• Wow, another great opportunity, especially if you dream of living in the Netherlands.  This is a great organization, doing important work by educating people about their water footprints.  Once you know how much you use, you can figure out how much you can save.  Check out this opportunity to apply as an Executive Director for the Water Footprint Network.

    Vacancy Executive Director (m/f)
    The Water Footprint Network is seeking a full time Executive Director (m/f) to lead the Water Footprint Network.
    The Water Footprint Network (WFN) is a young and fast growing organisation that was established in October 2008 by partners from academia, NGO, international organisations and business sectors. The mission of the Water Footprint Network is to promote the transition towards sustainable, fair and efficient use of fresh water resources worldwide by developing the water footprint methodology to arrive at shared global water footprint assessment standards, increasing the awareness and understanding of stakeholders about how consumption of goods and production chains relate to freshwater consumption and pollution, and encouraging forms of good water governance that reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of water footprints.
    The WFN now has over 100 partners from a wide variety of stakeholder segments spanning six continents. The organisation is characterised by a high level of internal communications with its partner base and external communications with relevant water initiatives, technical audiences and media to ensure that the development and application of the water footprint is aligned with and informs water governance, water stewardship, corporate water management, water disclosure and national and global water statistics. The work programme that the Water Footprint Network is executing to further the water footprint standard and its application now comprises of over ten projects in the fields of corporate water footprints, geographic water footprints, development of water footprint databases and the water footprint assessment tool.

    Profile of the candidate:
    Requirements:
    • strong background and network (10 year experience) in the global water sector
    • academic level education with at least an M.Sc degree in water /natural resources / environmental management
    • experience in diverse working environments, including working in or with academics, governments, ngo’s and business
    • working experience in international environments.
    • understanding of the different stakeholder perspectives in integrated water
    resources management
    • strong communicator and proven ability to acknowledge and manage a diversity of stakeholder perspectives
    • strong strategic thinker and able to lead long term processes for implementation of strategies
    • proven track record in fund raising
    • proven commitment to sustainability in the broadest sense
    • strong oral and writing skills in English
    • proven management skills to lead a small, highly professional multicultural team operating in different international locations
    • be a enthusiastic, dynamic and amiable person

    Main Tasks
    1. Develop the strategy for the WFN in close collaboration with the Scientific Director and the Supervisory Council.
    2. Execute the strategy as approved by the Supervisory Council.
    3. Ensure the development and execution of the work programme.
    4. Ensure the effective and strategic internal and external communications of the WFN
    5. Manage the financial administration of the WFN.
    6. Develop and execute personnel policy.
    7. Recruit and supervise WFN staff and consultants.
    8. Raise funds for specific activities and projects of the WFN.
    9. Chair the meetings of the Board of Directors.
    10. Prepare, organise and follow up on the WFN Supervisory Council meetings in close collaboration with the Chair of the Supervisory Council.
    11. Act as the secretary to the WFN Supervisory Council meetings.
    Reports to:
    The Supervisory Council of the Water Footprint Network.

    Closely works with:
    • Scientific Director of the WFN as a colleague Board member responsible for the scientific quality of the technical work
    programme of the WFN.
    • Works with the researchers, secretariat and webmaster of the University of Twente as described under the Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Twente.

    Supervises:
    • 3-5 staff that currently comprise:
    • Programme officer – who leads the development and roll out of the WFN work programme and executes and supports specific components of the programme including working groups and partner projects.
    • Project manager – who leads specific projects in the WFN work programme like the Water Footprint Assessment Tool.
    • Assistant – who executes administrative and logistic tasks in support of WFN administration and operation like managing the partner application procedure, updating the partner database, partner communications, and supporting the annual face-to-face partner forum.

    Offer
    The position is offered for a 2 year period with probable extension. The gross monthly salary will be maximum 6500 Euro. The salary is based on a working week of 40 hours per week (1 Full Time Equivalent). The starting date of the job is as soon as possible but at the latest by 1 December 2010. The job is located at the University of Twente in Enschede, The Netherlands.
    Information and applications

    For more information about this job offer you can contact Derk Kuiper, telephone +31 652045772 (e-mail: derk.kuiper#waterfootprint.org; replace # by @). More information is available at www.waterfootprint.org.
    Your written application, provided with a CV and at least two references should be sent before 10 September 2010 to the Water Footprint Network by e-mail to info#waterfootprint.org replace # by @, with reference to the vacancy ‘Executive Director’.