Policy Manager

Policy Manager

BirdLife Europe and Central Asia

Brussels, Belgium

1. INTRODUCTION

BirdLife Europe and Central Asia (ECA) is looking for a dynamic, passionate and committed Policy Manager.

BirdLife ECA is a Partnership of 48 national conservation organisations and a leader in bird conservation. Our unique local to global approach enables us to deliver high impact and long-term conservation for the benefit of nature and people.

BirdLife ECA is one of the six regional Secretariats that compose BirdLife International, the global authority on the status of bird species. Based in Brussels, it supports the European and Central Asian Partnership and is present in 47 countries including all EU Member States.

With more than 4.100 staff in Europe, 2 million members and tens of thousands of skilled volunteers, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, together with its national Partners, owns or manages more than 6,000 nature sites totalling 320 000 hectares.

2. OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Policy Manager coordinates the BirdLife Europe and Central Asia Policy and Advocacy team, under the guidance of the Regional Director, so as to place the BirdLife Partnership as the leading voice on nature conservation in the region, in particular at EU level.

3. WORK RELATIONSHIPS

REPORTING TO (LINE MANAGER): Regional Director
REPORTING TO JOB HOLDER (LINE MANAGED STAFF): Five Policy staff

4. MAIN DUTIES/WORK PROGRAMME RESPONSIBILITIES

By main work area:

Policy and Advocacy:

1. To lead and coordinate the development of BirdLife Policy positions in Europe and Central Asia, promoting them to relevant Institutions, decision-makers and other stakeholders, in particular at EU level, with the aim of achieving policy changes;
2. To develop a systematic and strategic campaigning approach to BirdLife’s EU policy in coordination with the Head of Communications;
3. To keep abreast of EU Policy relevant developments and debates and ensure that the BirdLife Partnership is informed about the related arising opportunities and risks for BirdLife’s priorities and positions;
4. To lead on and follow specific EU policy issues, as defined by the BirdLife priorities and the workplan of the European and Central Asian Division; supporting and backing up policy team members on their specific areas and covering horizontal issues and topics where dedicated capacity is lacking;
5. To work closely with the Communications Unit to promote effective and smooth external and internal communication supporting and promoting BirdLife’s priorities; to ensure the content of BirdLife publications and campaigns is consistent with BirdLife’s policy positions and strategies;
6. To contribute as appropriate to BirdLife Global policy positions and ensure that BirdLife European and Central Asian Partners play a proactive role in global policy fora.

External representation and alliances:

7. To ensure mid-level representation of BirdLife to external policy audiences and to develop constructive working relationship with key institutions and stakeholders, to win their support for BirdLife’s priorities and positions;
8. To coordinate Environmental Policy work with other relevant NGOs and allies.

Capacity development:

9. To help raise capacity in policy and advocacy work in the EU Partnership by organising and supporting trainings, providing information and other tools (on request also to non-EU Partners);
10. To work with the Partner holding the EU Presidency in order to get their input, inform them of BirdLife priorities, raise their capacity in policy and facilitate their interactions with decision makers during the EU Presidency.

Management and Fundraising:

11. To ensure a smooth and efficient organisation of BirdLife’s EU Policy work, in particular as regards the operations of the EU Policy Unit (including the Unit’s management and budget), the BirdLife Task Forces and working groups, key policy and advocacy staff from BirdLife Partners and the interactions with European and Central Asian Committee, global Secretariat and other NGOs and stakeholders;
12. To support the Regional Director of the Division as part of the divisional Leadership Team;
13. To identify funding opportunities; to generate and co-ordinate the necessary initiatives and inputs from the EU Policy Unit for funding applications, in close cooperation with the European Fundraiser.

5. EDUCATION/SKILLS AND OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

REQUIREMENTS: KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ATTRIBUTES:

• Minimum General Education: University MsC degree or equivalent (possibility for work experience in lieu of);
• Job Specific Knowledge (desired): Policy and Advocacy, conservation biology, EU politics and institutions, NGO networks;
• Experience: Minimum 5 years’ experience;
• Experience in leading teams, Management & organisational skills: Leads through providing direction, injecting energy and demonstrates capability in technical detail;
• Communications skills: Clear, confident communication, good writing skills, confident public speaker;
• Able to describe the big picture of what we are trying to achieve while also diving into details when needed;
• Analytical Skills: Ability to make sense from complexity and communicate with clarity;
• Creativity & Initiative: Self-motivated worker able to work on own or in teams;
• Computer Literacy: Working knowledge of Microsoft Windows;
• Languages: English essential, other European languages a plus;
• Travel requirements: Occasional nights away from home, ready to travel by train (including night trains and long journeys). We have a low-flying policy hence the need for train travels of up to 9 hours.

OTHER DESIRED/HELPFUL KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ATTRIBUTES:

• Genuine enthusiasm for BirdLife’s mission to mobilise lasting, sustainable protection for the world’s birds, their habitats, and global biodiversity in general;
• Understanding of culture, experience of or desire to work for a non-governmental organisation.

6. WHAT WE OFFER

Expected annual gross salary: €70,000 - €74,000 according to experience
Duration: CDI - Belgian contract
Working hours: full-time
Working arrangements: hybrid. Position is based in Brussels and presence expected for three days a week at least.

7. HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a full CV and a comprehensive cover letter (all in English) setting out your reasons for applying for the post and outlining the qualifications experience, knowledge and skills that you feel you can bring to the role to: recruitment.europe@birdlife.org.

Please include in the email subject: Policy Manager.

Closing date: 5^th February 2023 at midnight CET. Please consider that applications received after the closing date will be automatically discarded.
Date of the interviews: 16^th February 2023, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

BirdLife values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Find out more about our Diversity statement. We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture, a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We aim to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity. We will consider putting into place appropriate reasonable adjustments for candidates who may have a disability.

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