ISEAL Alliance

The Forest Stewardship Council is looking for a Marketing Communications Officer to develop website content, news and announcements, newsletters, case studies, reports, guides and other publications.

Deadline for Applications: 31 Aug 2010

Location: Bonn, Germany

Full Vacancy Announcement

FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. It provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies and organizations interested in responsible forestry. Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

Position Description

The role of FSC Marketing Communications Officer calls for a highly effective marketing and communications professional to support the FSC Group at the international level. The role will facilitate the targeted, market facing communications efforts of FSC Global Development – the business unit charged with developing and maintaining the FSC brand in the marketplace. As part of a dynamic team, the FSC Marketing Communications Officer will support the communications efforts of FSC Global Development to the market.

Core functions of the position include development of website content, news and announcements, newsletters, case studies, reports, guides and other publications. Additionally, the FSC Marketing Communications Officer will distribute information and materials and support development of new communication channels and platforms. The FSC Marketing Communications Officer will also coordinate with the FSC Global Development team to identify and coordinate participation in trade events.

The position offers the unique chance to be an integral part of an international network in sup-port of responsible forest management. The successful candidate will find opportunity to collaborate with key contacts from a variety of interests including economic, social and environ-mental. The role will afford opportunity for professional development within the setting of an international, multi-stakeholder organization.

The FSC Communications Officer will be responsible for the following principle complexes of work regarding communication in the FSC Group:

• Coordinate with FSC Global Development to develop materials and resources for key accounts and FSC certificate holders;
• Maintain up-to-date market-related content and resources on the FSC website, server and intranet;
• Maintain and develop content and materials for market oriented communications  tools, including B2B and B2C platforms;
• Produce marketing communications materials including reports, fact sheets, brochures, institutional reports and other information as needed;
• Support internal communication processes.

Specific and Generic Tasks

1. Implementation of activities related to maintenance and development of FSC Communications resources and tools, including:

2. Communication related to engagement of stakeholders in the FSC system, including support for the organization of meetings and workshops.

4. Assist in keeping documents and resources updated on the FSC server and website, including presentations, photos, Corporate Design templates, inquiry support, press releases, statements, organizational documents like manuals and guides.

5. Provide support to the Communications Unit team to maintain consistency of text and content throughout the FSC website, including tracking significant changes and updates.

6. Provide support to staff of FSC Global Development to implement the FSC Corporate Design templates, including formatting documents, updating presentations, and dispersing updated templates to FSC website, server and intranet.

7. Provide support for project related data entry such as intranet development, mailing list maintenance, etc.

8. Contribute to development and maintenance of comprehensive manual for FSC Communications Unit.

9. Provide support to library and resource archiving: assist in development of working library of FSC publications and resources, and resources by others (partners, etc); assist in development of proper archive storage of resources and materials related to marketing and communications.

11. Provide support to the FSC General Assembly as needed.

12. Additional tasks as agreed with the FSC Communications Director.

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate is able to demonstrate the following key competencies:

• Professional Experience -  At least two years of experience with relevant work areas. Knowledge of third party certification schemes and the role of eco-labeling an advantage
• Education and Training – Relevant university degree or equivalent experience
• Writing skills – Superb written communication skills, evident through academic, journalistic or other submissions.
• Languages – Excellent verbal communication skills. The primary working language is English. Excellent command of the English language is required. Fluency in Spanish, French and/or German is desirable.
• Computer skills - Excellent computer skills, including the use of standard software packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Operational knowledge of graphic design software, such as Photoshop and InDesign, is desirable. Experience with web content management systems, such as Typo3, is also desirable.
• Time Management Skills – The successful candidate is capable of managing their time effectively in order to deliver timely, high quality communications materials. This requires the ability to, at times, work independently and recognize opportunity to advance the collective team efforts.
• Team Membership Skills – The successful candidate works well as a member of a multi-cultural, inter-disciplinary, multi-lingual, global team while providing integration in critical areas of development.
• Cultural awareness - Demonstrated cultural awareness and sensitivity to the diversity of values, views and approaches to issues relevant to the FSC program by stakeholders around the world.
• Exceptional Interpersonal Skills – The successful candidate communicates well and convincingly in teams and with a diverse range of actors, while possessing active-listening skills, being able to facilitate interactive discussion and maintaining positive interpersonal relations and confidence.
• Ability to relate to the FSC’s Values and Approach – The successful candidate identifies with the values and mission of the FSC, relates to the principle mechanisms of the organization and is at a general level familiar with the scope of FSC’s programs of standard setting, accreditation, trademark management, political dialogue and networking.
• Personal Conduct – The successful candidate through his/her work represents the FSC as a whole, the FSC Communications Unit and the FSC Managing Director with exemplary person-al and professional authority and conduct. The successful candidate conducts his/her work with uncompromised integrity and loyalty appropriate to the position.

Terms and Conditions

The position is based in Bonn, Germany

• Two year contract;
• Forty working hours per week;
• 30 days holiday per year, plus official holidays;
• Sporadic travel might be required;
• FSC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate nationality, ethnicity or religion.

How to apply

• Please consult www.fsc.org for further information on FSC.
• Please apply by email only, in English, with Curriculum Vitae and motivation letter sent to Mrs. Guille Garza via email recruitment [at] fsc [dot] org; citing FSC Marketing Communications Officer in the subject line.
• Deadline for application is 31 August 2010.
• Please note that FSC is strict on compliance with the required qualification and experience criteria mentioned above, and that only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
• First interviews are planned for week of 6^th September 2010.