Solidaridad envisions a world in which all we produce and consume can sustain us, while respecting the planet, each other and the next generations. We work throughout the whole supply chain to make sustainability the norm and ensure farmers and workers have a living income, influence, and produce in balance with nature.
We are looking for an experienced professional to strengthen the Policy Influencing team of Solidaridad Europe. This team advocates for regulatory frameworks and supporting policies to ensure that products sold at the European market are produced in a sustainable way. We call on the private sector to implement comprehensive sustainability policies, adopt sustainable sourcing models and implement responsible procurement practices. Key themes are sustainable natural resource management, decent work and fair value distribution in international supply chains linked to Europe. This includes lobby and advocacy on human rights, living income and wage, and smallholder and gender inclusivity.
The Policy Influencing team develops recommendations and positions Solidaridad as a thought leader in its field. We collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders to set the agenda, influence policies of both the public and private sector, and propose solutions. We work with policy makers in governments and multilateral agencies, policy makers in companies and industry organizations, and multi-stakeholder organizations and roundtables.
The Policy Influencing team works across a range of commodities, of which cocoa is one. Roughly 70% of the world’s cocoa is produced in West Africa, while Europe is the biggest consumer of chocolate and the port of Amsterdam the largest importer of cocoa beans globally. The crop is grown on relatively small plots of land and contributes significantly to rural incomes, national incomes and livelihoods. The global demand for cocoa is rising. Yet the majority of the world’s cocoa producers are stuck in a cycle of poverty. Companies and governments are an integral part of a sustainable cocoa industry. Solidaridad believes in a market transformation approach that works simultaneously with farmers, markets, consumers and governments – where one cannot make progress without the other.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND PROFILE
Advocacy (70%)
- Develop, implement, and evaluate advocacy strategies;
- Develop clear policy positions on key topics related to a sustainable and inclusive cocoa supply chain, in close collaboration with colleagues from Solidaridad offices around the world;
- Advocate for the adoption of Solidaridad’s recommendations for a sustainable and inclusive cocoa and chocolate industry;
- Build and maintain a strong network with key policy makers in cocoa and chocolate companies, industry organizations, governments, and other CSOs in Europe and globally;
- Serve as thought leader internally, and spokesperson externally on Solidaridad’s position and solutions for a sustainable cocoa sector
- Represent Solidaridad in various key coalitions, multi-stakeholder initiatives, advisory groups and other thought leadership spaces;
Communication (20%)
- Analyse complex policy debates and communicate these in an accessible way;
- Create visibility for Solidaridad’s positions and recommendations by (co-)developing papers, organising and participating in events, and being visible in debates and (social) media;
- Develop and contribute to communication and press strategies, as well as campaigns, together with colleagues from the communications team.
Other (10%)
- Develop work plans, reporting to donors;
- Internal management, coordination and cooperation with colleagues on relevant topics.
The ideal candidate has advocacy experience, a flair for building movements with people from a variety of backgrounds, and the ability to turn complex policy topics into compelling narratives. You are an excellent international team player with a strong degree of autonomy, you show initiative, and are solution oriented. Excellent organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and manage workload.
MAIN EXPERIENCE AND JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Essential
- Strong affinity with Solidaridad’s vision, mission and work and knowledge of recent developments in the area of public sustainability policies, corporate social responsibility and sustainable economic development;
- At least 7 years relevant working experience, preferably with a CSO or a multinational enterprise;
- Demonstrable interest in and knowledge of the cocoa sector, its stakeholders and supply chain. A good understanding of the social, environmental and economic challenges in the cocoa sector;
- Experience with advocacy towards public and private policy makers;
- Strong networking skills; ability to build and maintain a relevant network among decision makers from the private and public sector;
- Intercultural sensitivity, excellent communication skills, and ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment;
- Academic working and thinking level. Relevant higher education degree;
- Professional fluency in English;
- Ability to travel to attend meetings and conferences, and to visit other Solidaridad offices;
- Allowed to work in the EU.
Preferred
- Experience with CSO advocacy and campaigning;
- Experience in working with different types of stakeholders along the supply chain, including smallholder farmers and communities in the Global South;
- Experience working in a decentralized network organization;
- Understanding of due diligence frameworks for international responsible business conduct, and EU legislative processes;
- Proficient in French and Dutch.
OUR OFFER
- A unique and rewarding job within an inspiring and international setting, starting as soon as possible;
- You will join Solidaridad Europe’s Policy Influencing team in Utrecht, and will have the opportunity to work with an innovative and dedicated network of professionals in Europe and across the world;
- A one-year contract with the possibility of extension, 32-36 hours/week;
- Gross salary scale BBRA Grade 11 (minimum EUR 3,662, maximum EUR 5,586 per month);
- An additional holiday allowance of 8% will be paid to the employee in May of every calendar year;
- In addition, Solidaridad pays an end-of-year allowance equivalent to 8.3% of the gross annual salary earned;
- Solidaridad offers a non-contributory pension plan;
- Contribution to moving expenses;
- Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands, with national and international travel required.
In Solidaridad, diversity, equity and inclusion are key to our collective mission, vision and values.
We aim for Solidaridad Europe to be an inclusive place where all people feel heard, seen, and valued for their diverse identities, experiences, perspectives and skills.
We are therefore committed to ensuring a safe and healthy working environment by treating everyone with dignity and respect, enabling and empowering us to be ourselves and achieving our full potential as individuals and our collective mission as an organization.
NEXT STEP
Do you recognize yourself in this candidate profile? Then please submit your one-page motivation letter and two-page resume in English to hr-europe@solidaridadnetwork.org and state “Application: Policy Influencing Advisor – Cocoa” in the subject header. We encourage applicants to respond as soon as possible as all applications will be processed and evaluated on a rolling basis.
Questions can be addressed to hr-europe@solidaridadnetwork.org or by phone to Boukje Theeuwes, Head of Policy Influencing, (+31 (0)30 272 03 13).
A reference check, VOG (certificate of good conduct) or equivalent depending on the country of residence, and an assessment may be part of the selection procedure. Work permit restrictions may apply.
No agencies please.
Any personal data submitted in an application is treated confidentially and processed for the sole purpose of filling a vacancy, and compliant to the GDPR directive. After the selection process has been completed (upon the date of filled vacancy), all personal data of applicants who have not been selected will be destroyed immediately, unless we have your explicit approval to store your personal data for a period of maximum a year.
BACKGROUND
Solidaridad envisions a world in which all we produce and all we consume can sustain us, while respecting the planet, each other and the next generations. We enable farmers and workers to earn a living income, shape their own future, and produce in balance with nature by working throughout the whole supply chain to make sustainability the norm. We bring together supply chain actors and engage them in innovative solutions to improve production, ensuring the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy that maximizes the benefit for all.
Solidaridad is an international network organization consisting of seven regional expertise centers located around the world (Asia, Southern Africa, East and Central Africa, West Africa, LatAm, North America and Europe), each with their own specific expertise and focus. Globally, Solidaridad works across 13 commodities, in over 40 countries.
Solidaridad Europe focuses on market development, policy influencing, communications and donor relations. We seek to inspire the private sector, governments, civil society organizations and consumers in Europe to contribute to sustainable economic development.
For more information please refer to our website: http://www.solidaridadnetwork.org.