Forestry Services Manager, Asia-Pacific Region, SmartWood Program

The Rainforest Alliance (RA) 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.

SmartWood (SW) is a program of the Rainforest Alliance created in 1989; it is the oldest global forestry certification program and has been accredited by the internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). SmartWood's mission is to promote the implementation of sustainable forestry worldwide. To accomplish this, SmartWood provides forest management and chain of custody certification services. Chain-of-Custody (CoC) certification verifies the flow of certified forest products through the supply chain, from the forest to the point of sale, assuring consumers and forest product companies that the wood they buy comes from certified forests.

Position Overview:

The Forestry Services Manager will be responsible for providing certification and verification services for FSC, legality, carbon, and other services to SW clients. S/he will provide administrative project management on certification and verification jobs and assist the Regional Manager with developing new clients. In addition, s/he will provide assistance in the day-to-day operational management of the region, including portfolio management, financial management and staff management. S/he will manage three employees and oversee the work of vendors.

Reports to: Regional Manager, Asia-Pacific Region, SmartWood Program

Responsibilities:

• Conduct pre-assessments, field forestry and CoC certification and verification assessments and audits;
• Write and review certification and verification assessment and audit reports for the region;
• Serve as lead auditor on forest management and CoC pre-assessments, assessments and audits;
• Conduct project management functions to include job budgeting, service contracts, team identification and contracts, arranging logistical support to consultants, report review, liaison with clients in assessment and report review and peer review identification and contracts;
• Provide customer service to current and interested clients in the region with information about certification, market linkages, guidance on certification process, marketing, etc.;
• Work with the Manager to develop and meet sales and business targets for the region and related market linkages outside the region;
• Directly market certification and verification to potential forestry and wood products industry clients, while assisting RA with identifying new alliances with local NGOs and other stakeholders;
• Provide input from the region in SW policy development and technical improvements to the certification system;
• Assist with the organization and facilitation of training courses for regional specialists in forest assessment, CoC assessment and audits and SW administration requirements; and
• Provide support to the Manager in his absence with the management of support staff, financial management of the region, general office administration, and serve as Deputy Director of PT Rainforest Alliance Indonesia.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in forestry or forest industries, ecology, or natural resource management required; Master's degree preferred;
• 7-10 years of field experience in forestry or rural natural resources management and/or economic development required;
• Strong computer skills (MS Office, including PowerPoint);
• Lead auditor trained in FSC, ISO or other certification protocol;
• Project management skills (e.g. planning, management, evaluation) and strong analytical skills;
• Experience in marketing and sales; business management skills a plus;
• Excellent writing, editing and verbal communication skills;
• Asian language capability in either Chinese or Malay-based language required;
• Strong organizational management and development skills to manage multiple priorities in a time sensitive manner; excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact culturally, linguistically, and diplomatically with diverse internal and external individuals;
• Knowledge of and commitment to environmental issues and sustainability practices; and
• Ability and willingness to travel a minimum of 40% of time, nationally and internationally.

Compensation: Salary commensurate with experience.

To Apply:

Send resume, cover letter and salary history to Human Resources.

Rainforest Alliance
665 Broadway, Suite 500
New York, NY 10012 

The Rainforest Alliance is an equal opportunity employer.