Safeguarding Specialist

Starting Date: ASAP
Contract type: Full-time and open-ended
Salary: As per respective grade and commensurate with relevant experience and skills
Location: Lahore – Pakistan
Application closing date: 29 10 2024

About the Job
We are thrilled to offer an exciting opportunity for a talented professional to join our organisation as a Safeguarding Specialist.

You will play a crucial role in driving this initiative forward and making a positive impact on both our company and the global textile industry. If you are passionate about sustainability, possess strong relevant skills, and want to contribute to a greener future, we invite you to join our team.

You will be line managed by the Country Director and matrix managed by the Safeguarding Manager at Global.

Your role and responsibilities

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Act as a champion for safeguarding at Better Cotton Pakistan; driving a culture of safety and protection across the organisation and its partners.
• Ensure that Better Cotton Pakistan’s strategic plans meet Better Cotton Safeguarding framework and is fully integrated into strategic plans, meeting the highest standards of safeguarding, national and international legislation, and the specific requirements of donors, government bodies, and other stakeholders.
• Lead the development of advanced, Pakistan-specific safeguarding training programmes, continuously enhancing capacity across Pakistan teams and partners through comprehensive training, awareness sessions, and specialised workshops.
• Provide high-level guidance to partners on enhancing their safeguarding practices, ensuring alignment with corrective action plans, due diligence standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Work with the Safeguarding Manager on country-specific safeguarding initiatives, including high-level risk assessments, survivor support strategies, and large-scale awareness-raising campaigns.
• Manage a Safeguarding hotline in Pakistan and develop and maintain a network of qualified investigators for prompt deployment when needed.
• Lead or co-lead safeguarding investigations, acting as a senior investigator or Investigations Manager, ensuring all incidents are handled with the utmost care, confidentiality, and professionalism, while ensuring survivors receive necessary support services.
• Serve as the point of contact for safeguarding matters, offering expert-level guidance to staff, partners, stakeholders, and external parties on complex safeguarding issues and incidents.
• Oversee the management of complaints, working closely with the Complaints Monitoring Team to manage all Complaints related to Pakistan including reviewing complaints received in the inbox.
• Lead the process of engaging and managing external investigators for complex cases, including drafting high-level TORs, managing contracts, and overseeing payment processes.
• Ensure the Pakistan team’s full compliance with Better Cotton’s safeguarding policies, as well as key procedures related to Internet Usage, Whistleblowing, Code of Conduct, Risk Management, and Fraud Prevention.
• Ensure that Better Cotton Pakistan is meeting its obligations to legal authorities concerning safeguarding and child protection.
• Manage and oversee Better Cotton Pakistan’s risk management framework, ensuring that risk registers are regularly reviewed, updated, and that mitigation strategies are effectively implemented.
• Review the insurance policies that Better Cotton Pakistan has in place and identify and remedy any gaps.

We are looking for someone who has
the following experience and skills:

Essential

• Advanced degree or equivalent work experience in law, international development, social studies, or a related discipline, with a specific focus on safeguarding or child protection.
• At least 5-7 years of advisor or specialist level experience in safeguarding, protection, or related fields, preferably within NGOs, international organisations, government agencies, or security firms.
• Extensive experience in leading complex safeguarding investigations, including handling financial misconduct, and other sensitive issues.
• Demonstrable experience working with sensitive material in high-pressure environments, ensuring confidentiality and adherence to the highest ethical standards.
• Demonstrable experience with safeguarding data management systems, including the ability to analyse complex safeguarding and legislative data sets and produce high-level reports for decision-makers.
• In-depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policies, procedures, and international standards, with a proven track record of applying this knowledge to develop and implement organisational strategies.
• Strong experience in designing, delivering, and evaluating large-scale learning and development initiatives, including blended learning solutions and digital training content.
• Highly solution-oriented with proven ability to manage high-stakes, high-pressure situations, demonstrating sound judgment, strategic thinking, and leadership.
• Exceptional ability to develop innovative solutions to complex safeguarding challenges, applying both creative and practical approaches.
• Strong emotional resilience, with a proven ability to adapt to rapidly changing environments and manage stress in a safeguarding role.
• Extensive experience in leading and implementing safeguarding strategies across multiple countries or regions, ensuring consistent and effective practices.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, drive organisational change, and lead safeguarding initiatives across the organisation and partner networks.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate at a senior level across multiple teams and diverse cultures, both in-person and through virtual platforms, building and maintaining strong professional relationships.
• Superior organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects and deliver results on time and within scope.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, capable of presenting high-level information clearly to senior audiences, boards, and external stakeholders.
• Proficient in the use of advanced IT tools, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and data analysis software.
• Fluent in English, with excellent presentation skills, including the ability to lead senior-level training and deliver visually compelling presentations to large groups.

Desirable

• Master’s degree in law, international development, social studies, or a related field, with a focus on safeguarding or protection.
• Extensive experience working in international, multi-cultural environments with a focus on safeguarding and protection.
• Knowledge of livelihoods, decent work initiatives, and legal frameworks related to safeguarding practices in complex settings.
• Legal expertise in safeguarding, human rights, or child protection issues, providing a solid foundation for managing complex legal safeguarding cases.

What we offer

• Competitive salary.
• Hybrid working – (Depending upon location).
• Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time.
• Medical outdoor coverage.
• Indoor Health insurances for self and dependant/s.
• Life Insurance.
• Terminal benefit (Gratuity).
• Continuous learning and development.
• 25 days paid annual leave, plus 8-9 Bank Holidays and a further 3 days off and parental benefits.
• A warm, positive working environment where everyone is valued.
• The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.

Working arrangements

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based in Lahore – Pakistan. Better Cotton offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm. The position might require travel domestically as well as internationally, if needed.

Our hiring process

Initial Screening:
If you are selected, you will be contacted for an initial screening, which may involve a brief phone interview or video call. The purpose is to learn more about you, confirm basic qualifications, and discuss the role and organisation.

Interviews:
If you are confirmed after the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management.

Assessment and Testing:
Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position.

Reference Checks:
Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history.

Offer stage:
After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details.

About Better Cotton
Better Cotton is the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme. Our 200+ colleagues of 37+ nationalities are united by a shared passion and commitment to achieving the Better Cotton mission: to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. Through our network of field-level partners a quarter of the world’s cotton is now grown under the Better Cotton Standard. We have united the industry’s stakeholders behind our efforts, from ginners and spinners to brand owners, civil society organisations and governments. Everyone who cares about cotton and its sustainable future can now be part of something better.

About our Values
The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are:

• Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible)​
• As having Integrity (including responsible, authentic)​
• Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic)​
• Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic)​
• Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing) ​

Being you @ Better Cotton
Better Cotton is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.