Job Description Senior Policy Manager

							                                                                    Unit 1, Huguenot Place                       Creating a world where
                                                                    17a Heneage Street                           ecological sustainability
                                                                    London E1 5LJ                                and social justice
                                                                    United Kingdom                               are the normal
                                                                                                                 conditions of business
                                                                    t/ f: +44 (0)20 3246 0066
                                                                    e: info@isealalliance.org
                                                                    www.isealalliance.org




Job Description: Senior Policy Manager
Term:                    Permanent
Time:                    100%
Salary:                  £50,000 – £55,000 (based on London appointment) to be negotiated dependent upon
                         experience and location



About the ISEAL Alliance:
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. ISEAL Alliance members such as the Forest Stewardship Council, the Marine
Stewardship Council, and the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International1 are leading organisations
in social and environmental standard-setting and certification, and are committed to compliance with
ISEAL Credibility Tools.

What We Offer:
The ISEAL Alliance has developed an ambitious Strategic Plan for 2009-2013 that aims to ensure that
the movement of voluntary standards systems play an expanding role in achieving social justice and
ecological sustainability. Globally, multilateral, national and regional governmental bodies are key users
and supporters of social and environmental standards systems, using them to deliver on their own
public policy objectives. In a globally interconnected economy and a world calling for multilateral
solutions, ISEAL believes that the partnership between governments and voluntary standards systems
is set to grow. Yet, whilst many individual government representatives work with voluntary standards,
others still have underlying concerns inhibiting more widespread engagement.
As Senior Policy Manager you will lead ISEAL’s engagement with the governmental sector, as well as
topical engagements with civil society and business, further developing and implementing ISEAL’s
“Sustainability Governance Policy-Making” activities. As a small organization with a global mandate,
operating in the sphere of good governance, ISEAL’s focus is on identifying and developing new
frameworks and approaches to how standards systems can be used in coordination with and support of
public and private sector approaches, rather than traditional lobbying or public affairs. Accordingly,
ISEAL is committed to lead efforts to bring together governments and voluntary standards systems, to
find ways in which to learn from each other, share best practice and cooperate in the shared challenges
we face as a global community aiming to achieve social justice and ecological sustainability, worldwide.
This will be your mandate.




1
    Further information about ISEAL Alliance and its membership is available at www.isealalliance.org



The ISEAL Alliance is a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales, company number 4625800                1 of 4
What We Seek:
Building on close to a decade experience in working with or for a diversity of governmental bodies, you
know how to reach out and gain the confidence of policy-makers, as well as understand how to position
voluntary and private sector initiatives to best meet their needs. You are keen to apply your skills and
knowledge to strengthen tried and tested models of public-private partnership as well as to identify
innovative models of collaboration. Your work to date has brought you into contact with decision-
makers from different countries around the world, as well as working in several fields affecting
sustainability (e.g. environment, development, agriculture), notably climate change.
Your experience will likely have been gained from within a non-governmental or a professional
organization, probably one centered on a sustainability mission. You will have had some experience of
interfacing with one or more ISEAL Alliance members. Importantly, you have experience in organizing
and facilitating the coming together of individuals from different organizations, to work to objectives
jointly identified and agreed upon. You are a strategist, and have proven you can apply strategic
thinking both to rally people around you, as well as in developing work programmes.
You are enthused by the prospect of helping to build the profile and impact of a small (10-20 people)
organization, as well as committed to contributing to scaling-up the impacts of the movement of
voluntary standards systems.


ISEAL’s head office is in London. However ISEAL operates as a networked organization with staff in
Belgium, Canada, the United States and Australia. It is hoped that you will be based in London, though
other strategic locations such as Brussels or Washington DC may be considered.



How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a current CV and a statement explaining how they meet each of
the selection criteria for the position.
Applications should be submitted by email, to reach us no later than 5pm GMT on Friday 12 March
2010. To apply, or for specific enquiries, candidates may contact Mr. Philip Wilson, ISEAL Finance &
Operations Director, by email at: philip@isealalliance.org.
We regret that we will only be able to contact short-listed candidates.



