Switzerland: Certification Officer (100%) (CERT-001)
Country: Switzerland
Closing date: 20 Aug 2013
Job Purpose: Improve and Administer the HAP certification scheme.
Reporting to: Certification Coordinator
Supervising staff/consultants: None
Background:
The Certification Officer will be a member of the HAP Secretariat team based in Geneva. To ensure that HAP certification inspires HAP Stakeholders confidence and trust, the Certification Officer will improve and administer the scheme based on the principles of impartiality, competence, responsibility, openness, confidentiality and responsiveness to complaints.
Specific Responsibilities:
1. Analysis and review
• Regularly analyse and review the HAP certification process, taking into consideration lessons learnt, and make appropriate recommendations for the continual improvement to a more efficient and effective HAP certification system.
• Explore other certification schemes with an aim of identifying good practices that can be adopted by HAP.
• Provide information and analysis findings in a format that allows use by the HAP Secretariat and members.
• Identify gaps in HAP’s third party auditing with reference to ISO guidelines for quality management systems auditing and institute the required corrective actions.
• Assist in streamlining systems and procedures of the certification scheme.
• Manage certification data in such a way that maintains integrity and security in order to ensure confidentiality as appropriate.
2. Certification Scheme support
• Communicate actively with applicants and certified organisations and assist them with all necessary information.
• Ensure that application files are complete and meets the requirements.
• Actively participate in the annual audit planning and track the steps in each audit.
• Monitor Agreed Corrective Action of each certified member and assist in validating the application of corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate certified organisations and auditor registers.
• Manage the logistic requirements for auditors.
• Assist in the quality control of audit reports.
• Assist in the preparation for Certification and Accreditation Review Board (CARB) meetings as required.
• Assist in the selection, evaluation and training of auditors.
• Working closely with communications section, prepare certificates, summary reports, news release etc. as part of the certification package for newly certified organisations.
3. Other functions:
• Promote HAP and the HAP Standard.
• Advocate for the promotion of humanitarian accountability.
• Contribute to the good reputation of the HAP audit process (competency, integrity, objectivity, confidentiality).
• Participate in strategic planning, work planning and budgeting.
• Identify good practices of accountability and quality management in humanitarian action.
Person Specifications
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills with attention to details.
• A team player with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• A pro-active, hard-working and reliable individual and work style.
• Excellent communication skills, flexible, experience in dealing with different cultures.
• Strong dedication towards supporting HAP member organisations.
• Motivation and familiarity with Humanitarian Quality and Accountability standards and principles.
• Excellent written and spoken English with fluency in French or Spanish an added advantage.
• Ethical, open-minded, diplomatic, collaborative, observant, perceptive, versatile, tenacious, decisive, self-reliant, professional and morally courageous.
Education, Qualifications and Experience
• University level in a relevant subject.
• At least 3 years’ field experience in the humanitarian and/or development sector working with a humanitarian agency.
• Knowledge of audit principles, practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of certification body’s processes.
• Knowledge of specific management systems standards/normative documents.
• Good working knowledge of word processing, PowerPoint, Excel and related computer programmes.
Desirable
• Prior experience in social auditing.
• Knowledge of quality initiatives, codes of practice, principles and standards commonly used in the humanitarian sector.
Terms and Conditions:
Contract: Open ended
Start: As soon as possible
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
How to apply:
Interested candidates should submit their applications (in English) by email to:
recruitment@hapinternational.org. Please send your CV, with covering letter, and names of three references (two of whom should be previous employers) and mention Certification Officer and your name in the subject line.
Deadline for applications:
August 20, 2013
Please note that we can only consider the applications of Swiss citizens and applicants with valid working permit in CH. Applications will only be considered when a copy of the permit is sent with the application.
