Company Profile

• To support our members to strengthen their organizations in line with Fairtrade standards.
• To improve and increase our members’ ability to access Fairtrade markets.
• To empower our members to advocate for their interests and take active ownership of the global Fairtrade system. 

• Deliver relevant valued services to Fairtrade smallholders and workers
• Build, secure, and sustain access to the market for our members.
• Advocacy.
• Build a strong, settled producer network as part of a global system 

Job Description

• TEAM: Senior Leadership Team
• LOCATION: Accra, Ghana
• REPORTING LINES
  • Post holder reports to: Executive Director
  • Staff reporting to this post: Members and Partnership Manager, Administration Officer, Liaison Officers
• SCALE LEVEL: Manager 1
• SALARY RANGE (BASIC): ($2,500-$3,960)

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY: Yes

JOB PURPOSE AND REPORTING

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Head of Region -Western Africa Network (HOR-WAN), as a member of FTA’s Senior Leadership Team has overall responsibility for the development, direction and co-ordination of FTA – West Africa Network regional programmes. This includes the responsibility for ensuring effective programme development and implementation, with the objective of delivering high quality support and representation that ultimately delivers greater impact for Fairtrade certified producers in the region.

Specific Tasks

LEADERSHIP:

• Provide strong and dynamic overall leadership at a regional level, for all members and staff.
• Manage the regional office and lead the regional team, ensuring adherence to local laws and requirements.
• Work to build consensus around key decisions among staff, Board Members, the regional support team and other organizational stakeholders, as a democratic membership organisation that is able to effectively represent the views of members.
• Responsible for management of relations with all regional members which may be through grassroots structures such as country and product networks ensuring clear plans, co-ordination and reporting.
• Represent Fairtrade in the region

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION:

• Build a producer focused regional strategy for the FTA- Western Africa Network region through working within and contributing to the global and African strategic frameworks.
• Be accountable for delivery and on-going refinement of the Regional Strategy on behalf of Regional members, to the Regional Boards of Directors, regional partners, the regional support team as well as the global system including Fairtrade International and FLO-CERT.
• Identify potential risks to the Fairtrade system and producers and build plans to mitigate these.

FUNDRAISING & PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:

• Support Fundraising at a continental and global level and raise regional funds that will support the growth of the Western Africa Network regional program activities and capacity to effectively represent and deliver services to African producers.
• Develop partnerships in the region for delivery of services to producers that are managed monitored and evaluated.

PROGRAMME DELIVERY:

• Lead the planning, design, delivery and reporting of annual regional programmes ensuring optimal use of all resources and including hands-on supervision, motivation, and mentoring of staff.
• Oversee the collection, analysis and dissemination of Key Performance Indicators and information from the region to build strong accountability and knowledge to support a learning organisation culture and action.

BOARD SUPPORT:

• Liase with the chair and ensure that all board meetings are carried out according to the FTA constitution.
• Provide effective management support to the Regional Board of Directors to ensure compliance with the regions governance duties; to deliver programme, fundraising, and regional goals; undertake effective planning and functional staff/board collaboration; and ensure that FTA’s mission, vision, and values are embodied in all processes of the organization.

BUDGET MANAGEMENT:

Manage the annual budget for the region and support the Executive Team to establish the annual FTA budget.

Required Skills or Experience

Required

• A degree in Business, Agriculture, Economics, Development Studies or related fields;
• 5 years professional experience, ideally within the Western Africa Network region;
• Proven experience of leading staff from diverse backgrounds in a manner that enhances their confidence and efficiency, builds their initiative and enables them to function as members of efficient and effective teams;
• Proven experience in advancing the cause of sustainability and ethical trade for the benefit of rural communities;
• Past experience in working with Board members;
• Proven ability to communicate effectively, manage information, execute on plans and ensure accountability;
• Experience of project cycle management, ensuring the delivery of high quality programmes as well as supporting internal learning processes across virtual teams;
• Experience of working with donor partnerships;
• A good track record of developing productive relationships with partners;
• Must be willing and able to travel extensively in the region;

Desired:

• Must have a working knowledge of English and knowledge of French will be an advantage
• Experience of managing field teams

Skills

• Strong attention to detail and deadlines, the ability to balance multiple, complex, competing and demanding responsibilities while under pressure.
• Strong negotiation, advocacy and communication including excellent presentation skills;
• Able to handle varied, demanding and complex tasks
• Ability to work independently
• A flexible and enthusiastic approach to work with the ability to be part of a wider remote team
• An organized and methodical approach to work

Competencies

The following are core competencies required for the role:

• Passionate commitment - This competency shows you have a passion, dedication, and proactively can show your support for FTA.
• Embracing change - This competency is about you showing you are flexible and responsive to changing needs. It is about innovating, doing something new or differently.
• Working together -This competency is about how we all relate to one another – either as Line Manager and Team, the Team itself, or colleague to colleague.
• Delivering results - This competency is about achieving a high quality of measurable results while at the same time maintaining or even raising, the quality of work.
• Knowledge management - This competency is about working in a way that promotes, information and knowledge sharing to the team and our broader network.