Policy and Outreach Director

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ISEAL is an international non-profit organisation that codifies best practice for the design and implementation of social and environmental standards systems. ISEAL shapes the context in which voluntary standards systems operate, by defining what good practice looks like for the sector, as well as through influencing how external stakeholders think about and engage with credible voluntary standards systems.

As we are currently embarking on an exciting period in the organisation’s development and we are now looking to build our policy and outreach team. For this purpose we are introducing this new Director level role, to lead a growing team.

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Location: Ideally this position will be based in ISEAL’s London head office. In exceptional circumstances, a different location may be considered if it has strategic value to the organization.

Job Description: Policy and Outreach Director

Term: This is intended as a long term position with an initial contract of one year

Time: 100%

About ISEAL:
ISEAL is an international non-profit organisation that codifies best practice for the design and implementation of social and environmental standards systems. ISEAL shapes the context in which voluntary standards systems operate, by defining what good practice looks like for the sector, as well as through influencing how external stakeholders think about and engage with credible voluntary standards systems.

At the core of the ISEAL Alliance is a network of organisations that work together to improve the operation of voluntary standards and certification. Our members include most of the leading social and environmental standards systems worldwide (e.g. Forest Stewardship Council, the Marine Stewardship Council, and the Fairtrade International). They are supported by a wide range of organisations, from research institutions to capacity building organisations to certification bodies, who participate in the ISEAL Alliance as affiliates. Collectively, this diverse group of actors makes up the ISEAL Community. ISEAL engages with a variety of external organisations including businesses, governments and NGOs in order for them to better understand and increasingly work with sustainability standards systems to achieve their own objectives and help shape the landscape in which standard systems operate.

What We Offer:
ISEAL is currently embarking on an exciting period in the organisation’s development and is now looking to build its policy and outreach team. For this purpose we are introducing this new Director level role, to lead a growing team.

The Director will lead ISEAL’s Policy and Outreach team (responsible for strategic engagement with government, business and civil society leaders) in developing strategies for new areas of policy and outreach work, in programmatic delivery and operational line management straddling a variety of areas. Current and planned areas of engagement include the following: exploring innovation in how governments use voluntary standards systems, strengthening public procurement outcomes through the use of sustainability standards, empowering emerging economy leaders to engage with sustainability standards, business engagement, financial and insurance sector outreach and climate policy work ISEAL currently has a small climate policy work stream focused on the interface between biofuels regulatory frameworks and sustainability standards led by ISEAL’s Senior Policy Manager. A business engagement strategy for the ISEAL Secretariat has been developed and it is expected that the long-term responsibility for further refinement and implementation will rest with the Policy and Outreach team. The Policy and Outreach team is also responsible for monitoring the landscape in which sustainability standards operate, analysing trends and engaging with ISEAL members in coming up with coordinated approaches to prioritised threats and opportunities. Other areas of work mentioned above are currently in initial development stages and would need further scoping and conceptualisation.

It is expected that the initial focus of this role will be to refine and oversee the implementation of a new three year outreach programme to work with relevant organisations and institutions in the three emerging economies of China, Brazil and India to promote the use of Voluntary Standard Systems to help meet sustainability challenges. A second project stream will strengthen the use of sustainability standards in public procurement around the world.

The Director will be responsible for overseeing and implementing this project, and all other areas of policy engagement, with the support of ISEAL’s Senior Policy Manager and a new coordinator position. ISEAL’s Executive Director will provide targeted support in the implementation of this project and we anticipate working closely with local partners and consultants in each country.
As this is a new role, we anticipate that it will be shaped by the particular skills and experience of the chosen candidate following recruitment.

What We Seek:
For the role of Policy and Outreach Director we are looking for a high level professional with substantial experience and knowledge of Sustainability Standards Systems. This may have been gained by working in a senior position for one ISEAL’s member organizations, other sustainability standard initiatives or a government, corporate, NGO or research institution with a focus on sustainability standards.
The ideal candidate will also be able to draw on previous work on projects or with networks in one or more of the prioritised emerging economies, especially if this is related to regional and/or national policy and advocacy activities.

A proven track record in managing large projects as well as team and individuals would be essential and would be rounded off with significant experience of working on policy and advocacy for an NGO, government or research organisation operating on an international scale.

We would expect the Director to bring their ideas and vision of ISEAL’s role in the broader sustainability tools landscape to strategic discussions that will help guide ISEAL’s future.
 

A confident presenter and analytical thinker, the successful candidate will demonstrate their ability to represent ISEAL at the highest level with ease and to build relationships and networks in a culturally sensitive manner.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a current CV and a statement explaining how they meet the selection criteria for the position to recruitment@isealalliance.org . Please also state your salary expectations.

