Communications Manager at Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)

Communications Manager 

Job Announcement

 

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is looking for a Communications Manager to provide support to the BCI Leadership Team in order to scale up Better Cotton and to transform cotton production world-wide. The Communications Manager will work closely with the Director of Fundraising and Communications, the Communications Coordinator and the Public Relations Officer.

 

The role offers the right candidate an opportunity to work in a multi-stakeholder global organisation focused on developing and promoting more sustainable cotton. To be successful in this role you will need to be culturally versatile, fluent in English and have the ability to communicate clearly and concisely with team members from different parts of the world.  

Background

 

Cotton is one of the most important and widely grown crops in the world. With more than 90% of cotton farmers living in developing countries, millions of farmers and workers depend on it for their livelihoods. Current cotton growing methods need to change as they are placing unsustainable pressures on the environment and the people who produce it. Change means using fewer pesticides, managing water more efficiently, improving soil health and bio-diversity, enhancing fibre quality and improving the welfare of farm workers. 

 

BCI exists to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better for the sector’s future.

 

BCI works with a diverse range of stakeholders to promote measurable and continuing improvements for the environment, farming communities and the economies of cotton-producing areas. 

 

BCI aims to transform cotton production worldwide by developing Better Cotton as a sustainable mainstream commodity.

 

BCI’s specific aims are to: 

1. Reduce the environmental impact of cotton production.
2. Improve livelihoods and economic development in cotton producing areas.
3. Improve commitment to and flow of Better Cotton throughout the supply chain.
4. Ensure the credibility and sustainability of the Better Cotton Initiative.

Building on the success to date, where Better Cotton creates positive changes for farming communities and is being bought by BCI retailer and brand members, BCI has set ambitious targets for the future: increasing Better Cotton volume production 8-fold by 2015 and 26-fold by 2020. 

 

Our experience has taught us that the cotton market cannot be left to itself to make the changes happen. Our model for market transformation is based on focused, manageable activities developed by BCI itself and clear roles for other supply chain actors, partners and governments. Working with our members and partners, BCI will focus on the key drivers at both ends of the supply chain – supply creation (push) and demand generation (pull). 

 

Our Strategic Principles 

• BCI is focused on effecting change
• BCI is firmly based on the traceability of Better Cotton
• Credibility and true multi-stakeholder involvement are crucial to BCI
• Demand for Better Cotton is key to funding and influence
• BCI enables evidence-based communication within a clear framework
• BCI does not set a premium and pricing is a function of the market.  

2015 Global Targets

 

Specific Aim	Global Indicator	2015
		Target
Reduce the environmental	Better Cotton	2 million
impact of cotton production	hectares under
	cultivation
Improve livelihoods &	Number of Better	1 million
economic development in	Cotton farmers
cotton producing areas
Increase commitment to	Volume of Better	1.5
and flow of BC throughout	Cotton bought by	million
the supply chain	spinners
Ensure organisational	Earned income as	75%
credibility and	% of global costs
sustainability of BCI

 

Job Description

 

The BCI Communications Manager will be responsible for further developing and implementing the Better

 

Cotton Initiative’s Communications and Outreach Strategies globally. S/he will help to broaden the understanding of BCI’ s approach amongst stakeholders across the cotton supply chain, governments, civil society and the media; s/he will work with colleagues to support the communications efforts of BCI’s members; and s/he will enable BCI’s membership to grow. S/he will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that BCI communications enable and accelerate the system-level change envisaged in the BCI strategic goals.

 

The role offers the right candidate the unique opportunity to grow the communications function across the breadth of PR, social media, web and e-communications, with plenty of room for innovation, challenges and learning. S/he will act as a spokesperson, both internally and externally, and will ensure that all relevant communications are targeted to meet audience needs, are produced to a high standard and represent BCI accurately and persuasively. 

 

Responsibilities

 

Strategy Development and Implementation

 

1.        Further develop, improve and implement the Better Cotton Initiative’s Communications and Outreach

Strategies globally in collaboration with colleagues, members and external consultants, in order to support the successful realisation of the BCI Strategic Plan.

2.        Build and organise content, formalising the communications strategy and objectives in the organisation and developing external relationships and trust in BCI as a professional communications partner.

3.        Provide frameworks and guidance to support colleagues in their promotional and messaging work, in line with the Communications Strategy.

4.        Develop and manage a proactive communications program to enhance the reputation of BCI and its overall visibility.

5.        Develop and promote communication tools and services for members and partners to use in their external activities, in order to secure a consistent external Better Cotton message, encourage independent Better Cotton ‘Ambassadors’ and optimise the communications power of the Better Cotton global community.

6.        Act as a spokesperson, both internally and externally, and to ensure that all relevant communications are targeted to meet audience needs, are produced to a high standard, and represent BCI accurately and persuasively.

