Transition Cotati

The ISEAL Alliance helps to make social and environmental standards like Fairtrade and Organic better. As an international membership network, we work with a diverse group of organisations worldwide that are committed to global change. We are looking for a Network Weaver to be the vibrant animator behind our online community.

About You

You are energetic and opportunity seeking. You thrive on making connections and building relationships. You can read people really well, instil confidence and communicate tactfully and honestly. You are in your natural element using social media but can relate to those who are afraid of it. You understand how social and environmental standards and certification works and are eager to stimulate learning about how to improve these systems. You can grasp complex and technical issues and communicate clearly about them. You can think strategically but also respond well to a rapidly evolving environment. Most of all, you believe that we urgently need to change the way the world does business and want to be a voice for social and environmental change.

What You’ll be Doing

ISEAL community members are improving how voluntary standards are developed and implemented and are creating an environment that supports their use. Our online community is a place where our members and others will find resources, share information, discuss and collaborate on projects that help them to do their work better. As the Network Weaver, you will be the person who animates and manages this work, creating a vibrant community of engaged participants who learn together. You will:

• have strategic responsibility for managing the community and how it functions and evolves over time;
• be instrumental in growing the network of community participants and strengthening the quality of engagement;
• maintain an overall picture of the community and connect people with each other and with the resources they need;
• facilitate discussions and encourage exchange between participants and show people how to build trust through low-risk collaborations;
• identify and cultivate core influencers within the community and find ways to support the participation of those people on the network’s periphery;
• create content through blog posts, finding and developing new and relevant resources to share with the community;
• build the capacity of ISEAL staff and community members to take on network weaving roles;
• advise on technology needs to support the community and troubleshoot technical problems; and
• monitor and report on the effectiveness of the community as a forum for learning and exchange.

What We’re Looking For:

The Network Weaver will be someone who is:

• proficient and comfortable with Web 2.0 and social media tools, including Drupal-based platforms;
• experienced working with socially and environmentally-focused NGOs or businesses, with a basic understanding of social and environmental standards and certification;
• outgoing, confident, diplomatic, and has an innate curiosity;
• articulate and has exceptional writing skills, tailored to a variety of mediums;
• able to engender trust easily; and
• highly organised and can think strategically.

A full set of selection criteria are included as an appendix to this job description.

About the ISEAL Alliance:

ISEAL is the global association for social and environmental standards systems. We work to scale up the social and environmental impacts that result from the implementation of these systems. ISEAL shapes the context in which voluntary standards systems operate, by defining what good practice looks like for the sector, as well as through influencing how external stakeholders think about and engage with credible voluntary standards systems. ISEAL Alliance members such as the Forest Stewardship Council and the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations are leading organisations in social and environmental standard-setting and certification, and are committed to compliance with ISEAL Credibility Tools. ISEAL has offices in London and Brussels with satellites in Canada and the United States.

There is a strong preference for this position to be based in London or Brussels but strong candidates from other locations are invited to apply.

How to Apply:

Interested individuals should submit a resume and cover letter telling us why you are the person for this position. You are welcome to reference the selection criteria.  Please also include a description and links to your online presence.

The deadline for receipt of applications (by email) is 25 November, 2009. Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 30 November and interviews (in London or by teleconference) will take place during the week of 7 to 11 December.

To apply, or for specific enquiries, please contact Paul Stephenson by email: paul@isealalliance.org.  

Other Relevant Information: