JOB ADVERT JOB ADVERT JOB ADVERT JOB ADVERT JOB ADVERT JOB ADVERT
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WOODMARK
The Soil Association's Certificate
of Responsible Forestry
is seeking candidates with international experience for the
following ODA-funded positions, promoting the Soil
Association's leadership in Responsible Forestry and timber
certification:
DIRECTOR: Salary 24-28k per annum
Responsible for: promoting the Woodmark certification scheme
to timber producers and the timber trade, governments and
NGOs. We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative
champion of certification committed to improving the
environmental and social impacts of forestry. Qualifications:
Solid background in international forestry and/or the timber
trade; understanding of certification issues; excellent
negotiation, communication, management and budgetting skills;
successful record of developing projects and attracting funds;
additional languages.
FOREST OFFICER: Salary 17-23k per annum
Responsible for: evaluating forest management and timber
supply chains to Soil Association standards; technical
forestry input and research coordination. Qualifications:
substantial international forest management experience
(particularly tropical); committed to environmentally and
socially sound forestry; good understanding of certification;
good writing and communication skills; additional languages.
Knowledge of the international timber trade advantageous.
Both posts are based in Bristol and involve periods of travel
overseas. Applicants should obtain an application form to be
returned with full CV and covering letter by June 12th to
Sarah Perrett, Personnel Dept,
Soil Association, 86 Colston Street, Bristol BS15BB, UK.
Tel: (+44) 0117 9290661 Fax: (+44) 0117 9252504
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DIRECTOR AND FOREST OFFICER APPLICATIONS
ACCOMPANYING DETAILS
The Soil Association
The Soil Association is an environmental organisation (NGO) with registered
charitable (non-profit) status. Since its foundation in 1946 the Soil
Association has carried out research and education to promote the sustainable
use of land and natural resources, focussing on organic agriculture. As a
practical mechanism for promoting organic agriculture, the Soil Association
established a certification and labelling system for organic foods in 1973,
administered by the Soil Association's wholly owned subsidiary marketing
company (SAOMCo) and now certifying 90% of organic produce sold in the UK.
The Soil Association established its Responsible Forestry Programme in 1992
with the aim of promoting responsible forest use through a public information
service on forestry and timber issues and a timber certification and labelling
programme, the Woodmark scheme.
The Woodmark Scheme
The Woodmark timber certification scheme is administered by SAOMCO, alongside
the organic Symbol Scheme.
The first two years of the programme constituted the development phase,
during which core documentation was produced and tested, including
certification standards for forestry and the chain of custody, and application
and inspection procedures. The Woodmark scheme was launched in March 1994,
following completion of its first certification - the Pengelly Forest in
Wales. Since then, the Woodmark scheme has completed a second certification
(of Dartington Home Woods) and two chain of custody audits. Timber from
Dartington is now entering the market resulting in further chain of custody
work and some twenty additional forest certifications are at various
stages of progress in the UK, Europe and the tropics.
The Woodmark scheme is one of only two independent timber certification
programmes in the UK and leads the field in assuring the high standards
demanded by environmental organisations and environmentally aware consumers.
The scheme operates under the auspices of the Forest Stewardship Council,
to whom it has applied for accreditation.. The accreditation decision is
expected to be announced in July.
With the foundations of our certification programme successfully established
and certification demand increasing, we are now seeking additional senior
staff to take Woodmark forwards to a leadership position in forest product
certification. The certification programme is supported by ODA which is
providing core funding for two years to support Woodmark personnel, including
the posts of Director and Senior Forest Officer, plus associated travel and
administration costs.
Director
The Director will lead the Woodmark scheme. He or she will establish
positive contacts with the forest industry and timber trade, both nationally
and internationally, in order to promote the special characteristics and
benefits of Woodmark, expand certification activities and establish the basis
for the eventual self-financing of Woodmark through certification income. The
Director will be a persuasive advocate of Woodmark to the forest industry
and timber trade, government and environmental organisations to secure the
endorsement and participation of key players, and identify or create
certification opportunities. This is a challenging position, demanding
strategic thinking, innovation, excellent interpersonal skills, vision and
the determination to turn a pioneering concept into reality. The Director
should have a solid background in forestry and/or the timber trade, a good
understanding of the issues involved in responsible forestry and timber
certification and a broad appreciation of national and international
approaches to sustainable forest management. Knowledge of other
certification schemes favoured by industry (eg ISO) would be an advantage.
The Director will also be able to use his or her background in forestry or
the timber trade to assist with evaluation of forest management or chains of
custody, and carrying out of research activities, where appropriate.
Within the organisation, the Director's responsibilities include liaison with
Soil Association senior staff to coordinate development of the Responsible
Forestry Programme and Woodmark scheme with the Soil Association's strategy
plan, membership of the SAOMCo Board of Directors, the setting and meeting
of targets for fund-raising to ensure viability of Woodmark until it is self-
financing, budgetary control and staff management. The Director should have
a good track record in developing projects and attracting funding.
Senior Forest Officer
The Senior Forest Officer will contribute technical expertise in evaluating
the certification potential of forests and chains of custody, and will also
assist with the continuing development of certification procedures and
documentation for specific production systems and forest types. He or she
will promote Woodmark certification to potential clients both nationally and
internationally, based on practical understanding of the problems and
constraints faced by forest owners or managers and the timber trade, whether
state-owned, private or community-based, large or small-scale. We would
normally expect the Senior Forest Officer to have 7 or more years'
substantive international forestry experience, including relevant experience
in the tropics. Experience in natural forest management is highly desirable.
Experience of participation by local communities in forest management would
be advantageous. The Senior Forest Officer will also be expected to initiate
appropriate research activities, and contribute these research findings and
Woodmark's practical experiences and perspective to national and international
forestry fora. The Senior Forest Officer will work closely with the
Certification Officer who is responsible for day-to-day implementation of the
certification system and revision of certification documents and procedures.
Existing staff
The Director and Forest Officer will join the existing team of Certification
Officer, Research and Information Officer and Administration Assistant who
are presently directed by the Responsible Forestry Programme's Coordinator.
The Coordinator post will be phased out, to be replaced by Development
Director in due course. The two new posts are being advertised simultaneously
to ensure that the appointees' skills and qualifications are complementary,
and that, together with existing personnel, the full range of experience and
skills is covered.
Interviews
Interviews will be held at the Soil Association offices in Bristol in mid-
late June. Short-listed candidates will be requested to prepare a short
spoken presentation. Details will be provided following short-listing.
Enclosures:
Responsible Forestry Standards (International version)
Woodmark Brochure
Information sheet
Woodmark newsletter
FSC leaflet
Pengelli flyer
Further information:
For further information or informal discussion of the posts please contact
Dr Dorothy Jackson, Coordinator of the Responsible Forestry Programme and
Woodmark scheme.
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