Title: Projects Manager - TREES Program, Sustainable Forestry Division
Reports to: Director - TREES Program, Sustainable Forestry Division
Location: Washington, D.C., Richmond, Vermont or New York, New York (preferred)
The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting ecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them by transforming land-use practices, business practices, and consumer behavior. Companies, cooperatives and landowners that participate in our programs meet rigorous standards that conserve biodiversity and provide sustainable livelihoods.
The Rainforest Alliance’s TREES (TRaining, Extension, Enterprises and Sourcing) program promotes sustainable livelihoods and protects biodiversity in forest-dependent communities. We work to enhance the competitiveness of community and indigenous forestry enterprises by building business skills, increasing efficiencies, and facilitating investment in value-added processing, expanding income opportunities from wood and non-wood forest products and environmental services, and increasing access to local and global markets through Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.
Position Summary:
Under the supervision of the TREES Director, the Projects Manager with provide dynamic and creative leadership to manage and implement TREES project activities with a particular focus on Ghana, West Africa and Congo Basin. TREES activities support community-based forest groups to engage in sustainable forest management leading to improved livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and strengthened organizations. The Projects Manager will provide specific assistance in the area of business development, competitiveness and marketing.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as key technical and operational resource on project design and implementation to enhance the capacity of forest dependent groups and local communities, especially in the areas of business development and marketing;
- Provide management and planning back-stopping for project teams including work plans, progress reports, budgets, contracts and financial reports for assigned projects and country programs;
- Identify strategic opportunities and coordinate project development in response to these opportunities to grow the TREES program;
- Coordinate outreach activities with public and private sector buyers aimed at assisting small and medium-sized forest enterprises to increase access to markets;
- Develop and assist with the delivery of tools for enterprise competitiveness enhancement, small business development and marketing;
- Develop and maintain functional partnerships, support capacity building initiatives and develop fluid communication and relations with donors;
- Provide input to overall Forestry Division planning and strategy and monitor progress of TREES objectives and targets;
- Maintain current and knowledgeable on developments in corporate responsibility, key international forestry trends and environmental, social and economic issues impacting TREES project regions;
- Supervise assigned staff in the effective and timely accomplishment of program deliverables; and
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Degree in Natural Resources or Forest Management, Rural Development or related field required; Advanced degree preferred
- 7-10 years experience in project management, planning and monitoring; minimum of 5 years field experience in West and Central Africa (Congo Basin) required and in South America a plus;
- Experience in forest enterprise development and marketing, with a focus on production and marketing of products and services by community enterprises required;
- Fluency in English and proficiency in French required; proficiency in Spanish a plus;
- Experience in design and implementation of rural development proposals projects and projects with a focus on community involvement in forest management, value chains and marketing for forest and non timber forest products; experience in payment for environmental services based on REDD+ is an advantage;
- Ability to communicate and engage effectively with high-level stakeholders including governments, private companies and civil society;
- Excellent communication skills - written, presentation and verbal;
- Knowledge of FSC certification and issues about legality requirements and trade regulations for forest products;
- Ability to take initiative and work independently;
- Strong computer skills;
- Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to interact culturally and diplomatically with diverse staff as part of a team and diverse partners ranging from community leader, businesses and government officials;
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; and
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally a minimum of 30% of the time.
Compensation:
Commensurate with experience. Competitive benefits package provided.
To apply:
Send resume, cover letter and salary history to Human Resources, Rainforest Alliance, 665 Broadway, Suite 500, New York, NY 10012; Fax: 212-677-2187; E-mail: Personnel@ra.org. If emailing, use the following format in the subject line: first name and last name, job title of position you are applying for.
The Rainforest Alliance is an equal opportunity employer.
