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. Based in New York City, with offices throughout the United States and worldwide, 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.
The Rainforest Alliance’s TREES (Training, Extension, Enterprises and Sourcing) 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.
The Senior Project Manager, IDB/MIF will provide overall leadership and management of a regional TREES project operating in five countries in Latin America, as well as serving as the key contact for the Rainforest Alliance in Mexico. The Senior Project Manager, IDB/MIF will guide regional-level work planning and implementation tied to the Interamerican Development bank (IDB)/Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF)-funded regional project, ensuring compliance with project goals and norms, while maintaining close relations with key collaborators and partners. S/he will also be responsible for coordinating with other Rainforest Alliance IDB/MIF staff in Central and South America to ensure timely and quality technical and financial reporting per Rainforest Alliance and IDB/MIF requirements. As the senior level in-country program staff, s/he will hold powers of attorney and signing authority. S/he will also provide support to and ensure effective coordination and communication between projects in Mexico.
- Provide strategic direction and overall supervision of the IDB/MIF-funded regional TREES project, operating in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru;
- Coordinate with counterparts supervising IDB/MIF-supported work in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru, ensuring strong coordination and creating synergies with related Rainforest Alliance efforts in all countries;
- Ensure achievement of targets and results defined in project plans, as well as compliance with donor norms for technical and financial reporting;
- Ensure timely preparation and delivery of high-quality project reports;
- Assist ID/MIF project regional coordinators and specialists to prepare and monitor work plans, budgets, and cash flow projections;
- Establish and maintain optimal standards of performance while controlling costs and administering the project budgets;
- Develop and maintain effective institutional relationships among Rainforest Alliance project partners -- including government institutions, community partners, civil society organizations, private sector companies and national-level donors;
- Ensure fluid communications with funders and donors contributing to Rainforest Alliance in Mexico and identify new funding opportunities in conjunction with the Senior Sustainable Forestry Advisor, Mexico;
- Ensure proper coordination and collaboration with all projects ongoing in Mexico including M-REDD and GEF;
- Ensure close collaboration with other Rainforest Alliance programs and divisions; and
- Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Manages 6 employees and oversees work of vendors. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include:
- Interviewing, hiring, and training employees;
- Planning, assigning, and directing work;
- Appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees;
- Addressing complaints and resolving problems.
- Master's Degree in forestry or related field;
- 10 years experience working in the Mexican forestry sector, with experience regionally strongly preferred;
- 7-10 years experience managing programs and/or projects, including strategic planning and staff management
- Proven record in one or more of the following thematic areas: forest management, community forestry, forest certification, forest policy, wood and non timber forest products markets, climate change and REDD+, business administration;
- Experience with financial budgeting and oversight of government-funded projects, experience with bi- or multilaterally funded projects preferred;
- Proven experience in preparing successful proposals;
- Ability to effectively engage high-level authorities and donor representatives;
- Fluent Spanish and English (both verbal and written communications skills);
- Strong computer skills (MS Office and Internet);
- Extremely organized and detail oriented with strong follow-through skills;
- Ability to work within a team structure as well as independently, be creative, take initiative, and possess excellent interpersonal communication skills;
- Strong analytical skills to respond to multi-cultural situations; and
- Ability to travel at least 35 percent of the time, both domestically and internationally.
Commensurate with experience.
Only candidates authorized to work in Mexico will be considered.
Send resume, cover letter and salary history to Human Resources, Rainforest Alliance, Calle Pensamientos #104 Col. Reforma CP 68050, Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico; Fax: +52 (951) 502 6473; Email: mxpersonnel@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.