Job Description: Commercial Manager Scandinavia and Baltic

Job Description: Commercial Manager Scandinavia and Baltic Region
Location:
TBC, potentially Stockholm
Working language:
Swedish (Scandinavian) and English
Responsible to:
Country Manager Scandinavia and Baltic Region
Responsible for:
Scandinavia and the Baltic Region
Salary and benefits:
Market and experience conform. MSC offers a contributory pension
scheme and a Death in Service insurance benefit equal to four times
annual salary. Employees which successfully completed the
probation period are entitled to join a pension scheme.
Working hours:
40 hours a week, Monday-Friday. The MSC supports flexible working,
so the pattern of hours may vary according to operational and
personal needs. Weekend work may be required periodically and
international travel is a regular feature of the job. No overtime is
payable however, under certain circumstances, Time Off in Lieu is
granted.
Holiday:
30 days per annum, plus statutory holidays. Carry over entitlement of
up to a maximum of five days per annum.
Equal opportunities:
The MSC strives to be an equal opportunities employer and
commitment to this process is expected.
Date Written:
April 2015
Full details of Conditions of Employment are set out in the MSC Employment Contract, the main
features of which are standard to all staff.
A.
JOB SUMMARY
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is a global not for profit organisation, established in 1999 to
address the problem of unsustainable fishing and to ensure healthy oceans for the future.
Our mission is to use our ecolabel and fishery certification program to contribute to the health of the
world’s oceans by recognising and rewarding sustainable fishing practices, influencing the choices
people make when buying seafood, and working with our partners to transform the seafood market
to a sustainable basis.
The Commercial Manager Scandinavia and Baltic Region (CM) will report to the Country Manager
Scandinavia and Baltic Region and help in the delivery of the MSC’s overarching aims and objectives
with seafood supply chain companies, retailers, foodservice operators, restaurants and relevant
associations. The post holder will be responsible for outreach to these businesses and organisations
with the aim of increasing support for and participation in the MSC programme.
Outreach involves relationship building and maintaining, promoting and explaining the MSC concept
and certification programme to potential partners, pitching MSC-related marketing and promotional
activities to partner companies, supporting the development of relevant MSC publications, etc.
In doing so, the CM will work in collaboration with the Country Manager, the various teams based in
the Region and other members of the wider MSC team to deliver a consistent approach to the market
sectors in Scandinavia and the Baltic Region.
The post holder will also support the regional communications team in promoting MSC and its partners
to the media and the public. The CM will research and provide market data and insight for reporting,
funding and other internal purposes. Assisting the MSC’s Standards department, the post holder will
provide input to relevant work streams and projects to further the MSC’s Chain of Custody standard.
Ultimately, the post strives to increase the supply of MSC-labelled sustainable seafood choices across
Scandinavia and the Baltic Region.
There is limited administrative support available and the post holder should expect to be self-servicing.
Outreach travel in Scandinavia and, to a lesser extent, the Baltic Region, is a regular feature of the job.
B.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The work of the Commercial Manager is linked to MSC’s overarching objectives of:

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


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Ensuring the credibility of the MSC
Getting certified product to market
Maintaining and building strategic relationships with the MSC’s stakeholders
Increasing awareness of the MSC
Maintaining quality internal systems and processes
Ensuring financial security and sustainability of the MSC
Specific responsibilities include:

Increase knowledge of the environmental impact of unsustainable fishing in the commercial
sector in the region

Promote the role and value of the MSC’s certification system to commercial stakeholders

Develop and strengthen relations with commercial stakeholders to build awareness and
increase uptake of the MSC programme

Work in line with the commercial strategy and support the Country Manager in strategy
development

Contribute to MSC’s global commercial strategy development by mapping product flows and
supply relations, feeding into internal consultation processes and participating in relevant
internal working groups

Initiate and implement relevant activities with supply chain partners to raise customer
awareness and increase sales of MSC-labelled products

Develop training materials and host meetings/workshops for relevant audiences

Support development and production of high quality promotional material for commercial
stakeholders

Ensure relevant parts of the MSC webpages are accurate and up to date

Provide support to the Country Manager and to the regional communications team for
promotional, marketing and communication purposes

Liaise with other departments of the MSC to ensure an integrated approach to certification,
marketing and outreach

Provide oral and written advice through briefings, submissions and reports to MSC staff

Report progress against agreed work plans and for MSC funders.
C.
PERSON SPECIFICATION: SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Commercial/Technical

Post-graduate degree and at least 3-5 years of relevant working experience in supply chain
management, the food or seafood business, marketing, fisheries or international business.

Demonstrated knowledge of fisheries and resource sustainability issues, particularly as they
relate to wild capture fisheries and/or the seafood industry.

Good understanding of the role of eco-labelling.

Proficient computer skills, including the use of standard software packages (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, Outlook).
Stakeholder Oriented

Proven track record of working with stakeholders from different backgrounds - preferably in
the commercial and/or fishing sectors - with often diverging views, with the aim of winning
their support.

Demonstrated awareness of cultural differences and sensitivity to the diversity of values,
views and approaches to issues relevant to the MSC programme, and an ability to deal with
them effectively.
Management, Organisational and Personal Attributes

High personal and work ethics.

Judgement and creativity, including influencing, negotiating and problem solving skills.

Proven ability to contribute to productive team work, but also able to work on one’s own.

Self-starter and initiator.

Excellent organisational and work planning skills, demonstrating high productivity and ability
to manage competing work priorities.

Proven track record of project development and management.

Demonstrated experience with meeting and/or workgroup organisation and facilitation.

Able and willing to travel for business (Europe-wide).

Empathy and interest in the MSC’s mission and objectives.
Communication

Native Swedish (Scandinavian) speaker and fluent in English.

Extensive experience in oral communication with a diverse range of stakeholders at differing
organisational levels.

Ability to grasp complex and intellectually challenging ideas and communicate them to
people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Demonstrated excellence in written communication in Swedish (Scandinavian and English).

Demonstrated excellence in preparing and delivering presentations.
D.
JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
Job holder’s signature
Date
Director of Resources’ signature
Date
ORGANISATONAL CHART
Country Manager,
Baltic Sea and
Scandinavia
Communications &
Administrative
Assistant
Commercial Manager,
Scandinavia & Baltic
Region
Communications &
Marketing Manager,
Denmark
Communications
Manager, Baltic Sea
Marketing and
Communications
Manager, Norway
Scandinavia and
Baltic Region Fishery
Outreach Manager