Commercial Partnerships Director - Candidate Brief for the position of Fairtrade Foundation
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Candidate Brief for the position of Commercial Partnerships Director Fairtrade Foundation August 2021
Candidate Brief – August 2021 Berwick Partners an Odgers Berndtson company
Company Overview
Choosing Fairtrade means being true to your values, being connected to a like-minded community and
creating positive change throughout our world. Fairtrade achieves this by rallying a global community of
millions – farmers and workers, supply chain partners, brands, retailers, shoppers, schools, government – to
pay fair prices and uphold fair production standards and practices.
Fair prices provide an immediate lifeline for vulnerable farmers and workers at times of need. They also
provide long-term investment in production, community and environmental projects to create a fairer,
better world.
Fair standards and practices promote sustainable farming to protect biodiversity and the environment;
deliver training for women so they can participate and lead; secure worker rights; and build climate
resilience.
Beyond certification, Fairtrade is deepening its impact by delivering specialist programmes and expertise to
support communities with additional training and worker support, whether that’s empowering women coffee
farmers or providing tailored support in responding to crises such as Covid-19.
The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent non-profit organisation that focuses on four key areas of work
in the UK:
◼ We partner with businesses to certify their supply chains according to Fairtrade’s independent
standards, and to enable increased investment in producer and worker led development plans. This
includes licensing the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products.
◼ We grow demand for Fairtrade products by connecting producers and workers with retailers and
branded businesses in the UK, and helping to strengthen supply chain relationships that are fairer and
more equitable.
◼ We work with commercial and donor partners to develop programmes and services that support
producers and workers to achieve their development goals and improve their livelihoods.
◼ We campaign to raise awareness of the need for Fairtrade amongst the public and with policy makers,
supporting the grassroots Fairtrade movement to call for fairer trade.
In the UK, the Fairtrade Foundation employs around one hundred staff across Commercial, Public
Engagement and Impact Directorates, and in Finance, IT & Data, Facilities, Legal and HR teams.
We have recently embarked on a multi-year process across the whole of the Fairtrade Global System to
define and design a new 5 year strategy (2021-2025). A strategy which meets the challenges being
presented to markets and producers, as well as seizing the opportunities our ever evolving world provides.
Our primary focus remains achieving decent & sustainable livelihoods for producers. Key requirements for us
to be successful over this next strategic period will be to further champion progress in Living Income and
Living Wages, to grow the volumes of products sold on Fairtrade terms and to further support producer
organisations to become more resilient in a fast changing environment (including climate resilience &
adaptation).
Our annual impact report and latest financials: https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/wp-
content/uploads/2021/07/Fairtrade-Annual-Report-and-Financial-Statements-2020-1.pdf
2
Candidate Brief – August 2021 Berwick Partners an Odgers Berndtson company
Background to the Role
The Commercial Partnerships directorate consists of the following teams; Commercial Partnerships, Business
Services, Supply Chain and Programme Management, Programmes and Partnerships and Out of Home
team. Together, they are responsible for leading the Fairtrade Foundation’s relationships with large and
small consumer-facing commercial partners, including global and UK-based brand owners, and UK retailers.
The directorate’s goal is to improve the experience of Fairtrade farmers and workers, by growing sales of
Fairtrade certified products as well as working with partners on joint marketing activities, campaigns, and
programme investment. The directorate is also responsible for generating commercial income (mainly in the
form of licence fee) to fund the work of the Fairtrade system.
The directorate is the voice of business within the Fairtrade system, and works closely with other functions to
develop channel, category and key account strategies to achieve Fairtrade’s goals, including public
awareness raising, programme investment generation, and advocacy goals.
What we are looking for
It’s an exciting time to join Fairtrade. We’re at the start of our new 2021-2025 Strategy which is an ambitious
global response to a changing world. Our new strategy presents the opportunity for us all to work together
in new ways, to create greater impact, galvanise pubic support and action to tackle the urgent challenges
farmers and workers face by continuing to drive an effective and inspiring organisation and system.
To ensure we can deliver this exciting strategy, the Commercial Partnerships Director, working closely with
the Foundation’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT), will be accountable for growing influence and sales through
maximising volume growth of Fairtrade products and developing new business. You will be a confident and
considered decision maker and have the leadership judgement and breadth to empower, motivate and
realise the full potential of the team. You will create an enabling environment, ensuring that our commercial
activities support and partner with our public engagement and programmatic activities, ensuring
problems/risks and issues are anticipated and dealt with and lessons learned in a timely manner.
