Project Manager

Job title:                    Project Manager

Salary:                       £39,488 per annum

Location:                   London, E1

Contract/Hours:        35 hours per week – fixed term 18-months

The Fairtrade Foundation is seeking a Project Manager on an 18-month fixed term contract to play a pivotal role project managing, coordinating, contributing to and leading a portfolio of strategic initiatives in line with organisational requirements and priorities.

The role will be based within the Strategy & Planning team, a multidisciplinary team responsible for formulating the organisational strategy in collaboration with senior leadership, facilitating the design, delivery and monitoring of the organization’s annual plan, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. The team also lead on the design and project management of critical strategic initiatives and the delivery of organisational governance ensuring regulatory compliance.

The role will manage a number of projects and/ or strategic initiatives within a portfolio, a portfolio that will adapt and evolve based on the needs of the organisation as required. The role will translate ambitious change goals into actionable plans, delivering tangible change, coordinating and managing this change through a range of cross-organisational stakeholders, and keeping stakeholders engaged and informed through effective communication. The role will not only be expected to project manage and coordinate, but crucially play a key role in the design and implementation of initiatives also, covering the breadth of the project and initiative lifecycle from inception through to completion. The role will also be responsible for reporting progress against plan to senior stakeholders, risk management and escalation as required and ensuring all resources are well coordinated to ensure timely and quality deliverables. The role will play a key role in organisation wide communications, updating senior leadership, key stakeholders and wider staff on progress, and maintaining high levels of engagement and buy-in to support the effective embedding of desired changes.

The role will need to be able to work autonomously and flexibly, with demonstrable success in independently managing and building relationships with stakeholders. The role requires good negotiation and listening skills and a proactive and constructive approach to resolving problems.

Previous experience at an NGO or within the charity sector is not a prerequisite for this role. Candidates with other sector backgrounds are welcomed and positively encouraged. Successful candidates will need to demonstrate a proven ability to adapt to new environments, using their experience, insight and stakeholder relationship skills to implement sustainable change.

Fairtrade changes the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions and a fairer deal for farmers and workers around the world.

Globally, across all Fairtrade members, we share a vision of a world in which all farmers and workers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods, fulfil their potential and decide on their future. To achieve this we connect disadvantaged farmers and workers with consumers, promote fairer trading conditions, and empower farmers and workers to combat poverty, strengthen their position and take more control of their lives.

Fairtrade is a global movement with a strong and active presence in the UK, represented by the Fairtrade Foundation. Farmers and workers have a strong voice at every level of Fairtrade, from how they invest in and run their local organisations to having an equal say in Fairtrade’s global decision-making.

We are seeking passionate and enthusiastic candidates who share our vision for a better world, if that sounds like you, then come and join our movement for change.

The Fairtrade Foundation is an equal opportunities employer, offers flexible working and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates with ethnically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ candidates and from candidates with disabilities, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at this level. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to greater results for producers and farmers around the world.

Closing date: Monday 18th March at 17:00

Contract: Fixed term (18-months)