Programme Manager

DRS is looking for a Programme Manager for an INGO dedicated to the promotion of responsible forest management worldwide achieving this through certification, ensuring forests around the world are responsibly managed, and taking care of forests and those who rely on them by protecting plant and animal species, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, forest workers’ safety, and much more.

Job Title: Programme Manager (Country Processes)

Contract: 2-year contract with possible extension

Location: Bonn, Germany

Starting date: as soon as possible

The ideal candidate will ensure the development, maintenance, and consistent implementation of the INGO’s normative framework with respect to the organization’s, and Controlled Wood (CW) Risk Assessments in line with the applicable INGO’s rules and procedures.

Reporting to: System Performance Director and functionally to the Chief Policy Officer.

Supervision of staff: The incumbent supervises the staff of the Country Processes Programme.

Cooperation with: All units of the organization; Assurance Services International (ASI); INGO’s Network Partners.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A university/ technical college degree in forestry/ wood technology or other relevant areas or equivalent experience, knowledge, and skills.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience indecision-making one or more of the following:
• The forest sector.
• Multi-stakeholder standards development processes.
• Conservation management.
• Corporate environmental responsibility (CER) programs.
• At least 3 years of experience in a people leadership position.
• Extensive, proven project management experience.

Skills:

• Excellent time management skills: Ability to perform well while handling several functions simultaneously.
• Experience in fund raising and donor reporting is a plus.
• Solution- and service-oriented attitude to work.
• A strong sense for diligence and accuracy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good understanding of data management and ability to draw insights from data.
• Demonstrated strategic abilities.

Languages:

• Fluency in English (spoken and written).
• Spanish is a plus.

Communication Skills:

• Good verbal and written communication skills that create cohesive team efforts and affect decision making.
• Ability to facilitate interactive discussions.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive interpersonal relations.

Main Roles and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and oversee the development, approval, maintenance, review, revision, and interpretation of:
• normative documents for the development of INGO’s and CW risk assessments and to create and maximize synergies between the relevant procedures and reporting systems;
• related communications, guidance, and training materials for the developers of standards and risk assessments, for the actual users (certificate holders and certification bodies), as well as for the relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure timely and adequate interventions to prevent delays and standstills in the ongoing processes.
• Maintain a well-functioning reporting system for the ongoing processes delivering regular, timely, and up-to-date status reports to management and approval bodies.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a model for the integrated review and revision of the INGO’s Principles & Criteria, International Generic Indicators, and country standards.
• Develop and regularly review the terms of reference of the Forest Management Community and oversee its management by the assigned coordinator.
• Establish and implement effective and outcome-oriented work plans based on considerate annual budgets and in line with organizational strategies and priorities.
• Exercise state-of-the-art leadership in the spirit of INGO’s Leadership Principles and enable team members to deliver a high level of performance.
• Coordinate activities within and beyond PSU (Performance and Standards Unit), in particular between the existing Country Processes programs, as well as with the Forest Management Programme, Monitoring and Evaluation Programme, and Regional Offices, as well as other INGO’s units as necessary.
• Support fundraising and reporting to donors.
• Perform additional project work and additional tasks as assigned for special business needs and agreed with the formal supervisor.
• Adhere to PSU operational procedures, e.g. conformance with the internal PSU accreditation program for normative knowledge, agile work planning, reporting on office presence etc.