The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. To achieve our mission, we partner with diverse allies around the world to drive positive change across global supply chains and in many of our most critically important natural landscapes.

Our alliance spans 70 countries and includes farmers and forest communities, companies, governments, civil society, and millions of individuals. Together we work to protect forests and biodiversity, take action on climate, and promote the rights and improve the livelihoods of rural people.

As an international nonprofit organization with more than 30 years of experience in sustainability transformation, we understand that the social and economic well-being of rural communities is tightly connected to ecosystem health. This knowledge has shaped our rigorous programs to advance sustainable land-use and commodity production.

At the Rainforest Alliance we combat climate change, protect forests and biodiversity, promote human rights, and improve livelihoods. The enormity of the social and environmental challenges we are facing requires working together in a broad alliance. This is why we bring farmers, forest communities, companies, and consumers together to change the way the world produces, sources, and consumes.

Why

To protect nature and improve lives it’s becoming increasingly urgent that we approach the way we use our land and produce food and other products in more sustainable ways. For this to succeed we need to fundamentally change the way that businesses operate and source, and the choices we all make as consumers.

How

Our growing global alliance aims to transform our relationship with our natural resources and each other, to create a better future for people and nature together.

The Rainforest Alliance encourages diversity and inclusion across the global organization. With this commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, disability and any other protected group.

Position summary:

The Rainforest Alliance is recruiting a Senior Associate, Western Highlands for an anticipated USAID Activity to be implemented in Guatemala.

The Senior Associate, Western Highlands (WH) will be responsible for providing technical assistance to program beneficiaries and participants in the region. They will be responsible for developing and leading the field-based work plan for climate change low emission outcomes in relation to landscape restoration areas, forest timber activities, and the promotion of non-timber forest products and agroforestry products from community-based organizations (CBOs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from the WH. They will train target communities in developing effective and sustainable supply chain programs, advise them in commercialization techniques, guide their activities in sustainable forest and agricultural product management. They will also develop training programs for the communities to reduce their climate vulnerability by adopting sustainable practices. They will support the Rainforest Alliance’s certification process related with the prioritized crops in the region.

Responsibilities:

Develop and support the creation of periodic work/program plans detailing activities to be carried out in accordance with program goals and indicators and other donor requirements;
Supervise activities in the Western Highlands, including CBO/SME monitoring and evaluating outputs and outcomes for each partner;
Ensure high quality training and provide technical assistance in the adoption of best practices for low emission production activities, such as quality control of timber production, non-timber forest products, agroforestry, landscape restoration, soil management and net zero carbon activities in the Western Highlands;
Create low emissions networks among communities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, to address climate solutions more effectively in the WH;
Strengthen local capacities for sustainable management activities, such as cattle ranching, forestry, agroforestry and natural forest management in the Western Highlands;
Provide technical assistance to national governmental organization related to carbon emissions accountability and measurement of sustainable resources management, agroclimatic roundtables and other National Determined Contributions that correspond to WH;
Develop and maintain functional partnerships with Rainforest Alliance clients, partners, platforms, NGOs, governments, certification bodies and other stakeholders, applying an approach of cultural relevance;
Identify opportunities for management of non-timber products in WH and support writing of new proposals with the intention of seeking new funding;
Provide technical assistance to other Rainforest Alliance units;
Represent the Rainforest Alliance in the Western Highlands region;
Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, forestry, agriculture, marketing or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
At least 5 years of experience in the development and execution of market-based conservation initiatives
Demonstrated experience and knowledge of climate science themes for at least 5 years
Experience in leading a team of staff
Knowledge and understanding of the Rainforest Alliance’s Theory of Change; FSC, Rainforest Alliance certifications and/or other climate certification and verification standards
Demonstrated commitment to Rainforest Alliance’s mission and values
At least 5 years of direct experience in planning and implementation of grants funded by bi-lateral and multi-lateral organizations and companies
Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
Willingness and availability to travel at 50% of time to local CBO/SME
Availability to live in the Western Highlands

Job level: 4A

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Deadline:07 June 2023

Notes: Only candidates authorized to work in Guatemala will be considered.

Hiring of this position is contingent upon successful award of the Activity.

If you have any questions about the job vacancy, please contact the HR department: recruitment@ra.org