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Title

Managing Director, CI Europe

Posted
Reference   (Please mention Stopdodo/Environment Jobs in your application)
Sectors Terrestrial / Aquatic Ecology & Conservation
Location Belgium - Europe
Type Fixed Term and Permanent Roles
Status Full Time
Level Board & Executives
Company Name Conservation International
Contact Name Human Resources
Website Further Details / Applications
Conservation International logo
Directory Entry : Every person on Earth deserves a healthy environment and the fundamental benefits that nature provides. But our planet is experiencing an unprecedented drawdown of these resources, and it is only by protecting nature and its gifts; a stable climate, fresh water, healthy oceans and reliable food; that we can ensure a better life for everyone, everywhere.
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Description

Engaging Europe is vital for Conservation International’s mission. The EU and individual European nations are among the most prominent - and often progressive - voices in the global sustainability agenda. CI has a successful track record with European partners, having secured several large-scale partnerships with Germany, Norway, France and the European Union, raising over USD25m and increasing European funding for environmental priorities. Our CI Europe office in Brussels has become a credible voice in the EU environment community on key policy issues.

Building on this legacy of success in EU policy engagement and public funding, the CI Europe office is now poised to grow support for broader organizational priorities by addressing the EU’s global footprint. The European Union is an economic giant, with 510 million people in 28 member states; it produces 23% of global GDP and is the world’s leading importer and exporter of commodities such as seafood and timber, and second leading importer of palm oil and soy.  European demand for commodities is having a massive impact on CI priority geographies such as Indonesia, sub-Saharan Africa and Brazil.

The Managing Director for CI Europe leads CI’s strategic engagement with the EU and a select number of governments in Europe. S/he is instrumental in building and consolidating partnerships and alliances on behalf of CI as a global organization, in support of CI’s global objectives. S/he leads the agenda for CI in Europe, guides CI’s interactions with key governments, and creates opportunities for CI Senior Leadership and technical staff to interact with key decision makers in an effective and meaningful way.

The Managing Director is responsible for the successful implementation of CI Europe’s strategy and oversees a team of policy experts and fundraisers. S/he oversees all policy engagement efforts in Europe and ensures that these are in line with the CI’s policy agenda at a global level.  S/he is responsible for the public funds raised in Europe for CI globally, works to increase the EU’s ODA to further protect natural capital, and provides oversight on the implementation of the account management framework for all European bilateral and multilateral donors. S/he is also responsible for raising funds to support CI’s Europe strategy, approximately $1.5 million annually.

As part of CI’s strategic engagement with the public sector in Europe there may be a direct need to reach out to private sector as well as knowledge institutes or foundations in the respective countries. The Managing Director will guide strategic engagement with these other sectors in collaboration with CI’s Center for Environmental Leadership in Business (CELB) department and Development division, as needed.

The Managing Director will work with leadership of the Policy Center for Environment and Peace and CI’s senior leadership, and will represent CI at the highest level while interacting with European partners. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning and Management

  • Lead the CI Europe team in refining and the implementation of CI’s strategy to engage with European Global Agents of Change (GACs), closely linking to CI’s International Policy and Funding goals, including the development of performance monitoring plans, workplans and budgets. 
  • Seek opportunities to further CI’s institutional strategy through high level engagements with European GACs (EU, Germany, and Norway) and other strategic partners.
  • Lead outreach to increase awareness of CI’s work and the role of CI Europe with key internal and external partners.
  • Oversee development, prioritization and management of CI Europe’s financial resources. Develop a multi annual growth plan, strategically defining CI Europe’s role within the global organization.
  • Provide guidance to CI Europe’s overall strategy, planning and division-wide communications (or other special projects), including development of strategy for CI’s priorities. Serve on the CEP and department management teams.
  • Participate in institutional working groups/committees (such as PMG and others) as designated representative of CEP’s overall strategy and international policy and funding objectives.
  • Liaise with International Policy staff located in CI Headquarters, Central America, Japan and in field programs.
  • Oversee management responsibilities associated with the CI Europe office (including local legal entity requirements, management of annual budget and compliance with CI’s operational procedures) in collaboration with CEP finance and operations staff, and local legal counsel
  • Manage CI Europe staff with direct oversight of the Director of European Policy and two Senior Managers for European Public Partnerships

Fundraising

  • Lead fundraising with European donors for CI’s priorities as well as for the operations of CI Europe, targeting public donors (EU, Germany, France, Norway, UK, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands and others), foundations, the private sector and individuals, working with CI’s Development division and other teams within CI as relevant. Approximate goal of USD 10-15 million per year.  
  • Develop a multiannual cost recovery plan for the CI EU office in line with a multi annual growth plan for the CI Europe office.

Policy

  • Identify strategic priorities for policy engagement with European GACs and ensure alignment with CI’s International Policy team and with CI’s strategic priorities. 
  • Represent CI at the highest level with policy makers in coordination with all relevant divisions of CI in order to  leverage CI’s full network and portfolio of expertise
  • Ensure participation and engagement of CI globally in relevant and high level policy discussions with European Global Agents of Change
  • Provide high-level policy engagement/guidance with regard to European interests for priority institutional initiatives (eg Gaborone, Amazon Summit)
  • Provide strategic oversight to the policy work spearheaded in Europe to achieve global objectives as laid out CI’s strategy and the International Policy strategy;
  • Lead team to develop global partnerships with European agencies, NGOs and governments in support of CI’s global objectives, and provide policy guidance to those partners as appropriate.

Advisory Board

  • Develop a new CI Europe Advisory Board to advise CI Europe on its strategy, policy engagement and fundraising goals in close collaboration with CEP leadership, Development and a select number of CI board members
  • Develop a Advisory Board charter, a comprehensive list of potential Advisory Board members and engage with candidate Advisory Board members
  • Hold biannual meetings with Advisory Board

Other duties as assigned by supervisor

Working Conditions

  • Frequent travel to international meetings and HQ (30%)

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

  • Advanced degree in natural sciences, international policy, development policy, or related field with a minimum of 10-15 years related experience.
  • Understanding of current global-scale trends and practices in major disciplines of global change and biodiversity conservation, ecosystem management, economic development and policy, agriculture and trade. 
  • Proven fundraising experience of multi million dollar grants and gifts with public donors, foundations and individuals.
  • Knowledge of international policies related to biodiversity, climate change, and natural resource management, and related political, social and economic conditions and issues. 
  • Ability to conceptualize, develop and implement materials designed to influence and persuade.
  • Extensive and high level European network among public sector donors, foundations, individuals and/or the private sector.
  • Exceptional verbal and written communications skills in English, including effective presentation and negotiation skills.
  • Strong leadership ability, including working with multidisciplinary teams in a non-hierarchical manner.
  • Proven ability to engage and collaborate with individuals across various disciplines, cultures and backgrounds to achieve shared goals.
  • Work experience in international, multi-site organization.
  • Ability to synthesize and articulate relevant information to help inform and shape engagement in events that influence the international policy discussion.
  • Ability to guide a team to meet group deadlines, manage time and engage effectively in multiple and diverse activities. 
  • Proven organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Ability to analyze and recommend improvements to processes, procedures and systems.      
  • Ability to work under pressure and deadlines without compromising working standards and high quality results.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, presence and ability to effectively build strong relationships both internally and external to the organization.

Preferred

  • Fluency in German, Spanish, French or Norwegian.
  • Professional and academic experience in international policy analysis and design, and knowledge and understanding of complex multilateral institutions.
  • Experience living and working abroad.
  • Knowledge of climate, freshwater, conservation or international development policy.
  • Personal interest in international conservation and development.
  • Good judgment and sense of humor.
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