JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Senior External Relations Manager: UN Liaison
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
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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)
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Plan and coordinate ongoing work by WSPA International and regional offices
towards the adoption of a Universal Declaration of Animal Welfare (UDAW).
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Act as lead advocate for UDAW internally and externally, supporting
colleagues in their liaison with national governments to this end.
Research, monitoring and liaison
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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 intergovernmental agencies to the Head of Policy & External Relations as part of
overall team monitoring.
GENERAL DUTIES
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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.
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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
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Currently one direct report (possibility for this to grow)
Budgetary oversight and responsibility for UN engagement
EXPERIENCE
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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
Italian 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
agreement (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
context in which they apply (desirable).
QUALIFICATIONS
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Undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Political Sciences, International
Relations, Economics or similar - essential
Relevant postgraduate qualification (or equivalent) - highly desirable
March 2012