Programme Manager Certification Performance and Relations (m-f-d)

About

TheForest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the world’s most trusted and recognized solution for sustainable forest management. For more than 30 years, FSC has set the global benchmark for responsible forestry — ensuring that forests are managed in ways that protect biodiversity, respect Indigenous and community rights, and create long-term economic value. Our vision is bold and clear: a world where forests are valued, conserved, and restored — where communities thrive, biodiversity flourishes, and forests are protected for generations to come. In short: Forests for All, Forever.

Role

As a Programme Manager Certification Performance and Relations (m‑f‑d), you will manage and foster the relationships with 50+ FSC accredited certification bodies, to further strengthen the performance, integrity and credibility of the FSC assurance system, and to encourage the engagement of certification bodies (CBs) in strategic areas beyond auditing.

Main Responsibilities

• Sets objectives for the Certification Performance and Relations (CPR) team and ensures their achievement, including development of workplans, budgets and strategic approaches.
• Manages and decides on functional issues of the team and topics related to certification bodies (CBs), with unit’s leadership involvement required for certain CB‑related decisions.
• Develops operational processes, tasks and requirements to meet results/outputs of the team, including but not limited to:
  • Overseeing all contractual management, on‑ and off‑boarding of CBs,
  • Developing agendas and reviewing the overall engagement with the CB community, such as quarterly calls, annual meetings, and other outgoing communication.
• Directs and ensures the development and functioning of the CB Portal.
• Drives the development of KPIs for CB’s performance.
• Develops and recommends measures and strategic interventions aimed at improving the quality and consistency of FSC certification and CB capacity building, while ensuring effective oversight of these processes.
• Serves as the primary leadership contact for CB concerns and maintains direct ties with major CBs.
• Initiates relevant normative changes and provides input into technical improvements on FSC tools and platforms available for CBs (e.g., Salesforce, GIS‑related platform, FSC Trace, Digital Audit Reporting), in collaboration with other FSC units.
• Oversees communication processes related to CBs’ scope of work, performance, and stakeholder relations across diverse interests.
• Delivers progress reports to the Board of Directors and prepares items for decision as appropriate.

Profile

• University degree or equivalent training or experience in a relevant field, for example, government relations, international relations, management, business administration, forestry, natural resource management, or similar.
• At least 5 years professional experience in one or more of the following areas: certification, quality management/assurance/control, standard development, natural resource management, business administration, government relations, international relations.
• Proven leadership experience, including managing teams and working effectively with diverse, cross‑functional groups.
• Strong project and operational management skills, ideally with experience with financial administration and/or management.
• Excellent analytical thinking and problem‑solving capabilities, with the ability to translate insights into action.
• Readiness to take contested positions, aptitude to hold courageous conversations, and strong ability to deal with conflict.
• Proven ability to collaborate and build trust with multiple stakeholders, and experience working in a multi‑cultural global team.
• Experience in conducting or observing audits would be advantageous.
• Proficiency in standard software package (MS Office).
• Fluency in English (spoken and written) is a must. Any additional language is a plus.

Benefits

• Benefit from cross‑cultural collaboration and networking opportunities by being part of FSC global community of 400+ forest stewards.
• Benefit from work‑life balance with our hybrid working structure.
• 30 vacation days yearly.
• Regional transportation ticket.
• Celebrate together festivals from different cultures.
• Once a year in‑person get‑together with the global FSC staff.

Fine Print

• Location: Bonn, Germany.
• Working Hours: Full time – 40 hours per week.
• Duration of Employment: Temporary contract – 2 years (extension possible, subject to satisfactory performance).
• Starting Date: As soon as possible.
• Travel: Sporadic (international) travel is required.