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Title

Director, Sustainable Agriculture Network

Posted
Reference   (Please mention Stopdodo/Environment Jobs in your application)
Sectors Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Water Resources
Location Costa Rica - America South
Type Fixed Term and Permanent Roles
Status Full Time
Level Senior Level
Company Name Rainforest Alliance
Contact Name
Website Further Details / Applications
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Description
IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Director, Sustainable Agriculture Network -- Sustainable Agriculture Network Unit, Sustainable Agriculture Division

Reports To: 
Managing Director, Sustainable Agriculture Division
Type: 
Job Opportunities
Locations: 
Costa Rica - San José

The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit organization that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.  The Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers.

As member and Secretariat of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), an international coalition of leading conservation organizations, Rainforest Alliance’s Sustainable Agriculture Division works with farmers to ensure compliance with the SAN standards for protecting wildlife, ecosystems, workers’ rights and promoting the well-being of farmers’ families and communities. Farms that meet the rigorous environmental, social and economic standards are awarded the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal. The SAN standards are applied by producers of major commodity crops (including bananas, pineapple, coffee, cocoa, tea, citrus and flowers) that profoundly affect the economies, environments, cultures and politics of tropical countries.Today more than 350,000 farms in 30 countries are certified and Rainforest Alliance Certified products are widely available in mainstream markets.

Position Summary: 

Rainforest Alliance provides the SAN Secretariat with management and administrative services while the SAN transitions to a wholly independent organization. In this context, the Rainforest Alliance is recruiting a Director, SAN, who will guide the SAN activities that make it the leading global advocate for sustainable agriculture.  S/he will ensure that the Sustainable Agriculture Standard continues to represents the most advanced thinking and practices, expand stakeholder involvement in the standards-setting process, and guide standards and certification systems development to ensure the highest levels of credibility and effectiveness.  S/he will work in close collaboration with the SAN members to strengthen and expand the SAN, adding new members, especially in Africa and Asia. The Director will supervise a team of nine.

Responsibilities: 

Strategic leadership

  • Create, obtain SAN Board of Directors’ approval, and implement SAN’s long-term strategies, annual work plans and budgets;
  • Cultivate the SAN’s role as the leader in sustainable agriculture; ensure that the SAN and its standard continue to represent cutting-edge thinking and the most advanced practices for farms of all sizes;
  • Foster relationships with  global stakeholders engaged in the SAN and Sustainable Agriculture Standard;
  • Implement new structures or systems to ensure that the program continues to meet the highest level of credibility, transparency and effectiveness; ensure compliance with ISEAL credibility criteria;
  • Lead SAN fundraising efforts in collaboration with the SAN development committee; create a fundraising plan, identify and cultivate potential donors, conceptualize and develop proposals, projects and public-private partnerships;
  • Oversee the further development of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard, accreditation system for certification bodies, auditor competence program and related policies and programs;
  • Co-manage the Chain of Custody certification system, which is jointly owned with the Rainforest Alliance;
  • Guide the development of external communications messages and tools for the SAN; and
  • Consolidate the SAN governance and operational structure to enable global growth, supervise all matters related to formal records, legal and financial affairs;support the legal oversight of the Red de Agricultura Sostenible, A.C.

Membership and governance

  • Expand the SAN membership with the goal of at least one representative in each region where products from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms are produced and sold;
  • Manage the SAN membership, board and executive committee meetings;
  • Provide oversight to the management of the Technical Operations Committee, International Standards Committee, ad hoc working groups and other functional units as needed; and
  • Other duties as assigned. 
Qualifications: 
  • Degree in Conservation Biology, Agronomy, Resource Management, or related field; MBA and/or M.S. highly preferred;
  • Minimum 10 years field experience in international conservation and project management in tropical countries; 
  • Demonstrated experience in standards development and certification systems;
  • Minimum 5 years experience leading global action networks;
  • Proven ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations and with a wide range of people with diverse economic, political and professional backgrounds;
  • Knowledge of the socio-environmental impacts of agriculture on tropical communities, ecosystems and local economies;
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English and Spanish; French a plus;
  • Strong computer skills (MS Office and Internet); and
  • Ability to travel internationally at least 25% of the time.
Salary: 

Commensurate with experience.

Notes: 

Only candidates authorized to work in Costa Rica will be considered for Costa Rica.
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