| Description |
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.
Climate, Nature and Communities in Guatemala (CNCG) will assist in the development of a process to mitigate the impacts of climate change in Guatemala -- improving management of natural resources and conservation of biodiversity, building institutional and technical capacity, and strengthening the policy and legal framework necessary for the country to respond to climate change. The project will strengthen the capacity of local organizations to address biodiversity, forest conservation and sustainable land management and address issues related to food security, adaptation, environmental certification, income-generating opportunities, and low emissions development strategies.
Position Summary:
The Timber Products Specialist, Petén will be responsible for providing technical assistance to community forestry enterprises and other certified enterprises to enhance timber and non-timber products, as well as those in the process of certification. S/he will assist with primary and secondary processing activities, coordinating technical assistance and training of existing SMEs, to promote efficiency in the production process of value added timber products. S/he will maintain close relationships with government agencies, local NGOs and multilateral finance agencies to establish forest norms and policies to incentivize sustainable management and commercialization.
Responsibilities:
- Create monthly work plans detailing activities to be carried out in accordance with the CNCG work plan and other donor requirements;
- Provide technical assistance to ensure the optimization of primary and secondary processing of timber products to certified forestry enterprises, as well as those in the process of certification;
- Provide technical assistance to ensure the optimization of non-timber products harvesting to certified forestry enterprises, as well as those in the process of certification;
- Monitor and assist Community Based Organizations (CBO) and enterprises in managing entrepreneurial structures that promote more efficient timber production processes or non-timber management;
- Participate in the Forest Certification Table and support the concessions to facilitate implementation of Corrective Action Requirements (CAR);
- Promote and encourage investment lines and projects to enable value addition and efficient timber product lines and promotion of diversification of forest production;
- Assist in the management of production lines promoting added value timber products, and encourage trainings and workshops focused on production efficiency and added value timber products to enhance sales of timber products;
- Promote and encourage new products design with colored species and the use of lesser known species;
- Facilitate alliances with the local and national industries to increase the technical capacity of the SMEs and other complementary services;
- Provide technical and administrative support to managers and regents of the SMEs;
- Identify and manage projects related to increasing productivity of the SMEs;
- Identify and support the design of new timber products promoting the use of small-size sawn timber and other parts not currently used;
- Monitor the planning tools developed for various SMEs;
- Design a program to socialize the benefits of forest concessions in communities, towns, villages and municipalities where the concessions are located; and
- Other duties assigned.
Qualifications:
- BS or equivalent degree in Forest Industrial Engineer, Forest Engineer or related field;
- Minimum 4 years of proven experience in the primary and secondary processing in timber logging companies and community-based forestry enterprises and community-based forest management;
- Minimum 4 years of proven experience in primary and secondary processing in timber industries, sustainable management practices and forest certification, and in management and forest management of forest concessions in the Multiple Use Zone (MUZ) of the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR);
- Experience in management of forest timber industries;
- Registered Regent in the National Forest Service (INAB) and the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) preferred;
- Experience in industrial processes related to added value timber products;
- Basic knowledge of industrial equipment and machinery in lumber processing;
- Ability and experience to work in multidisciplinary teams;
- Excellent organizational skills, ability to work independently as well as in a team environment, assess priorities and multi-task with strong attention to detail;
- Strong analytical skills;
- Strong computer skills (MS Office and internet);
- Willingness to support other CNCG regions for exchange experiences by extension program; and
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 30 percent of the time visiting local communities.
Salary:
Commensurate with experience.
Notes:
Only candidates authorized to work in Guatemala will be considered.
Application:
Send resume, cover letter and salary history to Human Resources, Rainforest Alliance, 8 Avenida 15-62, zona 10, Ciudad Guatemala, Guatemala 01010. Fax: (502) 2383-5777; Email: guatemalapersonnel@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.
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