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Not-A-Product-Manager Job

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The role may evolve, and its scope be extended, based on project findings and other company activities. Although the objective is to eventually establish a Product Team, please note an emphasis on data management and quality review in the early stages.

 

Start Date: As soon as possible

 

Primary Location: Brussels, Belgium (“CDD”). Remote work applications possible strictly on a consultancy basis (similar net monthly remuneration).

 

Duration: 6 months (extendable subject to developments with ongoing projects needs and funding)

 

Remuneration: Between 1,500 and 2,500 euros after tax - based on profile and commensurate to your added value.

 

Application Process: Applicants should apply with a CV and a cover letter. Applications should be emailed to info@bcha.in by 31 August and must include Junior Product Manager in the subject.

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Company​

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BetterChain is a supply chain innovation firm with ten years of experience in the Artisanal & Small-Scale Mining (ASM) and mineral trade sectors, particularly in Central Africa.

 

The company was created by experts in the design of due diligence programs and systems to assist community-based operations in their access to international markets, in compliance with global standards on responsible sourcing.

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Vision

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Our approach is built upon the following core principles:

• Raw materials producers and trade actors in resource-rich countries should be able to demonstrate their conformance to international regulation themselves, without systematic (costly) foreign intervention

• Local stakeholders must control their narrative and be recognised as the primary holders of local knowledge; international requests for information / transparency should be directed to local organisations rather than (costly) international “experts”

• All the information required in order to meet international expectations is readily available locally; what is needed is a set of (cost-effective) methods and systems to organise and report that information in a consistent manner

• Continuous information, when consolidated from multiple independent and capacitated local actors, is more valuable than spot checks by international auditors and certification programs.

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Information Framework

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BetterChain has developed and supports the deployment of the Consolidated Autonomous Due Diligence (CADD) Framework, which facilitates homogenous information reporting by all supply chain stakeholders in Conflict-Affected & High-Risk Areas (CAHRA).

The CADD Framework consists of the following CADD Tools:

• Standardised templates for information compilation

• Guidelines for information collection and verification

• Open-source registries to serve as a global classification system for non-standard information

• Protocol to articulate stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities with regards to mineral supply chain due diligence

• Software for information collection, compilation, reporting and visualisation

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Project

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BetterChain has been selected to deploy the CADD Framework in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the USAID-funded Commercially Viable Conflict Free Gold (CVCFG) Program, which is implemented by US NGO Global Communities (GC).

The three primary objectives of the CVCFG Program are to:

1. Increase co-investment in conflict-free traceable ASM gold from Eastern DRC

2. Increase exports of conflict-free traceable ASM gold from Eastern DRC

3. Improve the commercial viability of ASM gold Cooperatives

 

BetterChain’s intervention will directly contribute to objective 2, but also aims to supports objectives 1 and 3 by transforming the way information is managed in countries like DRC and turn ASM into an attractive investment proposition.

 

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Role Description

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The Junior Product Manager is in charge of implementing our company’s vision for data collection and reporting, liaise with information providers in country and articulate the business value of the application to the systems team. In the CVCFG context, the Junior Product Manager plays a crucial role in the coordination of local Project activities through active engagement with the team in DR Congo, and facilitation of Project reporting and communication activities.

 

Objectives

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• Organise and coordinate activities implemented by the local Project team and system users (incl. supply chain participants and the local monitoring partner)

• Monitor the delivery of application features for both inputs (local data collection) and outputs (format and design)

• Support the management team in the design and implementation of client-side features

• Incorporate user feedback and requirements into system development and deployment schedule, in close collaboration with the Systems Manager and development team

• Identify opportunities to improve the application or expand its scope

• Lean and efficient data flow from origin to market

 

Tasks

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The below activities are subject to the evolving context of BetterChain operations (and CVCFG requirements).

 

Refine and deploy the BetterChain data collection solution (50 %)

• Aggregate feedback on the local data compilation process and adjust questionnaires accordingly

  • Liaison with information sources (FR, EN)

  • Adjustment of questionnaire formats (primarily KoboToolBox), structure and logic (Kobo, DataStake)

  • Maintain data repositories / registries and ensure consistency across platforms

  • Other related forms of troubleshooting

• Market research:

  • Identification of relevant providers, opportunities, partnerships, conferences and other relevant events

• Activity communication:

  • Contribution to Project presentations and other existing communication materials with regards to collected information

  • Support project reporting to partners and donors

  • Participation to CVCFG consortium calls (when applicable)

• Country office liaison activities

  • Support the coordination of field activities (local partner roadmaps, data collection and compilation activities, local outreach and stakeholder engagement, etc.)

  • Collect daily updates on local staff activities

• Support associated activities related to the project which can include

  • Local capacity building activities (development of training modules, design of roadmaps and training programs, etc.)

  • Establishment of a network of local information relays (LIR) by the local Project team (continuous communication, on-going technical assistance, reinforcement of the network, identification of additional LIRs – continuous process, etc)

  • Support to gold traceability system integration and deployment

 

Collaborate with developers to deliver a scalable data management software (30%)

• User experience

  • Collaborate with management team to curate and expand on existing use cases and user stories

  • Testing of application features for all categories of user and associated feedback to the development team

  • Involvement in UI and design discussions to relay specificities and constraints associated with data input countries

  • Ensure consistency of application design with data privacy and business confidentiality requirements

• Client features

  • Liaise with management team to prioritise and organise application development efforts

  • Consult with users to gather suggestions and feedback

  • Plan and coordinate the delivery of application features in alignment with CVCFG Project schedule

 

Administrative support of Project activities and logistical management (20%)

• General administrative support in relation to the above activities

  • Translation of associated Project documents (French & English)

  • Community management and communication planning

  • Developing templates for administrative / financial follow-up with local stakeholders (timesheet, etc) (if applicable)

• Local project administrative support:

  • Monitor local accounting and financial planning

  • Verify invoices and process corresponding payments

  • Monitor expenses against operational budget

 

Requirements: Experience and Qualifications

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• Preferably based in Brussels (Belgium), but the role is suitable for remote work

• Bachelor’s Degree with five years of professional experiences or Master’s Degree with one / two years of professional experiences, preferably in either of the following sectors:

  • International development

  • Corporate Sustainability

  • Data Analysis

  • ICT / Innovation

• Good organisation, attention to detail

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Proactivity, self-motivation and ability to take initiatives, problem-solving oriented

• I.T. skills including experience with productivity hacks and applications such as Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint), Mailchimp, Monday, Jira (preferred) Trello or similar-purpose alternatives

• Fluent in English and French. And we mean fluent like you have identified many issues with the way this opportunity is formulated

 

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X factor

• Experience with (or demonstrated ability to quickly handle) KoboToolBox or similar data collection solutions

• Demonstrated experience with product management / successful delivery track-record

• Experience in Donor project reporting

• Creative design skills like the format of this page hurts your eyes

 

Non-conventional backgrounds welcome. We value creativity, resilience and attention to detail more than we care about names in your CV