Senior Program Officer

Vacancy Announcement

Senior Program Officer

People, Forests and Climate Change (PFCC)*

Application deadline:  14^th January 2013

RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests holds a unique and important place in the world of forestry. It is the only international not‐for‐profit organization that specializes in capacity building for community forestry and devolved forest management. RECOFTC engages in strategic networks and effective partnerships with governments, nongovernment organizations, civil society, the private sector, local people, and research and educational institutes throughout the Asia‐Pacific region and beyond. With over 20 years of international experience and a dynamic approach to capacity building – involving research and analysis, demonstration sites, and training products – RECOFTC delivers innovative solutions for people and forests.

Analysis and capacity building are an integral part of RECOFTC’s work. Analysis aims at informing policy makers and practitioners, and more importantly providing a sound basis for capacity development of key stakeholders.  RECOFTC’s capacity building program goes beyond conventional and one-off trainings and it includes processes for action learning, mentoring and long term engagement to support capacity development of actors. Our capacity building program is informed by the results of analysis and vice versa.

RECOFTC is currently seeking a Senior Program Officer (SPO) to lead the thematic area People, Forest and Climate Change (PFCC).  The successful applicant will be based at RECOFTC’s Bangkok headquarters.  The contract duration is for two years with a possibility of extension

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Program Officer works as a key member of the Capacity Building and Technical Services (CBTS) Unit, and will contribute to the development and implementation of activities of RECOFTC’s People, Forest and Climate Change (PFCC) thematic area, particularly relating to community involvement in both climate change mitigation and adaptation.

S/he will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic direction for the PFCC thematic area and ensuring successful delivery and implementation of ongoing and new projects in coordination with the CBTS Manager.
• Coordinating analysis and capacity building in relation to climate mitigation and adaptation
• Maintaining and expanding strategic networks with other organizations dealing with climate change in Asia and the Pacific regions 
• Supervising project staff and interns and providing appropriate mentorships
• Leading proposal development for PFCC related activities.

S/he is directly responsible to the CBTS Manager, and will also be accountable to other program and project staff, clients, partners, collaborators and funding agencies.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

The Senior Program officer, People, Forests and Climate Change’s main tasks and responsibilities will be as follows:

Program Development:

• Develope an understanding of community-based natural resource management process and practice in its role for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Identify strategic opportunities for RECOFTC support in analysis and capacity building in the area of mitigation and adaptation of climate change.
• Leadthe development of project proposals on mitigation and adaptation.

Program Coordination and Delivery:

• Identify key themes for strategic analysis in the area of mitigation and adaptation at local, national and regional level
• Lead strategic analyses for mainstreaming the role of community forestry in the mitigation and adaptation of climate change
• Prepare publications such as analytical reports, policy briefs, articles, media brief, etc.
• Represent RECOFTC in relevant events (conferences, workshops) to share findings
• Work closely with other CBTS members in the development of training curricula and programs and the delivery of capacity building activities such as trainings, mentoring, action learning and learning networks   
• Lead the implementation and delivery of selected PFCC’s projects in coordination with CBTS Manager
• Provide technical advice to project leaders for specific projects under the PFCC thematic area
• Lead the preparation of (progress) reports, including financial reports, for assigned projects.

Partnerships and Networking:

• Develop, maintaining and establishing new contact with strategic partners; keeping abreast of their strategies and using it for program development.
• Support and maintaining ongoing networks in target countries and facilitating their active participation and exchange with national, regional and global thematic networks.

Others

• Perform any other tasks that may be assigned by the CBTS Manager and Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

The Senior Program Officer, People, Forests and Climate Change, will have the following essential qualifications and experience:

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• MSc. in forestry, ecology, natural resource management or related fields and with experience in climate change mitigation and adaptation. PhD in those fields is an asset.
• Knowledge of REDD+, PES schemes, adaptation measures and political economy of deforestation and quantitative and qualitative methods.
• At least 5 years work experience post MSc. (or 1-2 year of experience post PhD) in natural resource management or related field including local-level experience with community-based natural resource management (particularly community forestry).
• Experience in multi-stakeholder processes, policy dialogues and strategic analyses
• Good understanding on capacity building/development and excellent facilitation skills

• Proven effective net-worker; flexible, open-minded and resourceful.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, individually and in groups, with ability to work as an active member of multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proven analytical skills and an innovative thinker who actively contributes ideas to team processes.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and fluent in English.

Desirable:

• Knowledge and skills in project development and management.
• Previous work experience in the Asia-Pacific region is strongly desirable.

• Experience in international organizations.
• Ability to speak one or more languages of RECOFTC’s focal countries (China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar)
• Qualified women and nationals from Asia-Pacific region are encouraged to apply.

General:

In addition to job specific skills and experience, the applicant should possess the following characteristics (including attitudes and skills):

• Posses leadership personality, and able to take on and solve problems quickly and efficiently;
• Hands-on experience and able to work independently with minimum supervision;
• Initiative and ability to make informed independent judgments (which is not inconsistent with an overall team approach);
• Ability to work in a variety of cultural and institutional contexts.

Interested candidates, please submit CV/resume, cover letter indicating salary requirements and current contact details of three referees, including recent supervisors to HR@recoftc.org. Please quote the position title in the subject line of the email. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. RECOFTC has competitive compensation package, however, offers shall be based on salary history, relevant experience and qualifications of selected candidate.

To learn more about RECOFTC, please visit our website www.recoftc.org

Women and candidates from the Asia-Pacific region are strongly encouraged to apply.  RECOFTC is an equal opportunity employer and the successful candidate will be selected based on merit.

*RECOFTC reserves the right to offer the position at a lower grade.