Job  Description:  Technical  Manager  Full  time      Introduction  The  Sustainable  Biomass  Partnership  Limited  (SBP)  is  a  unique  certification  system  designed  for  woody  biomass,  mostly  in  the  form  of  wood  pellets  and  woodchips,  used  in  large-­scale  energy  production.  The  system  allows  companies  using  biomass  to  produce  energy  to  demonstrate  compliance  with  legal,  regulatory  and  sustainability  requirements  relating  to  woody  biomass.  In  particular,  the  system  enables  the  verification  of  the  sustainable  and  legal  origin  of  biomass  feedstock  and  the  collection,  carriage  and  calculation  of  greenhouse  gas  emissions  in  the  biomass  supply  chain.      The  SBP  certification  system  was  launched  in  March  2015.  Since  then  SBP  has  approved  six  certification  bodies  that  between  them  offer  third-­party  SBP  certification  worldwide.  To  date  some  70  biomass  producers,  typically  wood  pellet  and  woodchip  producers,  and  biomass  traders  in  11  countries  have  been  certified.    SBP  is  a  not-­for-­profit  membership  organisation,  registered  in  the  UK  and  Germany.  SBP’s  core  team  work  together  in  a  virtual  network.    Role  description  As  part  of  SBP’s  transition  into  an  internationally  recognised  and  fully  operational  global  certification  system,  we  are  now  seeking  a  full-­time  Technical  Manager.    SBP  is  in  a  critical  phase  of  its  development.  As  Technical  Manager,  you  will  have  the  opportunity  to  use  your  outstanding  organisational  and  communication  skills,  alongside  your  knowledge  of  accreditation  and  supply  chain  certification,  to  help  the  SBP  management  team  deliver  some  key  components  of  the  business  plan.    SBP  works,  across  the  globe,  with  regulatory  bodies,  NGOs,  major  utilities,  trade  associations,  international  traders,  biomass  producers,  certification  bodies  and  a  variety  of  other  stakeholders.      Your  experience  in  managing  complex  projects  and  tasks  with  ambitious  deadlines  within  an  international,  multi-­stakeholder  environment  will  give  you  the  opportunity  to  contribute  across  the  whole  operation.    Your  focus  will  be  on  day-­to-­day  management  and  oversight  of  SBP’s  certification  and  accreditation  program.  Technical  management  plays  an  essential  role  in  ensuring  the  robustness  and  credibility  of  the  SBP  certification  program  by  ensuring  conformance  of  certification  and  accreditation  bodies.  The  position  provides  an  opportunity  for  intellectually  challenging  and  stimulating  work  supporting  certification  and  accreditation  service  provision.  A  recognised  auditor  qualification  based  on,  for  example,  ISO  19011,  and  experience  in  working  with  voluntary  certification  systems  and  international  supply  chains  is  essential.    SBP  is  a  small  organisation  and  the  successful  applicant  will  be  expected  to  contribute  in  all  areas  of  the  business,  not  just  their  core  responsibilities.    Key  responsibilities  •   Daily  management  of  the  SBP  certification  and  accreditation  program  and  

communication  with  Accreditation  Service  International  (ASI)  and  Certification  Bodies  (CBs)  accredited  for  SBP  certification  and  beyond.  

•   Creating  and  maintaining  strong,  trusting  relations  with  ASI  and  CBs  such  that  should  any  problems  arise  they  can  be  quickly  and  easily  resolved.  

•   Planning  and  performing  accreditation  and  certification  oversight.  •   Delivering  service  and  support  to  ASI  and  CBs  (in  different  time  zones).    •   Program  administration/co-­ordination,  including  maintaining  accurate,  relevant  and  up-­to-­

date  program  documentation  and  Standard  Operating  Procedures.  •   Support  in  developing  and  improving  SBP’s  training  program.    •   Delivering  SBP  training  for  auditors  and  Certificate  Holders.  •   Commenting  on  policy  and  procedure  development  processes,  as  necessary.    •   Providing  technical  support  on  issues  relating  to  complaints  and  appeals.    •   Liaising  closely  with  members  of  the  SBP  team  and  relevant  SBP  working  groups  to  

identify  areas  of  contribution  outside  the  certification  and  accreditation  program.  •   Delivering  analysis  and  progress  reports.    •   Ad  hoc  project  work  as  required  by  the  CEO  

 Competencies  and  skills  •   Professionalism:  expert  knowledge  in  forest  and/or  wood  science,  accreditation  and/or  

certification  is  essential.  Additional  experience  in  relation  to  forestry  is  an  asset.    •   Communication:  excellent  communication  skills  in  English  are  essential  and  fluency  in  at  

least  one  further  language  desired  (for  example,  Spanish,  French,  German,  Dutch  or  Russian).  

