Associate - Operations

Department: Operations (Sourcing)
Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Reports To: Manager – Operations
Nature of Role: Field-based (90% Field Work)

About Plastics For Change

Plastics For Change has developed a sustainable sourcing platform connecting waste collectors to global brands to ensure a steady supply of high-quality recycled material. This fair-trade verified ethical sourcing platform aims to improve products' social and environmental impact by creating efficient shared-value chains and increasing the quality of recycled plastic. Plastics For Change provides the expertise to replace virgin plastic with ethically sourced recycled plastic. Join us in our mission to create dignified livelihoods and prevent ocean plastic by visiting www.plasticsforchange.org.

Role Summary

We are looking for a highly committed and passionate individual who believes in bringing change in the informal recycling sector through community relations and capacity building. This individual should be passionate about grass-root field work. We are looking for people who share our values and are driven to create social and economic inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

1. Stakeholder Engagement

1. Identifying, networking, mobilising and engaging key stakeholders across the informal sector in plastic recycling industry to formal supply chain. Our key stakeholders are Home Based Workers (HBW), Waste Pickers (WP), Itinerant Buyers (IB), Van Units (VU), Dry Waste Collection Centre (DWCC), Waste Pickers Community Leaders, Scrap Shops (SS), Wholesaler etc.

2. Enrolling and managing stakeholders on PFC platform.

3. Building trust with stakeholders to maintain strong working relationships.

4. Increasing plastic sourcing and supply from stakeholders by ensuring ethical sourcing and fair price.

5. Facilitating management and client visits with stakeholders.

2. Capacity Building

1. Conducting one-to-one capacity building to strengthen stakeholders working capacity w.r.t PFC Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

2. Conducting one-to-one CRM (mobile technology) training for stakeholders.

3. Creating awareness and sensitising stakeholders on various social/govt. schemes and services, statutory compliances and policies with the help of NGO/Franchise partners.

4. Facilitating stakeholder formalisation in the sector by enabling opening bank accounts, PAN, ensuring statutory compliances, policies etc.

3. Reporting and Documentation

1. Maintaining various due-diligence and other required documentation at stakeholder level, managing, monitoring and reviewing it periodically.

2. Ensuring timely, concise and accurate reports on a daily, weekly and monthly basis on prescribed formats.

3. Ensuring timely, concise and accurate CRM updates and also ensuring stakeholders are updating it regularly.

4. Maintain case work and community work documents of stakeholders.

5. Help managers and teams to capture information from the field as and when required.

4. General Responsibilities

1. Ensure professionalism at all times and demonstrate exemplary prioritisation of workload skills.

2. Ensure that the PFC policies, SOPs and protocols are being adhered to at all levels of the company.

3. Ensure strict adherence to data confidentiality and security.

4. Willingness to travel frequently cross Bengaluru city, sometimes at short notice, including other places as per need of project or company.

5. Work closely with PFC team and Partners.

Qualifications & Experience

• Graduate with 2+ years of field work experience in the informal sector.
• Good understanding of social and environmental concepts and methods.
• Experience of being part of any program/project management or field work would be an added advantage.
• Past Experience of working in the fields of Urban or Rural Development, Environment, Community Relations / Interventions / Engagement, Plastics Recycling, Waste Management will be helpful.
• Fluency in local language and moderate English working Knowledge.
• Sound understanding of informal sector and vulnerable communities

Skills Required

• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in field alone.
• Open to new challenges.
• Good data management, documentation and reporting skills.
• Good computer skills – MS Office and Working on CRM.
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise tasks.
• Eye for detail.
• Able to learn new systems, methods, processes and procedures.
• Able to meet deadlines and produce quality outputs.
• Proactive and self motivated.
• Humility, honesty, transparency, integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive as per industry standards, including performance bonus, medical insurance, and a fixed travel allowance.

Application Process

To apply, please send your CV in PDF format to recruitment@plasticsforchange.com with the subject line: “Application for Associate - operations (Sourcing)– Chennai”.

DISCLAIMER

PFC is an equal employment opportunity for all employees and provides employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at PFC are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. PFC will not tolerate any kind of discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. PFC encourages applicants of all ages.