Job Description

DRS is looking for a Country Requirements General Functions - Programme Manager, to work for a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting responsible forest management and ensuring environmental sustainability.

Title: Country Requirements General Functions - Programme Manager Location: Bonn, Germany Start date: As soon as possible Unit: Performance and Standards Unit Working Hours: Full time - 40 hours per week

Roles and Responsibilities: Jointly with the twin Country Requirements Reviews Programme:

Leadership & Team Management:

Lead the Country Requirements General Functions Team, including staff supervision. Drive, coach, nurture, and inspire the team to achieve a high sense of belonging, trust, and fulfillment, enabling team members to deliver high performance. Exercise leadership in alignment with the organization’s leadership principles. Strategic Planning & Project Management:

Establish and implement effective and outcome-oriented work plans based on considerate annual budgets and in line with organizational strategies and priorities. Exercise high-quality project management within the Programme. Ensure timely and quality delivery of all projects under the Programme’s responsibility within the planned budget. Collaboration & Alignment:

Ensure full alignment and seamless collaboration with the twin Country Programmes, including aligned leadership and supervision style. Normative Requirements & Standards:

Coordinate and oversee the development, approval, maintenance, review, revision, and interpretation of normative requirements for the development of standards and risk assessments. Create/maximize synergies between the relevant procedures and reporting systems. Supervise the development of related communications, guidance, and training materials for developers of standards and risk assessments, actual users (certificate holders and certification bodies), and relevant stakeholders. Process Management & Reporting:

Ensure timely and adequate interventions to prevent delays and standstills in ongoing processes. Maintain a well-functioning reporting system for ongoing processes, delivering regular, timely, and up-to-date status reports to management and approval bodies. Contribution to Model Development:

Contribute to the development and implementation of a model for the integrated review and revision of the Principles & Criteria, International Generic Indicators, and country standards. Stakeholder Engagement:

Develop and regularly review the terms of reference of the Forest Management Community and oversee its management by the assigned coordinator. Coordinate activities within and beyond the Policy Solutions Unit (PSU), especially with the Forest Management Programme, Monitoring and Evaluation Programme, and Regional Offices. Present the organization’s work in various fora, as applicable. Fundraising & Donor Relations:

Support fundraising and reporting to donors. General Responsibilities:

Perform additional project work and other tasks as assigned for special business needs and agreed with the formal supervisor. Adhere to PSU operational procedures, e.g., conformance with the internal PSU accreditation program for normative knowledge, agile work planning, reporting on office presence, etc. Participate in the internal competence and accreditation program. Reporting: Reporting to: Head of Policy Solutions.

Supervision of staff: The incumbent supervises the staff of the Country Requirements Programme – General Functions.

Cooperation with:

Country Requirements Reviews Programme – full alignment of work scope. All programmes within PSU. All organizational units of the International Secretariat. Network Partners. External service providers. Stakeholders relevant to the Programme’s activities.

Requirements:

Education and Training:

A minimum of MSc degree in Business Administration. Other degrees are a strong asset (e.g., Ecology, Natural Resource Management, Business Administration). PhD degree is a very strong asset. Working Experience, Style and Skills:

At least 5 years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas: Business administration, Project management. Experience in the following areas is a very strong asset: Multi-stakeholder standards development processes Corporate environmental responsibility programs Proven experience in successful management of large projects. Excellent time management skills; ability to perform well while handling several functions simultaneously. Experience in fundraising and donor reporting is a plus. Very strong analytical and problem-solving skills. A very strong sense of diligence and accuracy. Service and solution-oriented attitude to work. Proactiveness and high level of engagement. Strong administration skills. Leadership:

Demonstrated strategic abilities. At least 5 years of experience in a people leadership position. Computer Skills:

Very good skills in the use of/experience with standard software packages (MS Office 365; excellence in MS Word). Ability to quickly derive insights from data and reports, as well as guide data analytics relevant to program performance. Communication and Relationship Management Skills:

Exemplary verbal and written communication skills. Skills to lead a conversation and the ability to arrive at timely conclusions. Strong presentation skills. Conflict management skills. Assertiveness. Fluency in English (spoken and written). Fluency in Spanish (spoken and written) is a plus. Fluency in French (spoken and written) is a plus. Ability to explain complex topics to a lay audience. Ability to establish and maintain positive interpersonal relations.