Director Of International Programmes, Policy And Partnerships at Traidcraft Exchange

We are seeking an outstanding, strategic leader to become Traidcraft Exchange’s Director of International Programmes, Policy and Partnerships. The candidate will be passionate and knowledgeable about the trading context and sectors in which we work and deeply committed to a systemic approach to change. They will have excellent networking and partnership development skills, be able to speak credibly and passionately about trade issues and to represent the organisation at the most senior level.

Experienced in bringing programme and policy work together to deliver lasting impact, the successful candidate will provide strategic direction to their teams and galvanise staff behind a clear vision for change in the sectors in which we work. They will have a strong track record of delivery, excellent people leadership and management skills and be able to embed collaborative and creative ways of working alongside clear systems of reporting, learning and review. They will have a track record of developing strategic funding partnerships to bring in resource to the organisation and be able to drive a culture of fundraising within the department.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a passion and personal drive for Traidcraft Exchange’s mission, will be deeply committed to enabling and supporting people-led change and will embody our values in their leadership.

This role would suit an experienced and energetic person with drive and vision, and strong strategic and inter-personal skills. It is an exciting time for the organisation and a great opportunity to lead and shape our work to have a deep and meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable communities.

Accountabilities

• To set the strategic direction and ensure strong evidence of impact for Traidcraft Exchange’s programme, policy and partnership work in South Asia, Africa, UK and globally.
• To represent Traidcraft Exchange at senior levels and to influence and collaborate with different stakeholders and partners to deliver our strategy and build profile for our work
• To oversee and allocate the international budgets for our programme and policy work, and to drive the funding strategy, building a diverse portfolio of donors and developing innovative new funding partnerships
• To direct, mentor and coach line-management reports, including country/regional directors in South Asia and Africa, and heads of team in Policy and Partnerships & Investment as well as the Portfolio, Quality and Impact Lead
• To be a visible and inspiring organisational leader, actively contributing to the executive leadership team and supporting and enabling leaders across Programmes, Policy and Partnerships & Investment to collaborate effectively to deliver impact in our priority portfolios of work
• To embody the organisation’s values and to build a culture of working that empowers staff to lead in their different areas and to co-create programme and policy initiatives with partners and communities, in line with our commitment to shift power and locally-led development
• This post will report to the CEO

Candidate Profile

You will be:

• Passionate and driven, deeply committed to tackling injustice in trade systems and enabling community-led change
• A strategic leader, with a strong understanding of the contexts in which we work, able to ensure our strategic relevance and value-add
• An inspiring leader of people, able to motivate, mentor and support staff to succeed and thrive
• An excellent networker, able to develop and nurture a broad range of relationships with different stakeholders, including businesses, governments, NGOs and donors
• Able to spot opportunities for strategic collaborations and partnerships, and able to bring those to fruition
• Excellent at speaking passionately and representing the organisation at a senior level
• Experienced in working from a programmatic and policy perspective on the trade issues within Traidcraft Exchange’s portfolio areas, including small-scale agriculture, tea and garments
• A deep understanding of and commitment to the shift the power agenda, equality, diversity and inclusion
• Skilled at developing strong relationships and ensuring effective team working by facilitating good decision-making and strong collaboration
• Able to hold the strategic vision and see the bigger picture

You will have:

• Strong experience and knowledge of trade issues in Traidcraft Exchange’s portfolio areas of small-scale agriculture, tea and garments and textiles
• Lived experience or exposure to working within an approach that seeks to build community power
• Strong leadership and management skills and the ability to work with teams across multiple sites to deliver impact
• Experience of developing innovative partnerships and collaborations with others, in a multisectoral context
• Excellent cultural intelligence and ability to relate to staff and partners from diverse cultures
• Excellent networking and communication skills
• Strong credibility with a range of audiences
• Excellent leadership and people coaching and development skills
• Personal commitment to justice and fairness