FLO CEO vacancy

[oxfordhr]

FAIRTRADE LABELLING ORGANISATIONS INTERNATIONAL (FLO) is seeking candidates for the newly created position of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO), to be based in Bonn, Germany.

FLO is the standard-setter and coordinating body for the international Fairtrade certification system. For further information on FLO's work, please visit www.fairtrade.net.

The CEO role is a new position, created by the Board of FLO following recent changes to governance structures and processes. It is an additional post intended to strengthen the leadership of the organisation and equip it for the challenges and opportunities it will face in the coming years. The person appointed will join at an exciting time, as the Board will be conducting a thorough strategic review during 2007 in collaboration with staff, members, and the association’s extensive stakeholder networks comprising businesses, NGOs, trade unions, governments and donors. It is intended that an appointment will be secured by mid-2007 so that the new CEO has the opportunity to influence the new strategy, ensure that it is clearly articulated and prioritised, and help define clear and measurable outcomes for delivery.

FLO’s Board is a voluntary body, comprising 13 Directors elected by the membership, and meets three times a year. The Board is responsible for agreeing the vision and mission of the association with its members and stakeholders, and will work with the CEO to agree a strategy for delivering the mission. The CEO will be accountable to the Board for achieving the strategic objectives and for all operational matters.

Job Purpose

The Chief Executive Officer
• is accountable to the Board for agreeing, prioritising and implementing the strategic goals and objectives of the organization.
• works with the Chair and other Board members to enable the Board to fulfil, and continually improve, its governance functions.
• provides leadership to the staff of the association, ensuring effective and efficient resourcing and delivery of all operations and administration activities.
• manages those reporting directly to ensure that they manage their functions effectively.
• is responsible for key external relationships, acting as the public face of the organisation to its members, stakeholders, and the wider public.

Objectives/Goals

The success of the Chief Executive will be realised in terms of the following objectives:
• Extending the scale and scope of the impact of the Fairtrade system on producer organisations and their communities.
• Improving the effectiveness of the Fairtrade Labelling system to deliver benefits to producers, in particular by securing the support and trust of members, operators and other stakeholders.
• Increasing the efficiency and sustainability of FLO as the central service organisation of Fairtrade Labelling.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Planning, delivery and evaluation of agreed programmes and services.
• Administration, resourcing and financial management.
• Guidance and support to the Board.
• Human resource management.
• External relations.

Person Specification

• Proven experience of providing successful leadership to international organisations undergoing rapid change. FLO’s activities involve partnerships with commercial, government and not-for-profit organisations. The successful candidate will have experience of operating at a senior level across different sectors, or be able to demonstrate the ability to do so.
• Significant achievements in strategic management. Candidates will need to demonstrate a strong record of setting and achieving ambitious targets and strengths in planning, problem solving and decision making. Financial acumen and an understanding of the constraints of not-for-profit financing will be necessary, and previous experience of large-scale fundraising and the management of donor relationships are desirable.
• Authority and credibility. The CEO will possess the skills, experience and personal qualities to represent FLO on the world stage and quickly secure the trust needed to inspire and lead the staff of FLO, the association’s members and its external stakeholders.
• Effective inter-personal and presentation skills. The ability to establish and build strong relationships with staff, Board members and a broad network of external contacts is essential. The CEO will need excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to adapt to a wide range of audiences and cultures. A high level of diplomacy, based on the ability to listen and ensure that others feel they have been heard, is essential in resolving the tensions inherent in FLO’s work with different stakeholder groups.
• A sound understanding of development issues, particularly those related to international trade, and a strong personal commitment to the philosophy, aims and objectives of Fairtrade.
• An international operator, able to work across the different languages and cultures that are part of the Fairtrade networks. Excellent English (the association’s main working language) and fluency in at least one other major language are essential – the ability to speak Spanish is highly desirable.

Current closing date for applications – March 30th 2007.

For further information contact Michael Wills at mwills@oxfordhr.co.uk. To apply, please send: a completed Oxford HR cover sheet (to be obtained from Michael Wills), a c.v./resume (not to exceed three pages), and a short covering letter or personal statement clearly stating how your skills and experience match the employer's criteria. For more details, refer to www.oxfordhr.co.uk. In your application, please quote reference number SF/FCEO.