Ethical Tea Partnership - Head of Communications

Head of Communications December 2021

About Ethical Tea Partnership The Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) is a membership organisation working with tea companies, development organisations and governments to improve the lives of tea workers, farmers and the environment in which they live and work.

Much of the world’s tea is grown in places that face significant sustainability challenges. ETP’s programmes are focused on driving forward long-term systemic changes across three pillars economics, equality and environment. These programmes aim to improve the progress that is being made towards attaining the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals in tea-growing regions.

With the support of its 50 members, including the biggest multinational companies in the tea sector, ETP’s programmes to date have reached over one million people. As well as supporting communities

Ethical Tea Partnership Head of Communications

on the ground, the organisation leads the sustainability agenda through business innovation and influencing.

ETP holds a strong track record in driving and delivering change in tea-growing regions through a range of partnerships; these span national tea boards and tea research institutes, producer associations, local and international NGOs, UN agencies such as the FAO and UNICEF, institutional donors such as IDH - Sustainable Trade Initiative, GIZ, and others.

The organisation is made up of a small, but dedicated, expert teams across most tea growing regions, including Africa and Asia, as well as a London-based secretariat.

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The Role This is a fantastic opportunity to play a leadership role in an exciting organisation, helping it achieve its objectives and improve the lives of poor and vulnerable farmers and workers and their families in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

We are looking for someone who can maintain a strategic overview of ETP’s communications, whilst handling the busy day-to-day operations of the communications team. The role comprises proactive communications (especially through social media platforms), reactive communications (responding to media and NGO queries and planning crisis communications) and public affairs and advocacy (such as driving engagement with key influencers and thought leaders).

Your confidence and intrinsic motivation will drive you to work independently, identifying opportunities, challenges and solutions. You will work effectively as a part of a small and committed team and use your strong influencing skills with internal and external stakeholders. You will be an excellent communicator, committed to the organisational goals and able and confident at representing ETP publicly and with the media.

Ethical Tea Partnership Head of Communications

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Role Overview Title:

Head of Communications

Position type:

Full time

Reporting to:

Executive Director

Direct Reports:

Two Communications Managers, a Policy Officer and any agency communications services provided (e.g. PR, photography, film crew, designers).

Location:

London with homeworking options. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK

Salary:

£60,000

Annual Leave:

33 days of paid holiday per annum for full-time employees, which includes the eight public holidays.

Pension:

ETP operates an auto-enrolment pension scheme with Royal London. The current employer contribution is 8% of earnings.

Season Ticket Loan:

ETP offers interest free season ticket loans for the purpose of purchasing annual travel tickets for public transport. Employees are entitled to borrow up to £1,000 for bikes and associated accessories.

Flexible working:

All colleagues are able to apply for compressed working arrangements.

Ethical Tea Partnership Head of Communications

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Key Responsibilities • Lead ETP’s Communication Strategy development and implementation • Direct ETP’s crisis communications planning and implementation • Continually review and assess the most effective ways of communication, to support ETP’s organisational goals, and explore the best ways for ETP to develop or access appropriate skills and expertise e.g. in social media • Maintain up-to-date insight of international and local media interest in the issues ETP deals with; cultivate relevant media contacts, identify and secure opportunities for proactive and reactive media coverage and ensure effective execution; and, ensure effective issues management • Raise the profile of ETP and its work and ensure that it is viewed as a leading voice in the tea sustainability agenda. Ensure ETP is conveying clear and excellent messaging about the issues and the impact of its work • Represent ETP publicly and to the media • Oversee the development of brilliant, high impact, clear, targeted communication materials that meet the needs of ETP’s different stakeholders • Ensure that ETP’s communications support and enhance ETP corporate members’ brands and reputations • Leverage the distinctive network of ETP’s international members, staff and stakeholders.

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Knowledge, Skills and Experience You will have a strong track record in leading strategic communications and media engagement alongside proven influencing skills. You will have demonstrable experience of converting complicated development issues into engaging public communications, a track record in communicating social and environmental impact, and experience of successful and collaborative team leadership.

Essential • At least ten years’ experience of communications in the corporate, NGO or political sector, including strategy development • Demonstrable media relations expertise; experience of developing and delivering comprehensive media strategies across a range of platforms for a range of audiences • Experience of communicating social and environmental impact stories to a wide range of audiences • Ability to spot and react to opportunities • Skilled and confident in representing ETP publicly and to the media • Experience across all areas of communications, including media engagement, crisis communications, digital and social media planning, public affairs and advocacy • Experience of successfully developing and managing effective working relationships with internal and external senior stakeholders including senior journalists • Ability to work with communication professionals from large and small companies

Ethical Tea Partnership Head of Communications

• Highly developed and proven creative skills, flair, innovation and new ideas • Impeccable verbal and written skills.

• Ability and willingness to work autonomously on practical tasks, as well as strategy and planning.

Highly Desirable • Experience of communicating on high profile social or sustainability issues • Knowledge of agriculture and food value chains • Experience of developing communication approaches to achieve a social mission • Experience across a range of sectors e.g. private, public, NGO • Experience of working with media and staff in Asia and/or Africa • Experience of acting as media spokesperson • Experience of working with companies with highly recognisable brands • Experience and knowledge of issues management

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How to Apply All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page. You will need to complete a short application form and submit an up-to-date curriculum vitae (of no more than 2-3 pages), and a cover letter. Please prepare your CV and cover letter before applying as they will be requested at the end of the application form. The documents should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last NameDocument Name-Date (mmyyyy) e.g., Malika Cook-CV-122021ETP. Timeline Closing date: Preliminary interviews:

Ethical Tea Partnership Head of Communications

31st January 2022 Week Beginning 14th February 2022

Equality Statement Equality and diversity are at the core of Ethical Tea Partnership’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Selection Process All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

Queries If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email etp-hoc@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.

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About Oxford HR Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors.

We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our client.

Ethical Tea Partnership Head of Communications

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Ethical Tea Partnership Head of Communications

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