Closing Date:

Aug 16, 2016

Salary:

TBA

How to Apply:

Applications, in the form of a letter of motivation and Curriculum Vitae, should be submitted via e-mail to applications@fairtrade.net, citing Chief Executive Officer in the subject field.

Job Description:

Overview

Fairtrade is an alternative approach to conventional trade based on a partnership between producers and consumers. It offers producers a better deal and improved terms of trade which provide them the opportunity to improve their lives. It also offers consumers a powerful way to reduce poverty through their everyday shopping.

Fairtrade currently works with over 1,240 producer groups across 74 developing countries, reaching some 1.5 million smallholder farmers and plantation workers. The FAIRTRADE Mark is the world’s best known ethical label with over 90% recognition in four countries and over 80% across most of Europe, backed by an active grassroots social movement. We are working with some 3,000 companies globally from dedicated Fairtrade brands through to multinational companies.

Fairtrade International is the international non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization that owns the FAIRTRADE Marks, is responsible for the strategic direction of Fairtrade, sets Fairtrade standards, undertakes the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, and supports producers through working in close collaboration with the three Producer Networks. Its members include the three Producer Networks (for Africa, Asia and Latin America & the Caribbean), 20 National Fairtrade Organizations (NFOs) who build the market. Fairtrade International also wholly owns an independent certification body, FLOCERT.

We are looking for a dynamic CEO to offer strategic leadership across the movement to deliver Fairtrade’s mission and lead the implementation of the ambitious new Fairtrade global strategy for 2016- 2020.

Reporting to the Board, the CEO will directly lead the newly-established Global Leadership Team, which he/she will put in place, as well as work in close collaboration with the Chief Executives of the Producer Networks and National Fairtrade Organizations. The CEO will have ultimate responsibility for the Central Office in Bonn, Germany although day-to-day management will be the responsibility of the COO.

The CEO will work to grow Fairtrade’s influence within the realm of sustainable development and trade, providing vision and thought leadership. In partnership with Fairtrade members, producers, companies, civil society, policy makers and donors, the CEO will drive high standards of quality across all areas of Fairtrade’s work, leading to increased impact on poverty reduction and fairer trading conditions.

We use the term Fairtrade International (FI) for the membership organization as a whole, including National Fairtrade Organizations (NFOs), Producer Networks (PNs) and the Central Office in Bonn.

We use the term Central Office (CO) to refer to the service centre in Bonn.

Objective / Purpose

Fairtrade is looking for a talented and experienced CEO who has the ability to align an international global movement around its exciting new strategy and work closely and collaboratively with all of its members to deliver that strategy.

Supported by a Global Leadership Team he/she will work in close collaboration with the members to effectively implement and monitor the strategy, while ensuring an effective use of funds for the greatest impact in line with Fairtrade’s mission.

As Fairtrade’s principal global spokesperson the CEO must be able to influence senior partners, politicians and corporations at the highest levels.

The CEO must be a leader who is able to inspire partners and collaborators throughout the Fairtrade movement to deliver measurable results that turn the vision of Fairtrade into reality.

Importantly, the successful CEO will have the skills, sensitivity, and personal confidence to tap into the power that each member of the global Fairtrade team brings to this mission, and create an alignment to achieve common goals. 

Main Roles and responsibilities

The CEO will:

  • work closely with the members to ensure that Fairtrade achieves its mission and delivers its 2016-2020 strategy;

  • clarify structures and key processes to enable the implementation of the new strategy and build consensus across the movement for these changes

  • lead the Global Leadership Team to support the implementation of the strategy across the movement – both by supporting and challenging members when needed;

  • together with the support of the COO, oversee the budget and financial management of the Central Office as well as system-wide projects;

  • serve as a leading global voice for farmers and workers and represent Fairtrade, primarily in the north, to donors, companies, the press and many stakeholders as we seek to scale up our advocacy work;

  • support Fairtrade members to broaden support and mobilise additional resources for Fairtrade International through public awareness, advocacy, representation and negotiations with donors and other key potential partners;

  • make actionable recommendations for decision to the Board and the Governance Committee including regarding membership agreement non-compliance;

  • stay attuned to the concerns of farmers and workers in developing countries and other key stakeholders to promote an equitable and sustainable trade system;

  • represent Fairtrade International at FLOCERT Board meetings, ensuring that FLOCERT and Fairtrade International are aligned in their strategy and plans;

  • create an enabling environment for new and innovative initiatives to flourish across the movement and support the efficient implementation of such initiatives;

  • lead the further development and implementation of strategic directions, with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders.

Experience and Skills Required

This is where you come in!

The candidate must subscribe to the core values of Fairtrade, be able to communicate these and be driven by its mission.

The candidate should have proven experience in enabling a multi-stakeholder organization to deliver outstanding results, and a demonstrated ability to both lead and build the capabilities of a mission-driven, multi-cultural team.

With strong communication skills, the candidate will be able to listen to, and communicate with, a broad range of people, in particular farmers and workers in Africa, Asia and Latin America & the Caribbean.

The successful candidate will have at least 10 years of senior management and leadership experience, including direct experience of development work, ideally with a global non-profit organization and preferably in the Global South.

Additional requirements are:

Leadership and Organization Exceptional capacity for managing and leading people; a team builder who has experience in developing organizations; capacity to enforce accountability, develop and empower leaders while yourself providing direction when needed, developing a team so as to put people in a position to succeed. As well as having direct management experience, you will also have the skills to lead a global movement.

Change management Solid experience of leading change management programmes, with the ability to influence and lead people and organisations across a wide network and over whom you have no direct line management

Collaboration Influencing and collaborating to build consensus to shape strategic and policy direction and decisions of Fairtrade. You possess the charisma to persuade member organizations and staff globally to implement necessary changes,

Results Oriented A proven track record for achieving ambitious goals with a bottom-line orientation; evidence of the ability to make good decisions based on analysis, experience and judgement.

General Management A broad experience with the full range of business functions and systems, including strategic development and planning, budgeting, business analysis, finance, information systems, human resources, and marketing

Solid educational background Advanced degree in international relations, development, public policy or an MBA. The candidate will need to show that he/she has an understanding of global trade and of international development

Professional Skill Requirements:

  • Proven track record in senior management within complex, international and results-based organizations, preferably within a network environment

  • Demonstrated ability to drive implementation of strategic orientations;

  • CEO experience or the equivalent level of responsibility

  • Experience of working with a Board

  • Experience in trade and international development are distinct advantages

  • Languages: Fluency in English, which is the daily language of Fairtrade International. Spanish and/ or French are highly desirable. German an advantage.

Personal Qualities

  • Innovative, positive and proactive personality 

  • Good understanding of and commitment to the work of Fairtrade;

  • Ability to inspire visionary leadership and drive collaboration in a multi-stakeholder environment;

  • Demonstrable ability to motivate others

Terms and Conditions

This is a full time executive position

Location: preferably at the Fairtrade International office in Bonn, Germany although we are willing to consider location elsewhere. Frequent travelling involved.

The working language is English; knowledge of French, Spanish and German are an advantage

Start date: 1st January 2017