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Senior Relation Manager - Utrecht, The Netherlands

Solidaridad is an innovative civil society organization in the field of corporate social responsibility, fairtrade and agricultural supply chains.

We are looking for a:
Senior Relation Manager
For 32 hours per week for a period of 5 months (maternity leave Aug-Dec 2012)

Together with a team of relation managers, you will drive our sustainable fashion programme in Europe. You will develop and maintain partnerships with relevant players in the fashion sector, including brands and retailers and funders/investors. You will actively work with our colleagues in overseas offices to provide linkages to projects and programmes that structurally improve the social and environmental impact of cotton cultivation and processing.

You have a clear and inspiring vision on improving the impact of sustainable fashion markets through market incentives and you are able to translate this vision into action. You are capable of working with people that have different professional and cultural backgrounds. You have a thorough understanding of corporate social responsibility as well as the trends and dynamics in the international fashion market.

Responsibility

The senior relation manager implements the fashion programme in Solidaridad the Netherlands and liaises with network colleagues around the world to coordinate his/her input in the global fashion programme.

Responsibilities include:

  • Relationship development and management with corporate partners, programme financers and other relevant stakeholders;
  • Programme development and programme management in Europe;
  • Driving interventions in multi-stakeholder settings that create more favourable conditions for market-based sustainability enhancement;
  • Fundraising, with a particular focus on corporate funding;
  • Feeding into Solidaridad communications to internal and external stakeholders inside and outside the scope of fashion;
  • Initiating and developing innovative fashion projects with partners.

The senior relation manager will report to the head of the fashion team of Solidaridad the Netherlands.

Candidate’s profile

  • 7 to 10 years of relevant working experience in either corporate social responsibility, trade, or procurement, preferably in the fashion sector;
  • Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as economics, international affairs, environmental studies, business or public administration, etc.;
  • Thorough understanding of sustainability issues related to fashion (with special attention to sustainable cotton such as organic/Fair Trade cotton, BCI), and a vision on possible intervention strategies and change agents in relation to market development;
  • Demonstrated ability to deal with various stakeholders, e.g. business, NGOs, donors, governments;
  • Fluency in English and Dutch;
  • Affinity with the goals of Solidaridad, service-oriented, team player, enterprising, pragmatic, flexible, sensitive to cultural differences, and with good communicative skills;
  • Working experience in cotton/fashion producing countries is appreciated.

What do we offer?

  • A unique and challenging job in an inspiring and international setting;
  • An opportunity to work with an innovative and dedicated network of professionals on all continents;
  • A 5 months contract (due to maternity leave), salary based on BBRA 11;
  • The position implies international travel.

Next step

Do you recognize yourself in the candidate profile? Then send your one page motivation letter and two page resume in English to Nelleke.Wollenberg@solidaridad.nl, and state “application senior relation manager” in the subject header. The closing date for this vacancy is 21 May 2012.

For more information about Solidaridad and our fashion programme, please visit our website www.solidaridadnetwork.org. Questions about the function can be addressed to Nelleke Wollenberg, by e-mail or phone (+31 (0) 30 272 03 13).