 

Stakeholder Engagement & External Representation

 

7.     Promote BCI in relevant media and network spaces and manage the production and delivery of appropriate outreach material, including key BCI publications such as the annual report.

8.     Represent BCI at significant stakeholder events and meetings in order to broaden and refine understanding of BCI’s approach and increase BCI’ s membership.

9.     Work as the focal point and main support resource for media and to prepare accurate, timely and complete press releases. To provide communication pieces in order to build BCI and Better Cotton into a well-known and respected brand within and beyond the sustainable cotton sector.

Develop and maintain BCI resources (images, message frameworks, videos, stories, quotes, etc.) to enable cost effective, engaging and accurate external communication.

 

Policies and Issues Guidance

 

10. Provide regular updates and issue guidance to colleagues and BCI members, in line with relevant news items and the cotton market to ensure that BCI acts as an effective and useful information and knowledge network.

11. Launch the revised BCI Claims Framework and the BCI Claims User Guide and work with stakeholders to implement it in an appropriate manner.

12. Monitor developments in best practice on public-facing sustainability claims and ensure that BCI guidelines are relevant and appropriate.

13. Protect and enhance the BCI brand through developing brand use guidelines for partners and members and monitor third party use of BCI logos and images to ensure compliance with guidelines. Assess need for international trademark registration of BCI logos.

 

BCI Team

 

14. Manage and mentor the Communications Team.

15. Take responsibility for capturing and sharing knowledge and key learnings and ensure that best practices are internally well-known and re-applied when needed.

16. Identify key communicators internally and build their capacity to deliver engaging and inspiring communications to external stakeholders in order to embed communications into all delivery teams and ensure BCI speaks with one voice.

17. Represent and live the ethos of what BCI is to everyone, to ensure behaviour is consistent and reflects organisational culture and values.

18. Support the Leadership Team by actively contributing to continued and effective delivery on Better Cotton as a whole.

19. Develop the voice for all aspects of the organisation’s online presence.

 

Financial Accountability

 

20. Support BCI’s fundraising efforts in cooperation with the BCI Leadership Team. To ensure BCI is continually organisationally healthy and 100% financially self-sufficient by 2020.

21. Manage, as required, consultancy budgets and contracts in the interest of maximising effective use of financial resources.

22. Support the Fundraising and Communications Director in developing and managing the annual budget for communications activities globally, ensuring cost effectiveness and timely reporting.

 

Beyond these specific responsibilities the BCI Communications Manager is expected to collaborate on activities as agreed upon with the Fundraising and Communications Director to support the delivery of the BCI Strategic Plan.

 

Profile

 

To be successful, candidates for the Communications Manager role will have the following attributes:

 

Skills, knowledge and experience

Essential

1.     University degree, or equivalent higher education qualification, in a relevant field

2.     At least 5 years work experience in strategic communications planning and execution

3.     Excellent understanding of using communications tools and approaches to accelerate change (both at system level and individual behaviour change)

4.     Excellent writing skills, with experience writing press releases, speeches, articles and advertisements

5.     Ability to resolve problems creatively and logically, to readily grasp issues and the means to address them, and to translate ideas into action

6.     Ability to work with diverse groups of people in a multicultural, team-oriented environment

7.     Familiarity with global media and a good network of communications consultants

8.     Knowledge of or a proven keen interest in the issues of sustainability and textiles

9.     Knowledge of photo and video editing, web development and document design programmes

10.   Fluency in English, both written and spoken, with attentive listening abilities

11.   Enjoys learning, innovating and taking on a challenge

12.   Willingness to carry out administrative tasks

Desirable

1.     Experience / knowledge of communications as part of corporate social responsibility

2.     Experience working with or for a commodity multi-stakeholder initiative

3.     Demonstrated ability to lead both high-level strategic and hands-on operational work

4.     Demonstrated strength in relationship management

5.     Fluency in one or more of the following additional languages: French, Portuguese, Chinese, Russian

6.     Experience communicating science and sustainability issues to a diverse lay audience

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Working Arrangements 
The successful candidate will report to the Fundraising and Communications Director. The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based in Geneva. The Communications Manager will receive a permanent contract, with a 3 month initial trial period.

The Communications Manager is expected to attend special events, some of which may occur in the evenings or weekends. Some travel will be required.

 

Salary Scale: 75,000- 85,000 CHF per annum – dependent on skills and experience.

  

Applications:

 

Interested applicants with the required attributes are asked to send a detailed CV and a motivational letter (2 pages maximum), in English, by email to: recruitment@bettercotton.orgwith subject: “Communications Manager”

 

Application deadline:             7 September 2015, 00:00 CET

 

Expected start date:                As soon as possible

 

BCI is an equal opportunities employer, and is committed to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human and financial resources.

 

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only holders of a valid work permit or individuals eligible to work in Switzerland will be considered.