Deadline for applications will be Thursday 29 September, 5pm (GMT). Initial phone interviews are likely to be carried out in early to mid October.

To discuss the particulars of this role, please contact ISEAL’s Director of Credibility Patrick Mallet (e-mail: patrick@isealalliance.org ). For more general enquiries about the application process and terms and conditions, please contact Alke Horn, HR & Operations Manager (alke@isealalliance.org ; Tel: +44 203 246 0066)

Other Relevant Information:
 

Working Hours: Based on a full time equivalent of 37.5 hours per week. The ISEAL Alliance operates a Flexible Working Policy and is happy to consider applications for flexible working once the probation period has been successfully completed.

Status: Ideally the preferred candidate will already be eligible to work in the UK, however, we recognise the unique combination of skills sets required for this role and encourage exceptional candidates from outside the UK/EEA area to also apply. Should the preferred candidate need to obtain a visa to work in the UK, ISEAL will endeavour to provide support to the candidate in applying for the relevant paperwork.

Please note that it is the candidate’s responsibility to ascertain their eligibility through the Home Office’s points based system at: http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/pointscalculator .

International Travel: The post holder will be required to undertake significant amounts of international travel including overnight stays (up to 30 - 40%).

Annual Leave: 25 days per annum (including office closure between Christmas and New Year)

Equal Opportunities: The ISEAL Alliance strives to be an equal opportunities employer and commitment to this process is expected.

Ideal Start Date: January 2012

 

Principal responsibilities (initially)

% of time

1. Design and implementation of three year programme to work with relevant organisations and institutions in China, Brazil and India to promote the use of Voluntary Standard Systems to help meet sustainability challenges and to strengthen the use of sustainability standards in public procurement 2. Provide strategic leadership of the Outreach team and prioritised engagements (business, finance and insurance sectors) as well as drive the development of new policy and outreach activities 3. Contribute to ISEAL’s organisational development, culture and management as an effective member of the senior management team

60   20   20

Duty Statement
See below a list of the main duties of the role. Please note that this may not be an exhaustive list and successful candidate may also be expected to take on additional responsibilities within the overall scope of the role.
 

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Duties

1

- Design details for delivery of Emerging Economies and Public Procurement project - Identify and develop relationships with partners in relevant countries (China, Brazil and India) - Oversee implementation of project and measure achievement of targets - Make use of relevant channels and networks to build awareness of standard systems - Recruit and manage consultants - Manage and track budget - In cooperation with Director of Fundraising deliver donor reports

2

- In coordination with Executive Director, and with input from the ISEAL board, set priorities for broader policy and advocacy engagement - Lead on policy development and implementation as part of organisational planning - Oversee delivery of existing policy engagement and strategy across all sectors (business, NGOs, Governments etc) - Oversee coordination with ISEAL members on collective policy work - Identify and cultivate new partners and project opportunities in line with policy strategy - Represent ISEAL at strategic level in meetings, forums and networks

3

- Contribute to strategic development and management of organisation - Line manage Senior Policy Manager and Policy/Outreach Coordinator - Help deliver programmatic and organisational strategies - Promote positive working environment and act as ambassador of a supportive organizational culture - Build good working relations with all colleagues and provide regular internal communications on development and fundraising - Fulfill requirements of ISEAL’s Performance Management and Review processes - Engage staff across all teams in development and fundraising where appropriate - Provide support and guidance to more junior and new staff as and when required - Contribute to events such as Annual Conference, Staff Retreat etc

 

Selection Criteria A	Knowledge and Experience	Essential or Desirable
A.1	Advanced degree in a relevant subject (e.g. Policy & Politics, International Relations, Environmental Management, Law etc) or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education and training	Essential
A.2	Substantial experience in working with/developing projects and networks in emerging economies, especially in at least one of China, Brazil or India.	Essential
A.3	Strong demonstrable levels of knowledge and experience with sustainability standards systems (ideally from a sustainability standards initiative, an ISEAL member or a relevant NGO, research institution, company or government agency)	Essential
A.4	Significant previous international policy and advocacy experience working in an NGO, government or research organisation.	Essential
A5	Some experience in policy and advocacy on a regional/national level in the relevant countries (China, Brazil and India)	Desirable
A6	Proven track record of management and delivery of large scale projects involving external stakeholders and project partners	Essential

A7

Proven track record in managing programmes and teams, including line management experience

Essential

The ISEAL Alliance is a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales, company number 4625800