Together we drive the joint design, co-funding, and prototyping of new economically viable approaches to realize green & inclusive growth at scale in commodity sectors and sourcing areas. Our approaches are designed to drive sustainability from niche to norm in mainstream markets, delivering impact on Sustainable Development Goals. We focus on creating a positive impact on deforestation, living incomes, and living wages, working conditions, toxic loading, and gender. IDH is supported by multiple European governments (Dutch, Swiss, Danish, and Norwegian) and we work together with over 600 companies, CSOs, financial institutions, producer organizations, and governments in 11 sectors (apparel, cotton, tea, coffee, spices, aquaculture…) and 11 landscapes in over 50 countries worldwide. IDH is a dynamic and demanding organization of about 140 staff members and permanent consultants at the Headquarter in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and many overseas offices and hubs in South America, Asia, and Africa.

Starting operation in Vietnam in 2010, IDH has since established strong partnerships with businesses, government, and civil society organizations working on coffee, tea, cocoa, spices/pepper, aquaculture, and apparel/footwear sectors. Recently, promoting and enabling embedded sustainable manufacturing practices (IDH manufacturing program) has been newly identified as one of the IDH focus sectors in Vietnam from now up to 2025. Through the manufacturing program, IDH would like to deliver the impacts on: reduced use of natural resources and energy, reduction in plastic & textile waste, greater transparency & traceability in production, increased gender equality and participation, reduced carbon footprints, increased circular production and manufacturing models, and increased living incomes of workers.

To strengthen its team in Vietnam, IDH is recruiting a:

Apparel Program Officer - Vietnam

this position is based in Hanoi city

Job profile

IDH is currently looking for candidates for the position of Program Officer to support the development and implementation of the Apparel program (Business Unit Textiles and Manufacturing) in Vietnam. The position will work closely with the Apparel Program Manager.  

The position will be based in Hanoi and report to the Apparel Program Manager and Country Director of IDH in Vietnam

Key responsibilities

The Apparel Program Officer is technically in charge of supporting the Apparel program’s activities in Vietnam to create positive impacts on Better Jobs and Better Environment and Better income. He/she will be responsible to coordinate with local partners and stakeholders to ensure that work plans and agreed targets are met timely while complying with cost limits.

Duties:

Program Support

• Support overall coordination of  the Apparel program in Vietnam and ensure targeted results and impact of the program at field level and upscaling to lead to the changes in business practices and at sector governance level with support and guidance from IDH headquarter.
• Support the planning process, implementation, and monitoring of the program.
• Review project reports, invoices, and provide inputs to consider and release for approval.
• Support the program with research, administration, and logistics.
• Support the organization of input from the program partners to enable operations to run the required program administration and reporting. This includes the development of performance indicators for the management of program pipeline deliverables.
• Support the planning, organization, and coordination of events and workshops as required Stakeholder management and networking
• Support private sector and donor engagement.
• Maintain contacts with existing and potential program stakeholders. Maintain the program’s network  and develop new partnerships, especially within Vietnam.
• Support the maintenance and expansion of the IDH’s donor base, support colleagues doing similar work, and contribute to the further strategic development of IDH.

Apparel program development

• Support in the development and implementation of the Apparel program in Vietnam up to 2025, including reporting and development of program pipeline deliverables. This will be done by working closely with implementing partners
• Support the implementation of the INSTEP program in Viet Nam, with focuses on the implementation of Mill Optimization with focuses on Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production applied for factories located inside selected industrial parks.
• Support the collaboration between IDH and MONRE, brands and other development organisations.
• Support the collaboration with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other relevant partners for promoting sustainable industrial parks, especially Textiles Industrial Parks, in Vietnam.  Support other work as required.

Requirements

Candidates will be selected on the basis of key criteria:

• Good general knowledge and understanding of Vietnamese textiles and apparel industry.
• Good knowledge and experience working with the private sector, especially the private sector in textiles and apparel industry and its supply chain.
• Strong track record and background in environmental and social sustainability and an ability to articulate an understanding of both domestic and international requirements.
• Able to manage programs with a diverse group of stakeholders with an inclusive attitude, defining common goals and implementing actions.
• Able to oversee field level implementation issues and resolve conflicts.
• Fluent in Vietnamese and English.
• Familiarity with the manufacturing supply chain (e.g. apparel and footwear industry).
• Works to achieve agreed objectives and is accountable for meeting or exceeding them.
• Demonstrated ability in team working.

Terms and conditions

The successful applicant will be offered a consultancy contract for one year with competitive remuneration, but with a very high possibility to extend. IDH offers a challenging position with opportunities for growth within an enthusiastic and passionate team and as an IDH team member, you can contribute to positive global change.

For more information about IDH, please visit http://www.idhtrade.org. For questions about this position, please contact Mr. Huynh Tien Dung at [email protected]  

How to apply

Interested candidates should send their CV/resume and application letter (in English), explaining their interest and capabilities for the position, to Ms. Le Thi Huong Lan, HR Officer, at [email protected] and copy to [email protected] before 30^th June 2022  mentioning “Application for  the Apparel Program Officer” in the subject line.

IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative

Arthur van Schendelstraat 500,
3511 MH Utrecht
P.O. Box 1241, 3500 BE UTRECHT, The Netherlands
www.idhsustainabletrade.com

IDH Vietnam Office

Room 401, B1 Building, Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound
No. 298 Kim Ma, Ba Dinh, Hanoi