Each member of the SLT is accountable for leading on international aspects that relate to their function,
deputising for the CEO on stakeholder relationships within the global Fairtrade system. They are also public
facing ambassadors for Fairtrade in the UK, so knowledge of and commitment to Fairtrade and development
issues, combined with a persuasive & engaging presentation style, are essential.
Working in a stimulating and challenging environment, you will be able to demonstrate first-rate leadership
skills, including fresh and impactful strategic leadership, extensive sales and relationship management
experience and knowledge gained at a senior level. You will be adept at turning insight into multi-year plans
and able to show that you have an ability to manage diverse perspectives whilst focusing on delivering
results.
3
Candidate Brief – August 2021 Berwick Partners an Odgers Berndtson company
The Role Profile
The Commercial Partnerships Director leads the organisation’s work to grow impact and sales for producers
through:
◼ Maximising the volume growth opportunities for Fairtrade products in the UK & where relevant
globally
◼ Meeting annual license fee and other commercial income targets, leading on licensee account
management and new business development
◼ Delivering significant life-changing producer impact by influencing business partners’ actions /
behaviours towards producers and trading.
◼ Leading and inspiring a large, talented and diverse commercial team.
◼ Shaping and driving the Foundation’s strategy as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team.
The position reports to the Chief Executive.
The position participates, with the Board of Trustees, Senior Leadership Team, in setting the direction of the
Foundation, assuring its accountabilities to all stakeholders, and sharing broader responsibility for leading
and directing the organisation, ensuring progress against strategic objectives and achievement of annual
targets.
4
Candidate Brief – August 2021 Berwick Partners an Odgers Berndtson company
Key Responsibilities
◼ Continuously develop, improve and implement the Fairtrade Foundation’s commercial strategy to
meet strategic goals. Champion commercial innovation, creating a culture of entrepreneurship, by
looking for ways to create more value added and dynamic outcomes for commercial partners and
producers.
◼ Define and influence Fairtrade strategy for key commodities in order to deliver sustained producer
impact by changing and enhancing business practices / behaviour; providing regular reports on
progress and developments
◼ Identify, build and nurture relations with senior commercial stakeholders.
◼ Set and achieve ambitious targets for budgeted commercial income and volume each year.
◼ Lead, inspire and manage the team, ensuring that staff are developed and supported in achieving
agreed objectives and targets, in the leadership of all licensee account management.
◼ Champion, role model and ensure positive & effective collaboration between teams in the Foundation
in delivering value and service to business partners and impact to producers.
◼ Develop, build and maintain strong partnerships with pioneering Fairtrade companies and other
dedicated, non-commercial organisations and NGOs, in order to ensure the integrity of the
FAIRTRADE Mark and brand into the future, as Fairtrade becomes increasingly mainstream.
◼ Play a leading role in influencing & setting international commercial & product / commodity strategies
in collaboration with other National Fairtrade Organisations, Fairtrade International and Producer
Networks.
◼ Influence and drive the implementation of the Foundation’s annual and longer-term strategic
planning, in line with the Foundation’s overall strategy 2021-2025; working with the Senior Leadership
5Candidate Brief – August 2021 Berwick Partners an Odgers Berndtson company
Team & Heads of Departments to develop this into work and delivery plans with defined outcomes,
performance indicators and budgets.
◼ Be an active and valued member of the SLT, providing specialist perspective as relevant and
contributing to Director level debate and decision making on organisation wide operational and
strategic issues.
◼ Provide expert commercial guidance and insight to SLT, secure cross-team awareness and
commitment to Commercial objectives, understanding others’ perspectives and offering options based
on the best practice in the sector.
Commercial accountability to the Board of Trustees and relevant sub-committees as required.
The Candidate
Education
◼ Degree qualification or equivalent through relevant experience as a minimum requirement
Experience
◼ Track record of achieving income targets both personally and through leading a team
◼ Experience of pitching to multinational companies or brands
◼ Experience of building and nurturing senior customer relationships at board and C-suite level to drive
sustainable long-term growth of activity, ideally in an FMCG sector or Sustainability role
◼ A proven ability to think strategically and develop and implement complex multi-year plans
◼ Experience of influencing internal and external stakeholders at a senior level, and of setting an
example of inspiring leadership
◼ Significant management experience, including responsibility for staff and budgets, and preferably with
experience of reporting at Board level
◼ An effective leader and communicator with a track record of building successful teams and the inter-
personal skills to support a collaborative approach to working with colleagues and external partners at
all levels.
Knowledge and Technical Skills
◼ Knowledge of and keen interest in Sustainable Development.
◼ Ability to manage a diverse portfolio of accounts and deal constructively with competing
requirements.
◼ Good understanding of the UK food/ non-food/ FMCG /Sustainability sectors, preferably including
knowledge of global brand company and major retailer operations.