Other Relevant Information:
Working Hours:          Based on a full time equivalent of 37.5 hours per week. Based on negotiations
                        with the successful applicant, there is some degree of flexibility in terms of the
                        number and pattern of working hours.
International Travel:   The post holder will be required to undertake international travel including
                        overnight stays.
Equal Opportunities:    The ISEAL Alliance strives to be an equal opportunities employer and
                        commitment to this process is expected.
Ideal Start Date:       April 2010 or sooner if possible




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Duty Statement
Under the general direction of the Director for Learning & Innovation, the following duties will be carried
out:

#     Duties                                                                                      Time %

1     Lead ISEAL’s Sustainability Governance Policy-Making activities, including:                 65
      >   Build on existing groundwork to develop and implement proposed activities, as
          well as identify further opportunities and strategies for ISEAL’s work with
          governmental bodies. Current and planned activities are:
           >     Sustainable Public Procurement
           >     A Forum for Innovation in Collaborative Sustainability Governance
           >     Governmental Uptake of ISEAL Credibility Tools
           >     Priority MEAs and the ISEAL Alliance
           >     Strategies for engagement in Brazil, China and India
           >     Collaborative projects with the NGO community (e.g. Consumers,
                 Developmental, Fisheries groups)
      >   In co-ordination with the Development & Fundraising team, ensure the funding of
          agreed activities
      >   Organise and facilitate the engagement of ISEAL’s membership in agreed
          activities
      >   Implement ISEAL’s advocacy, outreach and information to and from governmental
          and non-governmental bodies (e.g. policy papers, technical research papers,
          articles, presentations, organising expert meetings, …)
      >   Carry-out monitoring & evaluation for “sustainability governance policy-making”
          activities

2     >   Represent the ISEAL Alliance at relevant international events and meetings              20
      >   Participate in ISEAL’s broader policy analysis and advocacy activities (e.g. writing
          articles for members, organising events with decision-makers, …)
      >   Provide information to the Communications & Outreach team for ISEAL’s
          newsletters, website and on-line community

3     Support the on-going development and implementation of the ISEAL Alliance’s                 15
      Climate Change engagement strategy



Selection Criteria
A              Knowledge and Experience                                                      Essential or
                                                                                             Desirable

A.1            Degree in a relevant subject (e.g. Policy & politics, environmental           Essential
               management, law), or an equivalent combination of relevant experience



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      and/or education and training

A.2   Eight to ten years work experience, with at least five years directly        Essential
      involved in policy work, preferably for or aimed at different types of
      institutions (e.g. national, inter-governmental)

A.3   At least five years experience in working on sustainability-related issues   Essential
      (e.g. environment, CSR, development, labour)

A.4   Experience in strategic programme planning and implementation                Essential

A.5   Experience in engaging and facilitating groups or teams                      Essential

A.6   Knowledge of one or more sustainability standards systems                    Essential

A.7   Line-management experience                                                   Desirable

A.8   Experience in working for an international organisation with staff members   Desirable
      based in multiple locations



B     Skills                                                                       Essential or
                                                                                   Desirable

B.1   Proven analytical and research skills                                        Essential

B.2   Capacity to work alone to deadlines, to establish priorities                 Essential

B.3   Fluent spoken and written English                                            Essential

B.4   Capacity to articulate complex issues in an accessible way for a diversity   Essential
      of audiences, both in writing and talking

B.5   Proven group building and facilitation skills                                Essential

B.6   Fluent spoken and written Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese or French            Desirable



C     Personal Attributes                                                          Essential or
                                                                                   Desirable

C.1   Ability to engender trust through communication and evidence of              Essential
      outcomes.

C.2   Self-motivated and able to work independently.                               Essential

C.3   Committed to team work, and to promoting team working spirit.                Essential

C.4   Committed to contributing to positive social and environmental change.       Essential




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