Development Manager , International Tree Foundation

Development Manager

Reporting to: Chairman of Trustees

3 – 6 months contract, with the possibility of extension or permanency

Location: flexible, but with some time to be spent at ITF’s office in Crawley

Full or part time applications will be considered

Salary in the region of £35,000 p.a. or pro rata if part time

Introduction

The International Tree Foundation (ITF) has promoted and funded sustainable community forestry projects in the UK and overseas for almost 90 years and has been responsible for the establishment of hundreds of millions of trees. By planting, protecting and promoting trees in partnership with local communities, ITF conserves forests, trees, associated biodiversity and indigenous forestry knowledge, and alleviates poverty through sustainable use of forests & forest products. Further information about ITF is contained in the annex.

ITF is currently entering a period of transition. Our Director, who has been with ITF since 2008, will be leaving in August. This comes at a time when the pressure on our finances is intense, and although we still have significant reserves the Board has recently been forced to implement some savings in expenditure. On the positive side, we have recently refreshed our Board with three new Trustees, the number of subscribers to our e-bulletin had risen from 200 to 1400 in 18 months, and we have exciting ideas about the revitalization and expansion of ITF. We have already taken steps towards this new vision by developing a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), headquartered in Nairobi. This is an important international research centre and we expect our strategic partnership will create openings for ITF to be one of the development agencies implementing its research outputs. We are currently jointly developing agroforestry project proposals to submit to donors. The immediate task for the Development Manager will be to advance rapidly the development of these and similar project proposals, and to secure institutional funding to enable their implementation.

The Development Manager will report to the Chairman, Mike Turnbull. S/he will work closely with the Vice Chair, Roger Leakey, on the development of project proposals / applications, and will be expected to work flexibly alongside members of the administration and fundraising team and other staff (currently numbering 4 in total), with a possible supervisory role if appropriate (precise arrangements for which will be defined in discussion with the selected candidate).

Job Description

Main purpose of the role

· To be responsible for the delivery and implementation of ITF’s programme for planting, protecting and promoting trees, both in the UK and overseas. In particular:

o To advance the development of project proposals, in partnership with relevant agencies, and to secure institutional funding to enable their implementation.

o To provide leadership and support to relevant staff in the development and implementation of ITF’s “Tree Power” programme, aimed at providing the tools for schools to educate and inspire new generations about trees and forest resources.

Additional responsibilities

· To manage the budget for ITF’s UK, Drylands and Other Africa programmes, and work with fundraising and other relevant staff to secure further resources for these programmes.

· To monitor and report on the delivery of project objectives by ITF’s project partners in line with our Monitoring and Evaluation process.

· To ensure proactive risk management throughout the project lifecycle.

· To contribute to the formation and regular review of ITF’s strategy and operational plans.

· To attend board meetings and prepare and contribute appropriately and effectively.

· To perform any other duties or responsibilities which may reasonably be required from the role.

Person Specification

((E) = Essential; (HD) = Highly Desirable)

Experience

· International development (E), ideally in an environmental and/or poverty alleviation context.

· Preparing applications to institutional funders (HD)

· Partnership working (E)

· Building and maintaining constructive ways of working collaboratively with other agencies (E)

· Working with a Chair and Board of Trustees or non-executive Directors (E)

Knowledge & Understanding

· Understanding of issues around sustainable development, partnership working, social inclusion and community participation in an international context (E)

· Knowledge of the issues and opportunities facing ITF, in particular the environment for international development work and the financial challenges facing a small charity (E)

· Understanding of the challenges of working with large institutional donors (E)

· Understanding of the issues affecting the not-for-profit sector, and of governance within that context (E)

· Understanding of the role that trees play in maintaining a healthy environment and in contributing to peoples’ well-being, quality of life and economic opportunities (HD)

Skills and personal qualities (all = E)

· Confident self-starter with proven strengths in developing effective relationships with a wide range of individuals

· Commitment to poverty alleviation in an international development context

· Ability to empathise with ITF’s vision, mission and strategic objectives

· Political and stakeholder skills, with the ability to negotiate institutional structures both nationally and internationally

· Effective project management and financial management skills

· Effective planning and organising in order to meet deadlines and milestones in a flexible way

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to negotiate, influence, challenge and listen

· An ability to supervise and develop staff

· Flexibility to travel from time to time to Africa

Inquiries and Responses

Further information about ITF can be found in the attached annex, and on our website

www.internationaltreefoundation.org.

Copies of our most recent Annual Report and Financial Statements can be supplied on request to the address below.

Candidates should e-mail their CV, together with a short letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining their suitability for the role, to our Chairman, Mike Turnbull at turnbullmike@talk21.com by Tuesday 10^th July at the latest.