•   Client  orientation:  ability  to  communicate  well  with  stakeholders  as  well  as  establish  and  maintain  effective  relationships.  

•   Management:  demonstrated  ability  to  manage  priorities  and  generate  quality  results  on  concurrent  assignments.  

•   Organisational  and  personal  attributes:  excellent  personal  organisational  and  work  planning  skills,  demonstrating  high  productivity  and  ability  to  manage  competing  work  priorities,  high  personal  and  work  ethics,  and  a  successful  record  of  project  development  and  management.  Solutions-­oriented  approach  to  working  with  stakeholders  and  within  the  team.  Proven  ability  to  plan  and  organise  work  independently  and  meet  deadlines.  

•   Teamwork:  good  interpersonal  skills,  demonstrated  ability  to  work  in  a  multi-­cultural,  multi-­ethnic  environment  and  to  maintain  effective  working  relations  with  people  of  different  national  and  cultural  backgrounds.  Ability  to  work  successfully  as  part  of  a  team  is  essential.  

•   Auditing  skills:  quality-­related  methods  and  techniques,  including  quality  management  tools,  social  responsibility  and  environmental  management  methods  and  techniques  and  their  application.  

•   Analytical  skills:  well-­developed  analytical  and  systematic  problem  solving  skills,  demonstrating  sound  reasoning  abilities  and  logical  decision-­making.    

•   International  relations:  Ability  to  work  in  the  international  arena,  and  deal  with  other  international  organisations.  

•   Travel:  a  willingness  and  flexibility  to  travel,  both  domestically  and  internationally  is  essential.  

•   Relationship  management:  interpersonal  skills  to  deal  effectively  with  the  role  and  remain  professional  should  complaints  arise.  

•   Self-­sufficiency:  hands-­on  approach  to  deal  with  travelling,  setting  up  and  delivering  meetings,  facilitating  and  servicing  stakeholders,  SBP  team  and  Board  etc.  

     

Qualifications  and  work  experience  •   Advanced  university  degree  in  forestry  or  other  related  degree.  A  combination  of  relevant  

academic  qualifications  and  extensive  professional  experience  may  be  accepted  in  lieu  of  an  advanced  university  degree.    

•   Three  or  more  years  of  professional  work  experience  in  the  wood  sector  and/or  in  forest  management.    

•   Preferably,  two  or  more  years  of  professional  work  experience  directly  related  to  FSC  or  PEFC  or  SFI  certification  and/or  certification  for  other  sustainability  standards.  

•   Background  knowledge  in  quality  and/or  environmental  management  systems  (ISO  9000,  ISO  14000,  ISO  19011)  is  recommended.  

•   ISO  Lead  Assessor  qualification  or  equivalent  preferred.  •   Advanced  skills  in  the  use  of  computers,  including  the  use  of  standard  MS  Office  

applications.  Proficient  and  competent  use  of  electronic  information  systems  and  databases.  

•   Experience  of  work  in  an  SME  environment  with  distributed/remote  working  network  would  be  desirable.  

•   Experience  of  work  in  a  multi-­cultural  and  multi-­disciplinary  environment  is  desirable.  

Working  arrangements  Position:  Full-­time  Technical  Manager  Reporting:  This  position  reports  to  the  SBP  Technical  Director  /  SBP  CEO  Location:  Europe  or  North  America  is  desirable  Work  place:  Working  remotely  from  home  office    

Applications  All  applications  including  full  CV/resume  and  a  motivation  letter  should  be  sent  to    mkwedgbury@sustainablebiomasspartnership.org        Please  provide  the  contact  details  of  two  individuals  that  would  be  able  to  provide  references  if  required.  SBP  reserves  the  right  to  contact  these  individuals  directly.  Please  provide  an  indication  of  an  expected  monthly  or  annual  salary.  Only  candidates  selected  for  an  interview  will  be  contacted.  The  successful  applicant  will  be  expected  to  start  as  soon  as  possible.    The  deadline  for  sending  applications  is  31  December  2016.