Background
BioRegional is an award winning environmental organisation bringing local sustainability into the mainstream of our economy. The group takes a market-led approach, developing economically viable solutions allowing us to meet more of our everyday needs from local, renewable and waste resources.

BioRegional’s approach is informed by Ecological Footprinting, which shows us that globally, we are consuming 30% more than the planet can sustain. If everyone in the world lived as we do in Europe we would need three planets to support us, and If everyone lived as Americans do we would need five planets. Globally, the imperative is to find ways of ensuring high quality living within the resources that our one planet can provide us – BioRegional calls this One Planet Living .

BioRegional is developing a series of exemplary projects around the world under its One Planet Living programme. The projects include work with communities, businesses, regions, governments, and specific projects such as the London 2012 Olympics.

The One Planet Communities Programme is a core part of BioRegional’s work on One Planet Living. Under the programme BioRegional works with developers, government and other local stakeholders to build large sustainable communities which include homes, schools, shops, community facilities and workplaces where the design enables residents and workers to reduce their ecological footprint to a sustainable “one planet “ level. The OPL design approach of ten principles is used to work with partners in a participatory way to develop and implement a sustainability action plan which covers not just the built environment, but also strategies to enable green lifestyles, such as sustainable transport and food options. BioRegional staff work alongside the team from concept design through to occupation and the implementation of an on-site visitor and training centre. The overall aim is to show that all around the world it is possible to live a high quality life at a sustainable one planet level and influence public opinion, industry practice and government policy.

Projects are currently underway in the UK, Portugal, North America, China, South Africa and the UAE, with projects in the pipeline in Australia and India. The One Planet Communities team consists of five country managers led by a Programme Manager. Due to the current Programme Manager moving on, the team requires an experienced manager to take up the reins on this challenging but very rewarding role. The role will be based in the UK but will require substantial international working on-site with the in-country teams.

Duties and responsibilities
• Leading, coordinating and managing the efforts of the One Planet Communities team to successfully establish One Planet Community projects around the world.

• Working with developers: (a) on a consultancy basis to develop and implement Sustainability Action Plans that meet the technical requirements of One Planet Living; and (b) on long-term contracts to help implement these plans as appropriate

• Leading on the facilitation of information-sharing events and meetings for the developers who are our partners in implementing One Planet Communities

• Developing proposals and negotiating relevant contracts and work programmes.

• Shared responsibility for new project development.

• Maintaining quality of work and ensuring brand integrity and brand development.

• Line management from the UK of up to five overseas Country-Managers as they develop ther local sustaianable communities in their designated country. Working with the Country-Managers in-country on occasion to progress the projects as required.

• Representing and promoting, along with other senior BioRegional staff, the One Planet Communities programme nationally and internationally.

• Ensuring that the BioRegional team for each of the OPL communities is resourced properly. This will involve creating and managing the overarching funding strategy for OPL Communities, direct fundraising, relationship management with funders, and overseeing fundraising by others. Funding will come from a mix of grants and fees from developers.

• Staff recruitment and staff development as necessary

• Liaison with BioRegional Communities Team, the One Planet Living Programme Manager and the other One Planet Living project and programme managers such as the Olympics Manager or the B&Q account manager.

• Occasional liaison with WWF staff working on One Planet Living in the UK and internationally.

• Ensuring a communications strategy is in place, working with BioRegional’s communications manager to ensure that the programme and projects achieve accurate, positive and ongoing promotion through leaflets, website, newsletter and events.

• Dealing with enquiries about One Planet Living communities, ensure all enquiries are dealt with properly and appropriately by team members.

• Work with other senior staff on the ongoing strategic development of the OPL programme.

• With other senior staff, initiating and managing partnerships in government, business and community sectors towards establishment of One Planet Living communities around the world.

• Any other general duties required which may arise from time to time.

Support
The postholder and the team will be supported at a strategic level by three senior BioRegional staff members – the Executive Director, the One Planet Living Technical Director and the One Planet Living Programme Manager.

At a technical and delivery level, the team will be supported by BioRegional’s pool of technical staff headed by the Communities Technical Lead Manager. At an organisational level, the team will be supported by BioRegional’s HR, finance, communications and fundraising staff.

Person specification
The successful candidate will have the following skills, knowledge, experience and qualities:

• Experienced manager with a minimum of six years of work experience including at least three years of project, staff and budgetary management

• Experience in an industry related to the built environment is essential

• Technical skills and experience in a technical field would be a definite advantage

• Thorough understanding of sustainable development

• Stature and confidence to play an lead role in the international field, with businesses and governments, and experience of successful relationship-building at this level

• Excellent financial management skills

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, and interpersonal skills

• Track record of success in securing contracts or fundraising

• Business-like with a practical, thorough, ‘hands on’ approach

• Excellent organisational and time management skills

• Thorough approach, showing attention to detail, with the ability to cope with the complexities and tensions of a rapidly developing programme

• Personal circumstances which allow international travel for up to 30% of the time

• Confident in use of PowerPoint, e-mail and internet applications

• Demonstrable personal commitment to sustainability

• BioRegional is an equal opportunities employer
• Employees will be expected to work with due regard to health and safety