Director, based in Brussels

Climate change, biodiversity loss, wasteful and inequitable use of resources - these are the big global challenges for the 21st Century.

Are you the person to ensure Friends of the Earth Europe secures the solutions to these challenges?

Your strategic thinking, listening skills and solutions orientated approach gives you the ability to galvanize the groups that make up the Friends of the Earth Europe network to make it the most effective environmental campaigning organisation in Europe.

Your strong communication skills enable you to represent the organisation on the European and International stage at the highest levels.

And your abilities and experience enable you to lead a staff team through harnessing their skills, knowledge and expertise.

Job Description

The major functions of the Director are:

To galvanize the groups that make up the Friends of the Earth Europe network to maximize their effectiveness
Friends of the Earth Europe is made up of a network of groups. The Director's role is to respond to the needs and demands of the network rather than impose views on or set direction for the network. However, the Director should have a wider perspective than the individual member groups and as such should act to influence the member groups at a strategic level so that the network as a whole agrees a strategic direction for its work. Key to the role is the ability to galvanize member groups; spotting opportunities and working to bring the member groups together to deliver exciting and successful campaigns.

To lead and manage the Friends of the Earth Europe office team
The staff team is made up of a group of motivated individuals who are employed because they have expertise, opinions, shared values and passion. This determines the approach the Director should take to managing the office. The director will need to take a participative approach which is a core aspect of the culture. The Director will need to be comfortable and effective at making decisions in a participative culture. The Director will also need to be a useful sounding board for ideas and a source of advice.

To represent FOE on the European and International stage
Key to the success of this role is the issue of credibility. The role holder must have credibility to ensure policy makers and politicians listen to and respond to the demands made on them by the organisation. The Director must also have credibility and be respected by members of the network and individuals within the office. It is likely that such credibility will stem from their views and expertise on environmental and campaigning issues, and the application of their understanding.

The skills required to carry out these functions are:

• An ability and inclination to seek the views of others, a respect for their views, needs and agenda, and an inclination to collaborate with others in the search for solutions and actions
• A track record of developing purposeful relationships
• An ability to communicate complex ideas with confidence, clarity and conviction to ensure that they are widely received and understood
• An ability to communicate in a wide range of situations such as media briefings, conferences and during broadcasts to a wide range of audiences - preferably in English and one other major European language.
• Well developed mediation and facilitation skills
• The intellectual capacity to quickly grasp complex and contentious issues and understand their broader strategic dimensions.
• An ability to take decisions and articulate clear, evidence based rationale for them built upon a track record of successfully persuading and influencing at an organisational level
• An ability to remain focused on the broader organisational perspective whilst attending to the immediate requirements of the Brussels office
• An awareness of the challenges associated with effectively being an employee of the network including an understanding of and respect for organisational governance and disciplines
• An awareness of the challenges and issues surrounding growing the capacity of an organisation/network
• A track record of success in managing a team of professionals and an active style of management, including an ability to challenge tactfully, an appetite to be challenged and a respect for a non-hierarchical culture.
• Expertise in environmental issues and a passion for social justice
• An understanding of campaigning, including a track record of success operating in a campaigning environmental organisation or political environment
• A sound understanding of financial management of small-to-medium sized organisations including an understanding of fundraising
• A track record of operating at the most senior levels

Whilst it would be advantageous for you to have all of the above, applications will be considered from individuals who have most of them.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for the position of Director Friends of the Earth Europe, please send your curriculum vitae and a letter outlining why you are interested in the job and how you meet the requirements outlined above. Include names of two referees who we can contact if you are the successful candidate.

Send your application to directorapplication@foeeurope.org by Sunday 18 November.

Candidates will be informed on Friday 23 November if they will be invited to interview. As we anticipate a great deal of interest in this position we will unfortunately only be able to contact candidates who have been short listed for interview. Interviews will be held in Brussels on either 30th November or 3rd December.

For specific questions related to this position please email mike.childs@foe.co.uk

Employment terms and conditions

Salary range: 4.000 to 4.800 euros per month gross subject to experience; Luncheon vouchers; Pension contribution; Hospitalisation insurance; Conditions according to Belgian legislation

Friends of the Earth Europe is a multi-cultural organisation comprised of many different nationalities with an employment policy of equity, solidarity and non discrimination.