All jobs Location: Hybrid: London or Totnes. Commutable distance to London with three days in the London office and one day a month in the Totnes office.
Reporting to: CEO
Manages: Circa 8 - 9 staff including Policy Lead, Technical Lead, Researchers, and Country Advisors.
Annual salary: Range £75,000 - £95,000+ depending on experience.
Contract type: Permanent.
Working hours: Full-time 40 hours per week. Flexible working considered.
Candidate level: Director
The deadline for applications is Sunday 6th August 2023.
Who we are
Commons Seas has a longstanding connection to the ocean. We have seen plastic in every part of life on Earth: from the farthest ocean, to deep inside our bodies.
We work in partnerships with governments and businesses to design and deliver scalable solutions that tackle the source of the plastic problem. Our interconnected programmes are catalysing a cultural shift in how we make, use, and dispose of plastic.
What we offer
Common Seas offer the opportunity to be at the heart of efforts to deliver impact, scale, and meaningful change. You would be part of shaping a growing and ambitious organisation, benefitting from our support and commitment to your learning and career development. As we are growing rapidly, comfort with almost continuous change is vital, as is the desire to learn, improve, and grow with the organisation.
Scope of role
The Director of Programmes will operate as a key member of the executive team, providing exceptional leadership over strategic programmes to deliver against our mission. They will develop and hold relationships with major stakeholders, particularly government and business leaders, securing Common Seas’ position as an effective impact partner and thought leader in plastics and planetary health to drive Common Sea´s policy agenda.
Primary responsibilities
The job holder will have the following key responsibilities:
Strategy and planning
- Input into the development of the organisation’s strategy and take ownership of strategy planning for relevant partnership programmes.
Influencing, positioning and policy
- Position Common Seas as a global leader, delivering effective strategic partnerships with supranational, national, businesses and NGOs.
- Own Common Seas supra national and national political affairs strategy, directing communications to implementation.
- Ensure that Common Seas is represented in the right forums, conferences and networks, and act as a key spokesperson.
Delivery and leadership
- Direct Common Seas partnership programmes, initially focussing on government and business programmes taking accountability for the delivery of the programmes to agreed Objectives and Key Results (OKRS) and budget with quarterly reporting to the CEO.
- Deputise for the CEO on relevant programmatic matters. (The Director of Operations deputises on business development and operations matters).
- Develop and work with Common Seas’ non-executive advisory committee, managing this to ensure we have the right level of influential support, advice, and oversight.
Core Objectives
3-year targets- UN: Recognition of support to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) delivering a UN Global Treaty mandating cap on production and national reporting against targets.
- National: 10 SIDS to deliver a policy roadmap to a 75% reduction in plastic pollution.
- Health: Business and government reduction strategies motivated by human health risks.
- Business: Global brands transparently reporting against reduction targets.
Profile
The successful candidate will demonstrate alignment with Common Sea’s mission, values and goals.
The following offers an aspirational view of our ideal candidate profile; however, we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups.
Essential technical competencies
- Experience in senior government relations/public affairs delivering high value relationships, tangible legacy, and international influence.
- Track record of building, implementing, and delivering significant strategic programmes in a senior leadership role.
- Experience as lead negotiator in convening stakeholders towards the delivery of key objectives.
- Proven experience effectively leading and inspiring a multidisciplinary team in a geographically dispersed organisation to deliver clear impact.
- Leadership experience in one or more of the following areas: circular economy, oceans, waste and resource management, plastic pollution, development, or sustainability.
- Has worked at supranational, national, and business levels, with strategic understanding and networks relevant to Commons Seas’ work.
- Understanding of the politics and the legislative processes in Small Island Developing States and/or low- and middle-income countries.
- Specialist understanding of international policy, legislative processes, and corporate interests relating to plastic pollution and circular economy.
Essential behavioural competencies
- An inspiring communicator who is a dynamic and influential public speaker, convenor, and facilitator with the emotional and intellectual intelligence to empower stakeholders to act.
- Ability to synthesise data and information to identify key messages to reach senior decision-makers and drive policy making.
- Curious and interested in new ways of doing things both internally and externally.
- Intellectually curious to ensure strategy is evolved to maintain momentum and maximise impact.
- Dynamic and highly driven to deliver and innovate.
- Determined to deliver on objectives and mission; striving to grow and evolve a highly effective team.
- Ability to work at pace on multiple projects to tight deadlines, consistently delivering to the highest standards.
- Postgraduate or professional qualification in a relevant field or equivalent professional experience.
The deadline for application is Sunday 6th August 2023
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Daryl Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required, irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability or sexual orientation.