Senior Political Advisor Polar

The Greenpeace "Save the Arctic" campaign is drawing a "line in the ice" against the absurdity of oil companies and industrial fishing fleets viewing the receding ice not as a grave warning but as a business opportunity. To further strengthen the campaign we now seek a Senior Political Advisor to refine, lead and implement the political strategy of our Polar project. We need someone able to provide advice on political, legislative and business opportunities for our campaign.

The Arctic is a test case: are political leaders willing to protect us, the people, or will they sell our future to the highest bidder? Help us challenge political leaders to oppose vested interests and protect the Arctic for the people living there and future generations. Help us identifiy political opportunities nationally and regionally as well as demand a global deal to protect the Arctic.

Purpose of the job

Main responsibilities

1. 1. Issue Development

Lead the further development and implementation of the international political, strategic and legislative components of the Polar project. Including through the development of scenarios and strategic political roadmaps for the project.

Coordinate the development of policies on relevant issues to ensure that Greenpeace can respond effectively to new opportunities and influence the development and implementation of international environmental legislation and meet campaign objectives. Be able to operate in fast changing circumstances with ability to quickly and effectively adjust plans to best deliver objectives.

1. 2. Representation

Represent Greenpeace and/or lead Greenpeace delegations to international political and/or business fora on Polar/Arctic issues in order to ensure that the objectives, recommendations and submissions of Greenpeace are effectively presented and adopted in accordance with the strategic campaign and organizational objectives.

1. 3. Networking

Develop and maintain extensive contacts and relationships with all relevant political and business bodies and other NGOs in order to build effective networks and partnerships that promote Greenpeace campaign and organizational objectives. This should include working closely with other members of the Polar project who are developing relationships with indigenous peoples’ groups, as an integral part of the delivering the political strategy for the project.

1. 4. NRO Liaison and Enabling

Support, advise and enable Greenpeace National and Regional Offices’ (NROs) in their implementation of international political and legislative components of Greenpeace campaigns in accordance with organisational and campaign objectives to ensure that these components are understood and consistently applied. The job holder is expected to develop a cross-NRO political network working only on Polar/Arctic issues across the Greenpeace world.

1. 5. Campaign Liaison

Work with GPI and relevant NRO campaigners, Project Leaders and/or Unit Heads to advise, develop policies, support and provide strategic thinking on Greenpeace Polar campaign, highlighting potential international or regional political opportunities and which multilateral political bodies and/or businesses most need to be influenced to meet organizational and campaign objectives.

1. 6. Research

Maintain a general knowledge of recent and relevant multilateral environmental legislative, political and business developments in the field, in order to ensure that Greenpeace is able to respond effectively to new developments in the field of international legislation and policy development.

1. 7. Communication

Prepare and/or where appropriate commission reports, substantive briefings, updates, and talking points with the campaign and communications officers concerned to ensure the consistent external communication of issues. Represent Greenpeace in all forms of media, both proactively and reactively.

1. 8. Coherence and supportive working with other campaigns.

Work actively to ensure that the political strategy of the Polar project is coherent with and helps to deliver the campaign goals of the climate and energy and oceans campaigns, in particular with regard to political engagement in the UNFCCC, CBD and via other relevant multi-lateral agreements and institutions.

Skills required / qualifications

• Required: Advanced academic qualification in relevant subject (political sciences, law, environmental protection), or equivalent experience
• Minimum of five years proven expertise and knowledge in high level political negotiations
• Minimum of five years proven expertise in policy development
• Proven ability to lead and coordinate delegations at external meetings
• Proven ability to effectively adjust plans to rapidly changing circumstances, and to operate under pressure
• Excellent communication skills, including strong writing skills and proven ability to present in all forms of media
• Fluent in written and spoken English and with knowledge of at least one other modern language
• Experience of cross-cultural working environment – “an internationalist”
• Demonstrable commitment to environmental/peace issues
• Required to undertake extensive travel in periods.

Other

The post is located in the Political and Business Unit of Greenpeace International. Day-to-day task management and priority setting is done directly with the Polar team leader. The post-holder is expected to participate in the global Polar team as a core-member.