Programme Coordinator for Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity & Resource Justice

We are looking for a motivated and experienced Programme Coordinator. Do you understand the Brussels bubble, while having a broader view beyond it? Are you able to identify key issues and politically important trends? Do you have experience in food, farming, biodiversity and resource justice issues? Do you want to join FoEE's team of 30 in Brussels and an exciting European network campaigning for environmental and social justice? Are you looking to lead and coordinate an experienced, dynamic and creative team of 3-5 people?

Purpose of the role:

To enable FoEE to progress towards its vision and strategy through the achievement of its campaigning goals and contribute to the steering and management of FoEE. More specifically, to lead and coordinate a team of highly motivated campaigners in the fields of food, agriculture, biodiversity and resource justice. You will help develop and deliver strategies and workplans for the programme and its campaigns on these issues.

Key responsibilities:

1. Programme Coordination and Leadership

• Develop Programme vision and strategy in conjunction with FoEE member groups, other FoEE Programmes and relevant FoEE staff and develop specific campaigns to deliver the overarching Programme aim and objectives.
• Ensure the political coherence of the Programme and its campaigns and alignment with FoEE's strategy.
• Work closely with the Director and FoEE team members to maintain detailed and up-to-date knowledge of the environmental, political, economic, and social context for the Programme, including identifying and integrating new political opportunities into the Programme strategy.
• Together with the team deliver high quality outputs and communications from the Programme that reflect the values of the organisation and ensure the reputation of FoEE as a reliable source of accurate and authoritative information.
• Ensure the coherence and integration of all FoEE's Programmes and contribute to the steering and management of FoEE, primarily through participation in the Coordination and Management Team.
• Represent the Programme internally and externally.
• Engage in high level lobbying and advocacy on behalf of the Programme.
• Build and maintain excellent external relations, especially with decision and policy makers, funders, other NGOs and allies.

2. Programme Management (Fundraising, budget management & reporting)

• Ensure the Programme and its campaigns are adequately funded to deliver their agreed objectives.
• Participate in the identification of fundraising priorities and the development of relationships with funders.
• Support FoEE member groups working on programme issues in developing joint fundraising proposals and projects.
• Ensure funder criteria are known by campaigners and that fundraising and reporting deadlines are met.
• Together with the Finance Manager draft and manage the allocated Programme and campaign budget, ensure adequate monitoring and reporting of expenditures.
• Delegate and supervise budgets as appropriate to the relevant budget holders.

3. Network Engagement and communications

• Keep member groups working on food, agriculture, biodiversity and resource justice up to date on the broader political discussions in the organisation, including relevant political developments and opportunities, and actively seek opportunities for members to engage in the positioning, strategising and planning of the organisation on relevant issues.
• Ensure member groups are kept up to date with campaign developments, including relevant political developments and opportunities and actively seek opportunities for members to engage in combined activities including communications activities.
• Ensure that capacity building activities are integrated into Programme and campaign plans.
• Actively plan and participate in Programme and network meetings, as well as other related events.

4. Staff Leadership and team membership

• Strive towards an efficient running of the organisation through proactive engagement in FoEE's Coordination and Management Team.
• Provide line-management support for campaigners by ensuring their professional development including: annual performance appraisals, delivery of work plans, the identification of career and skills development needs and supervising ongoing work and providing support where needed.
• Undertake training and self-development as required

Essential requirements:

• Strong commitment to the values, vision and mission of Friends of the Earth Europe.
• Substantial experience (recommended 10 years or more) of leading campaigns, preferably at European level.
• Experience of managing and leading a team (recommended at least 5 years)
• Knowledge, experience and understanding of food, agriculture, biodiversity and resource justice issues.
• Good understanding of the workings of EU institutions.
• Able to analyse and interpret political, economic and social trends.
• Able to communicate complex issues to a variety of audiences.
• Able to develop compelling strategies and positioning with a diverse range of organisations and people and in group settings.
• Able to manage budgets for multiple campaigns and the overall programme, including co-financing requirements.
• A track record of successful lobbying and advocacy work.
• Demonstrable experience of successful fundraising.
• Able to travel abroad, sometimes for trips of several days and to undertake occasional evening and weekend work.
• Ability to work in a multicultural and international team and network.
• A university degree.
• Excellent written and spoken English, other European languages an asset.

Friends of the Earth Europe campaigns for sustainable and just societies and for the protection of the environment. We unite over 30 national organisations with thousands of local groups and form part of the world's largest grassroots environmental network, Friends of the Earth International. Please see www.foeeurope.org for more information.

The position is based in Brussels (full-time, 5 days a week) in the FoEE office.

The salary range is expected between Euro 3.808 and 4.276 gross per month, depending on experience. FoEE offers an attractive benefits package, including a 13th month salary, lunch vouchers, an additional 5 days of holidays per year, pension scheme, hospitalisation and comprehensive travel insurance. We also offer full coverage of train travel in case of commuting within Belgium. FoEE offers a motivating working environment in an international NGO and office located in an environmentally-friendly NGO building.

Conditions of employment are according to Belgian legislation; hence the position is open solely to persons with the right to live and work in the EU. Friends of the Earth Europe welcomes candidates regardless of their age, sexual orientation, marital status, birth, fortune, religious, philosophical or political beliefs, language, present or future state of health, disability, physical or genetic characteristics, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, maternity, change of sex, nationality, alleged race, skin colour, ancestry, national, ethnic or social origin. FoE Europe strives to make our office as diverse as possible.

If you feel you meet our criteria, and are inspired by the objectives and challenges of the position, please send us a motivation letter with a CV and contact details for two references to operations-recruitment@foeeurope.org by midnight CET on 05.04.2020.

The recruitment process will consist of two steps:

1) an online test that will help selecting candidates for an interview

2) an interview

The test is planned between April 15th and May 3rd and interviews are planned between May 18th and 26th.

FoEE will store your application and all corresponding data for a period of 6 months after the job advert closes. If you would like us to keep your CV and application letter on file, please indicate this in your email.

Only candidates selected for the online test and interviews will be contacted – thank you for your understanding.