Program Director

SUMMARY

• Job Title: Program Director
• Contract Type: Full time employee
• Organization: Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI)
• Direct Manager: RMI Executive Director
• Location: France, ideally Saint Malo. (Remote can be discussed)
• Compensation: 55 to 65k€ gross annual, depending on profile and experience
• Apply by: August 30th.
• Starting date: ASAP

TO APPLY

Interested candidates can send their application (CV, cover letter and list of references) to the

following email address, mentioning the job title in the email’s subject line, no later than 5 pm

CET on August 30th, 2024 to: recruitment@responsible-mica-initiative.com.

/\ Incomplete applications will be disregarded.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Responsible Mica Initiative is looking for an ‘Program Director’, full-time, to advance RMI’s objectives, actions, representation, networks, and work in India and Madagascar. The Responsible Mica Initiative seeks an individual with strong leadership and team management skills, excellent communication and interpersonal skills and proven experience in managing development and supply chain’s related programs in developing countries, particularly in India and/or Madagascar. The successful candidate will be ideally based in Saint Malo, France, with possible remote work for part of the time, and will travel to India and Madagascar as per needs.

(Full remote remains a possible, not preferred, option).

The successful candidate will work closely with the Responsible Mica Initiative’s governance bodies, Executive Team, members, and partners, in India, Madagascar and internationally. It is important to note that RMI sees its role as one of mobilizing, catalyzing, stimulating, acting, transforming, and implementing at scale, … all this in a positive and supportive energy. RMI does not want to be a whistleblower, but a resource and solution provider.

MISSIONS & RESPONSABILITIES

In accordance with the decisions of the RMI’s Board of Directors, under the Executive Director’s management (based in Saint Malo, France), and in support of the entire executive team (based in France, India, and Madagascar) and members of RMI, the Program Director will:

Role Summary

The Program Director is responsible for overseeing and optimizing the operational activities of RMI in India and Madagascar. This role ensures that RMI’s programs are executed efficiently, effectively, and in alignment with the organization's mission and strategic goals. The Program Director will work closely with the in-country teams and other key stakeholders to deliver impactful programs that meet the needs of the communities and stakeholders served.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Planning:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of RMI’s overall strategy.
• Contribute to the development and lead the implementation of the specific related India and Madagascar strategies.
• Align programs’ activities with the strategic goals of the organization.
• Identify opportunities for operational improvement and innovation.

2. Program Management:

• Oversee daily operations in India and Madagascar, ensuring that activities are executed as planned.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with local regulations and organizational standards.

3. Program Implementation:

• Work with country teams to plan, execute, and monitor programs and projects.
• Ensure programs are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Regularly evaluate program outcomes and impact, making adjustments as necessary.

4. Team Leadership:

• Lead, mentor, and support the teams in both countries.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance work environment.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide professional development opportunities.

5. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate with members, government agencies, local partners, similar initiatives, other NGOs… to enhance program delivery.
• Represent RMI in meetings, conferences, and forums.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.

6. Financial Management

• Oversee budget preparation, allocation, and expenditure tracking for programs.
• Ensure financial integrity and accountability in all operational activities.
• Work with the RMI team to prepare financial reports for members and donors.

7. Risk Management:

• Identify and mitigate programs’ risks.
• Develop and implement safety and security protocols for staff and beneficiaries.
• Ensure contingency plans are in place for emergencies.

8. Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepare or supervise preparation of regular reports on programs’ activities, program progress, and impact.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation for all operational processes.
• Ensure transparency and accountability in all programs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Business Administration, International Development, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in program management, preferably with a mix of private sector and NGO experience.
• Proven experience managing programs in developing countries, particularly in India and/or Madagascar.
• Preferred experience in working on addressing child labor situations, human rights abuses, and other related projects.
• Strong leadership and team management skills. Ability to work pro-actively and independently. Ability to multitask and prioritize projects.
• Excellent financial management and budgeting skills.
• Ability to work effectively in cross-cultural environments.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Good reporting capacity.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Passionate about bringing people together to effect social, economic, environmental change.
• Humble, persevering, capacity to federate and embark.
• Proficiency in English and French; knowledge of additional languages (Hindi, Malagasy, Chinese etc.) is a plus.
• Willingness to travel to India and Madagascar (not on a frequent basis).

CONTRACT TYPE

Full-time employee position, with a 4-month (renewable) probation period.

COMPENSATION

Compensation shall be commensurate with qualification and experience, from 55 to 65k€ gross annual.

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THE CONTEXT OF THE MICA INDUSTRY

Mica is a family of 37 minerals used in many applications. Its visual properties make it an exceptional pigment base. Mica is widely used in the cosmetics industry, in paints and coatings, and in inks. Mica is also an excellent insulator. It is used in the electronics industry, in plastics as a filler, and in building materials. The petroleum industry, especially drilling, also uses mica for its specific properties. The automotive industry, as a user of paint and electronic components, is an important end user of mica.

About 25% of the world's production comes from India, in particular from the two states of Bihar and Jharkhand, where mica is produced by artisanal miners. Similarly, a significant portion of the world's production comes from the southern regions of Madagascar. The poverty-stricken situation in which artisanal mining communities live often leaves them with no choice but to rely on their children’s work to support the family. The lack of access to quality education, social services, … are other root causes for this situation. In 2019, it was estimated that 10,000 children were working in mica mines in Madagascar, and in 2022, that 30,000 children were working in mica mines in Bihar and Jharkhand.

ESTABLISHING COLLABORATION

In 2016, stakeholders from across the mica value chain, including mica using companies, NGOs and other civil society organizations, eager to find ways to address the systemic issues of child labor and poor working conditions in the upstream mica value chain (mines and processing units) gathered in New Delhi, India, for the first-ever Mica Summit. Together, they committed to action. The Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI) was born.

ABOUT THE RESPONSIBLE MICA INITIATIVE (RMI): TOWARDS FAIR, RESPONSIBLE

& SUSTAINABLE MICA SUPPLY CHAINS

The Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI) is a global ‘Coalition for Action’ – putting policy into practice – comprised of multiple organizations committed to establishing fair, responsible, and sustainable mica supply chains globally, that will eliminate unacceptable working conditions and eradicate child labor.

RMI uses a multi-stakeholder and holistic approach that engages companies, civil society organizations, industry associations, and governments to develop and implement three integrated program pillars that will establish responsible workplace standards, empower local communities, and establish a legal framework for the mica sector. RMI started its program in 2017 in the two states of Jharkhand and Bihar in India, and in 2022 in

the South of Madagascar. RMI's program pillars follow and fulfill the goals established by intergovernmental agencies, such as the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the United Nations Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs), and the OECD's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict and High-Risk Areas. Since its creation, the approach developed by RMI has been recognized on multiple occasions as innovative and effective (by the U.S. Department of Labor, by the United Nations, by the International Labor Organization).

Today, RMI has around 100 members, including companies in the cosmetics, paints, pigments,

automotive, cables and other industrial applications industries, as well as their suppliers, and NGOs.