◼ Good understanding of international supply chains and their impact on poverty in developing
countries.
◼ Excellent and demonstrable sales, negotiation & objection handling skills.
◼ Highly organised; results and solutions focused.
◼ Strong written and oral communication skills including being an effective spokesperson.
◼ High-level of emotional intelligence to manage & develop relationships at a senior level, in order to
sell to new and existing customers/stakeholders.
6Candidate Brief – August 2021 Berwick Partners an Odgers Berndtson company
Person Skills and Behaviours
◼ Strong interpersonal skills, ability to communicate and manage well at all levels of the organisation
and across the international Fairtrade system.
◼ Strong problem solving and creative skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment and make
decisions based on accurate and timely analyses.
◼ High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation.
◼ Emotional intelligence coupled with resilience in order to make the right decisions, argue persuasively,
follow through decisively and deliver in a timely manner.
◼ Ability to inspire, motivate and command trust, respect, fairness and confidence.
◼ A strong team player with a flexible approach and willingness to engage with a wide range of
organisational issues working across boundaries to tackle diverse and complex issues
Competencies
◼ Passionate Commitment - having passion, dedication and proactively showing support for the work of
the Foundation. Contributing to a positive internal atmosphere and external perception of the
Foundation.
◼ Embracing Change - flexibility and responsiveness to changing needs. It is about innovating, doing
something new or differently. It also involves welcoming creative ideas and solutions.
◼ Working with Integrity - using a principled approach for every decision and action. Choosing to do the
right thing even when it is difficult.
◼ Leadership - taking a leadership role regardless of your rank within the hierarchy. It involves acting
with the Foundation’s vision in mind, being decisive and working for the good of the entire
organisation and its mission.
◼ Teamwork - working in a way which acknowledges the interdependence of people in your team and
other teams. It is also about effective cross-team project working.
◼ Positive relationships - fostering and maintaining constructive and professional relationships with
colleagues and external stakeholders.
◼ Delivering results - achieving a high quantity of measurable results whilst maintaining, or even raising,
quality of work.
◼ Managing resources responsibly - managing the Foundation’s resources well. It involves negotiating
best value for the Foundation and ensuring the longevity of the organisation.
◼ Information and Knowledge management - working in a way that values the gathering, management
and sharing of information (facts and data) and knowledge (understanding gained through
experience) of benefit to the Foundation.
Organisational Commitment
◼ Knowledge of and commitment to Fairtrade, our values and development issues
◼ Act as an ambassador for the organisation and encourage staff & volunteers to speak at external
events.
◼ Exemplify Fairtrade’s values of Partnership, Accountability, Integrity and Respect.
◼ Exemplify and reinforce the principles of safeguarding and protection of children & vulnerable adults
in our work.
7Candidate Brief – August 2021 Berwick Partners an Odgers Berndtson company
Additional Details
Location 5.7 The Loom, 14 Gower’s Walk, London, E1
8PY
Semi-remote supporting nationwide UK
market
Time-zones: GMT, CET
Salary up to £80,000 inc. market premium
Reports to Chief Executive
Staff Reporting 4-5
Level Grade 3
At Fairtrade we are committed to the safeguarding and protection of children & vulnerable adults in our
work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work within this
environment are recruited to work for us. Therefore for this specific role a Basic DBS check will be needed as
part of an offer of employment.
8Candidate Brief – August 2021 Berwick Partners an Odgers Berndtson company
The Fairtrade Foundation is an equal opportunities employer, offers flexible working and welcomes
applications from all sections of the community.
We particularly welcome applications from candidates with ethnically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+
candidates and from candidates with disabilities, because we would like to increase the representation of
these groups at this level. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to greater results
for producers and farmers around the world.
How to Apply
The preferred method of application is online at www.berwickpartners.co.uk/83712
If you are unable to apply online please email your application to response.manager@berwickpartners.co.uk
All applications will receive an automated response.
All candidates are also requested to complete an online Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form which will be
found at the end of the application process.
For detailed information on how we process your personal data, please review our privacy policy on our
website https://www.berwickpartners.co.uk/privacy-policy/
In line with GDPR, we ask that you do NOT send us any information that can identify children or any of your
Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade
union membership, data concerning health or sex life and sexual orientation, genetic and/or biometric data)
in your CV and application documentation. Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal
Data in your CV/application documentation will be understood by us as your express consent to process this
information going forward. Please also remember to not mention anyone’s information or details (e.g.
referees) who have not previously agreed to their inclusion.
If you have any queries or would like more information in regard to this document, please contact:
William Pringle
Partner
william.pringle@berwickpartners.co.uk
9You can also read
