JOB TITLE: Senior External Relations Manager: UN Liaison

JOB DESCRIPTION

REPORTING TO: Head of Policy & External Relations

WSPA’s new strategy aims to improve the lives of billions of animals worldwide, through campaigning, advocacy and relationship management to influence the legislation, policies and practices which impact the welfare of animals around the world. Developing and managing relationships with a wide range of organisations and individuals is critical for WSPA as we seek to grow our reputation, access to, and influence within, key stakeholder networks.

Developing and managing productive relationships with relevant UN agencies, and ongoing work towards the adoption of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (‘UDAW’), are central to WSPA’s vision to end animal cruelty worldwide. This role is responsible for leading and coordinating WSPA’s engagement with key international agencies and managing the delivery of joint projects, in collaboration with WSPA colleagues in country offices around the world.

This role is part of the Policy & External Relations unit, which sits within the External Affairs, Research and Learning (EARL) team within WSPA’s International Programmes Department, which operates out of WSPA’s London office.

EARL aims to bring animal welfare issues firmly into the mainstream, inspiring positive change on a global scale by strengthening the evidence base for WSPA’s work, building productive relationships and partnerships, and driving change in both policy/law, and in the practices of those who work with animals, within target countries and globally.

The Policy & External Relations unit is responsible for developing, maintaining and leveraging WSPA’s relationships with key stakeholders including governments, international bodies, academia, industry, non-government organisations, etc, and is responsible for undertaking legislative and economics’ research and driving forward the adoption and enforcement of animal welfare related legislation, best practice, standards and codes of practice. The team works closely with staff responsible for WSPA’s priority campaigns, projects and communications in the international, regional and country offices.

POSITION IN ORGANISATION  Line managed and directed by the Head of Policy & External Relations  Works closely with all staff, particularly the global programmes team and Regional and Country Directors  Represents WSPA externally and liaise internally to oversee relationships with key stakeholder UN agencies as directed by the Head of Policy & External Relations / Director of EARL. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

External relationship development

 Plan, develop and manage critical stakeholder and partner relationships with agreed UN / inter-governmental agencies and linked international organisations as required, including, but not limited to the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Health Organsation (WHO) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  Lead the development of stakeholder research and mapping, stakeholder engagement and project plans for these stakeholders as part of wider Policy & External Relations planning.  Represent and coordinate WSPA’s interests and position on collaborative projects and major policy issues with key UN stakeholders at fora, conferences, meetings and other events.  Identify opportunities for, and coordinate, the involvement of WSPA CEO and Directors with UN and inter-governmental agencies, providing advice, briefing material, and presentations / speaking notes as required.  Design and organise joint activities and events focused on animal welfare issues and goals as relevant to WSPA desired outcomes  Draft and/or edit WSPA content for appropriate external publications, journals and policy papers on relevant themes, as directed by the Head of External Affairs  Liaise with colleagues in Regional and Country Offices, priority programmes and international communications staff as needed to ensure the management and development of strong, credible and effective external stakeholder relationships.

Universal Declaration of Animal Welfare (UDAW)

 Plan and coordinate ongoing work by WSPA International and regional offices towards the adoption of a Universal Declaration of Animal Welfare (UDAW).

 Act as lead advocate for UDAW internally and externally, supporting colleagues in their liaison with national governments to this end.

Research, monitoring and liaison

 Gather intelligence and monitor external developments relating to UN agencies and policy fora, identifying opportunities for immediate and ongoing engagement and pursuing these directly or with WSPA colleagues globally.  Assess the impact of new policies and regulation on WSPA and stakeholder engagement plans, updating engagement and project plans where necessary.  Provide monitoring and evaluation data and reports relating to UN and inter- governmental agencies to the Head of Policy & External Relations as part of overall team monitoring.

GENERAL DUTIES

 Produce budgetary proposals, implementation plans and project updates relating to UN and related key stakeholder activities  Work with the Head of Policy & External Relations and Programmes staff to integrate work as closely as possible  Proactively collaborate and share information and expertise with WSPA colleagues based around the world.  Carry out administrative duties e.g. routine correspondence (this post is largely self-administering)  Carry out any other task as reasonably requested.

DIMENSIONS & LIMITS OF AUTHORITY

 Currently one direct report (possibility for this to grow)  Budgetary oversight and responsibility for UN engagement

EXPERIENCE  High level experience in an international external relations/public affairs role (essential)  Knowledge and experience of working with the UN and related institutions - both public and private (essential)  Experience of building and maintaining collaborative relationships and strategic partnerships (essential)  Fluent in English and at least one other European language – preferably Itali- an or French (essential)  Strong teamwork, research and analytical skills, and interpersonal skills (essential)  Strong project and event management experience (essential)  Excellent communication skills – written, oral and presentation (essential)  Competent at computing and web based skills relevant to the job (essential)  Flexible to travel within Europe and sometimes globally with advance agree- ment (essential)  Sensitive to social and cultural issues (essential)  Significant knowledge of the development, humanitarian and/or environmental sectors (desirable)  Knowledge and understanding of animal welfare issues and the global con- text in which they apply (desirable).

QUALIFICATIONS

 Undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Political Sciences, International Relations, Economics or similar - essential  Relevant postgraduate qualification (or equivalent) - highly desirable

March 2012