Head of Dispute Resolution (m-f-d)

Forest Stewardship Council; Bonn; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working structure

30 vacation days yearly

Regional transportation ticket

Annual in-person gathering

Job summary

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Bonn invites applications for Head of Dispute Resolution. The role provides leadership and strategic oversight of FSC’s dispute resolution programmes, including PfA, complaints/appeals, remedy framework, and disclosure procedures across international operations.

You will lead decision-making with board committees, drive continuous improvement, and mentor a high-performing team while maintaining FSC’s integrity and accountability.

Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
• 7+ years leading teams and managing complex projects, cases, or programmes.
• Experience in governance, compliance, or stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results.
• Experience with Boards or governance bodies is an advantage.
• Strong problem-solving with a collaborative approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to influence.
• Fluency in English; Spanish or French is an advantage.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; AI or databases experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage FSC’s dispute resolution programmes across international operations.
• Oversee PfA, PfA complaints, remedy framework, disclosure, and PfA complaints processing.
• Develop strategic frameworks including stakeholder engagement and legal services.
• Build communities of learning and partnerships with key organizations.
• Guide governance processes and support dispute-related decision-making.
• Represent FSC in global forums and stakeholder engagements.
• Drive remedy uptake through outreach and partner collaboration.
• Collaborate on fundraising and resource mobilization for programmes.
• Lead communications and coordinate responses to stakeholder concerns.
• Maintain relationships with stakeholders, network partners, and external orgs.
• Ensure systems and methodologies support transparent case management.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team with a focus on integrity and excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Governance experience

Strategic thinking

Communication

Analytical skills

Multicultural collaboration

Team mentoring

Education

University degree in a relevant field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Databases

AI/related technologies

Job description

The Scope

The Head of Dispute Resolution (m-f-d) provides leadership and strategic oversight of FSC’s Dispute Resolution Programmes, including the Policy for Association (PfA), Complaints and Appeals procedures, Remedy Framework, Disclosure Procedure, and the Procedure for Processing PfA Complaints. The role is responsible for overseeing the implementation and continuous management of these programmes, ensuring robust, objective, and effective resolution of complex cases and governance processes across the FSC system.

• Lead and manage FSC’s Dispute Resolution Programmes across international operations.
• Oversee the implementation and continuous development of the Policy for Association (PfA), Complaints and Appeals Procedures, Remedy Framework, Disclosure Procedure, and Processing PfA Complaints Procedure.
• Develop and execute strategic frameworks, including stakeholder engagement strategies and legal services arrangements for dispute resolution.
• Build and strengthen communities of learning and partnerships with key organizations and industry initiatives.
• Guide governance processes and support dispute-related decision-making in alignment with FSC’s mission and integrity objectives.
• Represent FSC’s dispute resolution programmes in global forums, policy dialogues, and stakeholder engagements.
• Drive remedy uptake through outreach activities, partner collaboration, and engagement with certificate holders.
• Collaborate on fundraising initiatives and resource mobilization to support dispute resolution programmes and activities.
• Lead communication and engagement efforts, including coordinating responses to stakeholder concerns and dispute-related matters.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders, investment partners, network partners, and external organizations.
• Ensure appropriate systems, tools, resources, and methodologies are in place for transparent and effective case management.
• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing team while fostering continuous improvement, ethical conduct, and operational excellence.

The Scope

The Head of Dispute Resolution (m-f-d) provides leadership and strategic oversight of FSC’s Dispute Resolution Programmes, including the Policy for Association (PfA), Complaints and Appeals procedures, Remedy Framework, Disclosure Procedure, and the Procedure for Processing PfA Complaints. The role is responsible for overseeing the implementation and continuous management of these programmes, ensuring robust, objective, and effective resolution of complex cases and governance processes across the FSC system.

The position leads dispute-related decision-making processes with Board committees, represents FSC on dispute resolution matters in relevant forums, and ensures effective systems, tools, and methodologies are in place to support transparent and consistent case management. The role also drives the continuous improvement of dispute resolution programmes and processes. Leading a team of experts and generalists, the Head of Dispute Resolution collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the effective management of complex and sensitive cases while upholding the integrity, credibility, and accountability of the FSC system.

Main Roles & Responsibilities

• Lead and manage FSC’s Dispute Resolution Programmes across international operations.
• Oversee the implementation and continuous development of the Policy for Association (PfA), Complaints and Appeals Procedures, Remedy Framework, Disclosure Procedure, and Processing PfA Complaints Procedure.
• Develop and execute strategic frameworks, including stakeholder engagement strategies and legal services arrangements for dispute resolution.
• Build and strengthen communities of learning and partnerships with key organizations and industry initiatives.
• Guide governance processes and support dispute-related decision-making in alignment with FSC’s mission and integrity objectives.
• Represent FSC’s dispute resolution programmes in global forums, policy dialogues, and stakeholder engagements.
• Drive remedy uptake through outreach activities, partner collaboration, and engagement with certificate holders.
• Collaborate on fundraising initiatives and resource mobilization to support dispute resolution programmes and activities.
• Lead communication and engagement efforts, including coordinating responses to stakeholder concerns and dispute-related matters.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders, investment partners, network partners, and external organizations.
• Ensure appropriate systems, tools, resources, and methodologies are in place for transparent and effective case management.
• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing team while fostering continuous improvement, ethical conduct, and operational excellence.

Your profile

• University degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field such as environmental science, forestry, geography, political science, law, consulting, integrity, technology, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience leading teams and managing complex projects, cases, or programmes in multi-stakeholder environments.
• Experience working in complex governance, compliance, or stakeholder engagement environments.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities, organize work effectively, and deliver results.
• Experience working with Boards of Directors, Board committees, or governance bodies is an advantage.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a collaborative and solutions-oriented approach.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to navigate sensitive or controversial issues.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and support decision-making.
• Ability to analyse and simplify complex documents, processes, and technical information for diverse audiences.
• Fluency in English; additional proficiency in Spanish or French is an advantage.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications; experience with databases, artificial intelligence, or related technologies is a plus.
• Experience working in multicultural and global teams, with a strong commitment to FSC’s values, cultural sensitivity, and professional representation of the organization.

Why us?

• Benefit from cross-cultural collaboration and networking opportunities by being part of FSC global community of 400+ forest stewards
• Benefit from work-life balance with our hybrid working structure
• 30 vacation days yearly
• Regional transportation ticket
• Celebrate together festivals from different cultures
• Once a year in-person get together with the global FSC staff

The Fine Print

• Location: Bonn, Germany.
• Working Hours: Full time - 40 hours per week.
• Duration of Employment: Temporary contract - 2 years (extension possible, subject to satisfactory performance)
• Starting Date: 1 November 2026
• Travel: Sporadic travel is required.

For FSC, inclusiveness and diversity are important values. As such, we welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds and are entirely committed to consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age and disability. We are looking forward to your application!

About us

Welcome to FSC!

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a globally recognized non-profit organization at the forefront of promoting sustainable forestry. With over 150 million hectares of certified forests and a trusted reputation among NGOs, consumers, and businesses, FSC is leading the way in ensuring the long-term health and resilience of the world’s forests.