Senior Manager – European Solvents Industries Associations

Senior Manager – European Solvents Industries Associations

CEFIC – European Chemical Industry Council

Brussels, Belgium

Mission of the role

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will be responsible for managing several solvents sector groups:

• Oxygenated Solvents Producers Association (OSPA);
• Hydrocarbon Solvents Producers Association (HSPA);
• European Solvents-VOC Coordination Group (ES-VOC-CG),

which constitute a whole cluster and the European Solvents Industry Group (ESIG) as umbrella association.

The candidate will act as an advocate and representative of the industry in official and professional bodies in order to advocate, position, communicate and safeguard its interests at all times.

Are you inspired by these responsibilities?

Your primary responsibilities include:

• Advocate and actively represent the solvents´ industry towards all its stakeholders, internal and external;
• Have regular contacts with the EU and Member State authorities and different bodies of the Convention of Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP);
• Establish, maintain, extend and use a network of relationships and alliances with industry stakeholders;
• Monitor, analyse and interpret the existing and proposed policies & government legislation and its impact on member company activities;
• Identify existing and emerging issues that could affect the Sector Groups;
• Develop, agree and implement with the member companies a strategy to deal with regulatory, scientific or others issues;
• Ensure alignment between task forces and the sector groups and lead the process by which sector group members identify and prioritise issues relevant to solvents, provide advice and stir on how best to tackle an issue and help to determine objectives and strategies that contribute to the sustainability of the solvent industry;
• Make sure the industries’ tools and resources (e.g. human exposure database, solvents@workmaterials, solvents VOC emission inventories) are kept up to date by initiating and coordinating expert input and ensure that updates are properly promoted amongst relevant stakeholders;
• Manage members’ diverging interests and drive the process of consensus‐building and position‐taking to reach agreement between all parties involved;
• Translate the approved strategy into objectives, plans and budgets for the various working groups;
• Manage scientific and regulatory consultants contracted by your sector groups and ensure they work in synergy with each other to reach their objectives and deliverables;
• Interact and be the point of reference for VOC emissions & indoor air quality within Cefic;
• Constantly maintain contacts with potential new members and other professional associations to broaden the membership base or to set up alliances that will increase the impact of your sector group’s advocacy in the short and long term;
• Organise meetings, draft minutes and manage the groups resources (team members and budget);
• Issue the biannual newsletter SOLUTIONS by drafting articles and provide input to make sure the website is up to date;
• Oversee the organisation of the ESIG stakeholder days;
• Contribute to cross Cefic projects.

Can you make the difference?

The successful candidate will be a highly experienced professional who demonstrates the following experience, competencies and personal qualities:

• Academic background – a MA or MSc in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or any relevant technical/scientific background;
• At least 8-10 years of experience working at European/international level on scientific and/or regulatory issues in the chemical industry, value chain or with associations similar to Cefic;
• Knowledge of VOC emissions & Health Safety and Environment regulation relating to solvents (REACH, CLP, OSH, BREFs, SSbD, WGK) are a definite asset;
• Understanding and experience of EU regulatory framework, solvents or related industries are a plus;
• Proven organisation skills to manage the groups and necessary contacts with industry experts, government agencies and business leaders;
• Proven successful experience in creating networks;
• Fluency in English (both written and spoken) and at least one other major European language;
• Excellent communication and (re)presentation skills; including the ability to translate technical information into layman language, and assuring deliverables and a achievements reach the right stakeholder;
• A strong project manager, results oriented and able to work under pressure and to prioritise while managing multiple tasks;
• Excellent people management, networking and negotiation skills;
• Willingness to travel (approximately 20%);
• Prepared to live in Belgium.

What do we offer?

• The opportunity to understand the business dimension of the European industry, within the EU regulatory framework;
• The opportunity to work with other industries’ associations including downstream users’ associations within the supply chain;
• Dynamic and challenging topics;
• Working in a team with a positive attitude towards stress and mindful of work – personal life balance;
• Full time employment contract, competitive salary according to experience and several benefits or the option of a company secondment;
• Working in a people oriented, international and dynamic culture at the centre of EU affairs;
• Opportunities for employee development (trainings, mentoring).

Are you interested?

Please send your application with full curriculum vitae and motivation letter, quoting the reference SOLVENTS24 by 9 February 2024 to Cefic:

Jessica Bart-Williams,
HR Officer,
Rue Belliard 40, b15,
1040 Brussels
E-mail address: [email protected]

NB: Please note that in the course of the recruitment process, your application may be shared with internal departments and/or Cefic members.