In 2019, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) established the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC IF) as the operational office of the Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee (PIPC). The FSC IF is a private interest foundation in accordance with the Republic of Panama’s Law No. 25 of June 12, 1995. The mission of FSC IF is to foster an enabling environment to guarantee the rights of Indigenous Peoples and promote sustainable forest-based solutions within the 300 million hectares of forests claimed and managed by Indigenous Peoples on the Planet. The vision is that Indigenous Peoples’ global values, rights, livelihoods, ecosystem services, natural capital and communities are incorporated into forest governance, climate change governance, and market systems.
About the role
The Managing Director assumes the overall responsibility for developing, overseeing, and executing the Foundation’s vision. The Managing Director will lead the executive decision-making for the organization, in coordination with the FSC IF Council Chairperson and members. The Managing Director is supported directly by a Manager of Indigenous Engagement. Driven by and accountable to the FSC IF Indigenous mission, vision, principles, values, and governance, the Managing Director will lead and manage a diverse, global, qualified, and experienced team to ensure FSC IF best fulfils its mission, goals, objectives, and deliverables as approved by the Council as well as agreed with its founding partner, the Forest Stewardship Council, and Indigenous partners worldwide. The Managing Director leads a senior management team in FSC-IF, consisting of the Director of Finance & Administration and the future Director of Development & Partnerships and the future Deputy Managing Director. The Managing Director is accountable for providing strategic guidance and support for integrating Indigenous values into programs, developing long-term plans, monitoring progress, ensuring scalable finance and partnerships, and engaging with partners, including Indigenous Peoples' organizations, to advance the organization's mission. Moreover, the Managing Director will act as a spokesperson for FSC IF and will oversee the development of a comprehensive communications strategy, ensuring financial health, overseeing budgeting and reporting, and mitigating operational risks.
Key dimensions of the role
The Managing Director’s specific responsibilities are defined in these key areas:
- Indigenous Leadership: Provide strategic and political guidance to FSC IF, focusing on embedding Indigenous values, principles, knowledge, and vision into programs and projects in line with the Global Strategy and Indigenous goals and priorities.
- Strategic Leadership: Guide the creation, implementation, and monitoring of a comprehensive long-term plan of the organization. Craft a roadmap for the organization's responsible expansion, taking into account prevailing and future trends, challenges, opportunities, and the mission of FSC IF, ensuring alignment with Indigenous Peoples' interests and long-term objectives.
- External Stakeholders Management: Serve as the primary liaison between the FSC IF and various stakeholders, particularly Indigenous Peoples' organizations, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission and strategies as directed by the Council. Facilitate long-term partnerships with Indigenous Peoples' Organizations at multiple levels.
- External Communication: Act as the ambassador and spokesperson for the FSC IF, prioritizing the promotion of the organization's brand and distinctive model and collaborate with the team for creation of a comprehensive communications strategy.
- Effective governance, legal and risk management: Assist the FSC IF Council Chairperson to facilitate effective and efficient Council decision making based on best governance and reporting and risk management practices, with a focus on Indigenous governance models.
- Financial Management oversight in collaboration with the Director of Finance & Administration, ensure comprehensive and accurate reporting, including monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, while identifying potential risks and overseeing the development of mitigation strategies for FSC IF operations and investments.
- Fundraising: Oversee the development of a fundraising strategy aimed at setting and achieving annual goals. This involves cultivating and sustaining relationships with funders, as well as spearheading the development of proposals for significant bids and contracts.
Skills and experience
- Member of an Indigenous People.
- Demonstrated experience in strategic leadership, preferably in Indigenous rights or environmental organizations.
- Experience leading global or cross-regional teams and scaling up an organization.
- Existing network and connection with Indigenous Peoples Organizations or initiatives involving Indigenous Peoples.
- Experience in working collaboratively and effectively with multiple sectors and stakeholders including funding partners, companies, governments, United Nations bodies, and others.
- Strong multisectoral engagement capability to design, execute, and scale up partnerships and finance with evidence of the ability to support organizational growth.
- Experience and success in motivating, recruiting, developing, retaining, and mentoring high-performance, mission-driven, and results-oriented teams.
- Excellent written, oral, and public speaking skills being a persuasive and passionate communicator with strong interpersonal and multidisciplinary skills.
- Demonstrated cultural awareness and sensitivity to the diversity of values, views, and approaches to issues relevant to Indigenous People, FSC IF, its partners, and donors.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Millar Cameron, we are dedicated to supporting our Clients in building and supporting diverse and inclusive workplaces and culture, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
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