Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Jennifer Jahnke

Denver,CO

Summary

Business and human rights expert working to advance community-based worker-driven human rights due diligence (HRDD) to address human trafficking, forced labor, child labor, and labor exploitation in value chains. Professional experience working for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Forced Labor Division (FLD), the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), private sector, and civil society.

Overview

24
24
years of professional experience

Work History

Founder, Executive Director

The Tendai Initiative
Denver, CO
12.2023 - Current
  • Launched a non-profit to advance worker-driven and community-based HRDD in high-risk value chains.
  • Regularly research and analyze forced labor, human trafficking, child labor, trade and labor policy, and forced labor regulatory requirements to inform recommendations, guidance and implementation plans for community-based worker-driven HRDD.
  • Research includes literature reviews, interviews with workers and community representatives, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Advocate for outcome-based "bottom-up" strategies that target the root causes of child labor, forced labor, human trafficking and gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the United States.
  • Identifying barriers to decent employment opportunities for vulnerable populations such as women, migrant workers, and people with disabilities.
  • Establishing partnerships with the Campaign to End US Child Labor, to convene trade unions, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to advocate for credible responses to child labor in the United States.
  • Panelist at "Mind Your Business: Lessons in Corporate Accountability" event, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB), where I advocated for moving beyond social compliance audits to invest in worker-driven HRDD in communities.

Freelance Consultant

Jahnke Consulting
Denver, CO
04.2023 - Current
  • Conducted GAP analysis of HRDD program of Fortune 100 electronics company and developed a 3–5-year plan to implement worker-driven and community-based programs. Included credible worker voice programs. This addressed forced labor throughout the electronics supply chain, including the worst forms of child labor in the minerals sector.
  • Advised responsible seafood organization on worker-driven, community-based HRDD guidance, with an eye towards improved regulatory compliance. The guidance stresses the importance of worker representation, including Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. Drafted report and website content to support the roll-out of new guidance.

Associate Director

Impactt
Denver, CO
01.2022 - 04.2023
  • Advised Malaysian palm oil supplier on forced labor remediation verification and drafted report to support a Withhold Release Order (WRO) modification petition.
  • Designed a community-based worker-driven HRDD and remediation model for a USDOL-ILAB funded project in the Dominican Republic sugar industry. Included both worker voice and worker participation mechanisms.
  • Speaker at industry association meetings and webinars regarding regulatory risk in the solar industry (IPECA), recruitment fee remediation in southeast Asia (private sector sponsor), forced labor risk in apparel supply chains (Fair Labor Association).
  • Conducted GAP Analysis of HRDD systems at Fortune 500 electronic, apparel and seafood companies, with recommendations for worker-centered HRDD, and 3–5-year implementation plans.
  • Managed forced labor assessment of working conditions on a fishing vessel under a WRO, developed remediation recommendations and a customized implementation plan.
  • Managed project teams tasked with identifying and recommending remediation in cases of human trafficking and forced labor in seafood processing centers in southeast Asia.
  • Advised companies to develop policies and procedures consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).
  • Team leader of forced labor assessments in the U.S. and U.K construction sector. Developed risk assessment and intake triage assessment for allegations or findings.

Sr. Social Responsibility Manager

Amazon
Denver, CO
05.2020 - 01.2022
  • Provided technical support to human rights case managers overseeing responses to allegations of forced labor, responsible recruitment, human trafficking, hazardous conditions, GBVH or building integrity issues.
  • Represented Amazon in industry associations meetings with the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), USCIB - Labor/Customs Working Groups and Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced (YESS).
  • Drafted remediation guidance for case managers and suppliers to guide users through a credible remediation process.
  • Developed collaborative remediation pilot projects for implementation by organizations committed to worker-centered and community-level remediation.

International Trade Specialist

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Forced Labor
Washington, DC
01.2018 - 05.2020
  • Investigated forced labor and forced child labor conditions to support trade enforcement actions.
  • Designed and delivered training sessions regarding forced labor/forced child labor investigations, limitations of social compliance audits, and certifications.
  • Evaluated remediation verification reports and advise senior leadership on modification petitions.
  • Convened trade unions, civil society, and credible responsible sourcing initiatives in an NGO working group to collaborate with key stakeholders on the forced labor trade enforcement portfolio.
  • Advised private sector stakeholders on compliance with forced labor trade enforcement requirements.
  • Mentored new staff and provided on-the-job training to support forced labor/forced child labor investigations.

Investigator

U.S. Department of Labor
Denver, CO
03.2004 - 05.2010
  • Interviewed witnesses and suspects to collect information related to cases.
  • Analyzed financial records and organizational/management documentation to identify gaps in management structures and financial irregularities.
  • Conducted compliance audits of organizations to identify gaps in management systems.
  • Developed investigative plans, conducted fieldwork, and drafted reports for review by senior management, AUSAs, and local prosecutors.
  • Completed criminal investigations training program to earn 1801 criminal investigator designation.

Team Leader/International Project Manager

U.S. Department of Labor, International Bureau
Washington, DC
05.2001 - 03.2004
  • Team Leader of the HIV/AIDS Workplace Prevention Program, including 25 country programs and a $60M budget.
  • Managed 10 sub-Saharan African projects on international labor systems, industrial relations improvement, workforce inclusion for vulnerable populations, job matching services and HIV/AIDS workplace prevention programs.
  • Designed a pilot project for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) to provide life skills training, psycho-social support, and either match young adults in non-hazardous apprenticeships or place younger children in school, to prevent the worst forms of child labor.

International Economist

U.S. Department of Labor, International Bureau
Washington, DC
05.2000 - 05.2001
  • Researched efforts of governments to adhere to international labor standards, including prohibitions on forced labor and the worst forms of child labor, in countries covered by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
  • Researched, analyzed and drafted country-level recommendations to support preferential trade benefits eligibility. This includes in-depth reports of high-risk countries.

Education

Master of Arts - International Trade

Middlebury Institute of International Studies
Monterey, CA
05.2000

Bachelor of Science - Political Science And Economics

Regis University
Denver, CO
12.1997

Skills

  • Remediation expert on forced labor, human trafficking, recruitment fees, and forced child labor
  • Advised suppliers subject to trade enforcement action on credible remediation and verification Drafted report to supplement WRO modification petition
  • Experience in agriculture, apparel, construction, consumer goods, electronics, medical products, minerals, and seafood supply chains and value chains
  • Advancing prevention programs by mitigating root causes of human rights abuses and labor exploitation
  • Project management experience - both as an ILAB International Project Manager and with USDOL-ILAB funded projects
  • Consistently coordinating with responsible sourcing initiatives, trade unions, civil society organizations, traceability experts, and government representatives to advance credible HRDD strategies

Timeline

Founder, Executive Director

The Tendai Initiative
12.2023 - Current

Freelance Consultant

Jahnke Consulting
04.2023 - Current

Associate Director

Impactt
01.2022 - 04.2023

Sr. Social Responsibility Manager

Amazon
05.2020 - 01.2022

International Trade Specialist

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Forced Labor
01.2018 - 05.2020

Investigator

U.S. Department of Labor
03.2004 - 05.2010

Team Leader/International Project Manager

U.S. Department of Labor, International Bureau
05.2001 - 03.2004

International Economist

U.S. Department of Labor, International Bureau
05.2000 - 05.2001

Master of Arts - International Trade

Middlebury Institute of International Studies

Bachelor of Science - Political Science And Economics

Regis University

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