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The REDD+ Projects Manager will contribute to strengthening the institutional and local capacity required to facilitate the implementation of REDD+ demonstration activities, policies and legal framework in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. (S)he will do so by coordinating the development of climate-related elements of the Rainforest Alliance and partners’ activities in sustainable agriculture and forestry and supporting the development of REDD+ strategies in the regions of interest to the AmaZONAS Andinas project.
 

Background
The Rainforest Alliance is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting ecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them by transforming land-use practices, business practices, and consumer behavior. Companies, cooperatives and landowners that participate in our programs meet rigorous standards that conserve biodiversity and provide sustainable livelihoods. The Rainforest Alliance’s climate program works to conserve biodiversity and enhance livelihoods by supporting sustainable land management practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The climate program is cross-divisional, involving activities of the sustainable forestry, agriculture and tourism programs of the Rainforest Alliance. It works with a wide range of stakeholders, from small producers to large corporations to governments.The climate program seeks a REDD+ Projects Manager for an anticipated USAID AmaZONAS Andinas program in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru . Recruitment is contingent upon successful award of the project.  The three-year program will reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the forest and land use sector through: (1) strengthening forest monitoring systems in each country, and (2) supporting one demonstration project in each country designed to show how, through combining a variety of flexible projects and programs, countries can move toward achieving net zero deforestation. The program will complement and expand upon Rainforest Alliance and partners’ existing projects and programs in the focus countries.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the implementation of sustainable agriculture and forestry activities (certified or in process of certification by the Rainforest Alliance to the standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network or Forest Stewardship Council) that contribute to REDD+ goals in the project countries;
• Harmonize and coordinate these activities with other existing and emerging programs in the project countries, both those led by the Rainforest Alliance as well as external initiatives;
  
• Provide strategic guidance and policy expertise to local and national stakeholders and government agencies on the development and implementation of PES and REDD+ systems, particularly regarding social and environmental safeguards;
  
• Facilitate the active participation of key stakeholders – particularly indigenous groups, rural farmers and forest-dependent communities –  in the development and execution of PES and REDD+ strategies;
  
• Manage relationships with, and coordinate amongst, project partners, national government agencies, civil society groups, other key stakeholders to achieve the project objectives;
  
• Conduct periodic site visits to assess project performance and adaptively manage accordingly;
  
• Monitor subgrantees’ project performance and provide approval for their deliverables;
• Author/contribute to donor reports as well as to publications which disseminate lessons learned from the project;
• Prepare and carry out work plans;
• Communicate and coordinate with Rainforest Alliance staff from field and international offices; and
  
• Carry out other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A graduate degree in forestry, ecology, environmental science, policy, environmental economics or related discipline;
• At least 7 years of experience working in forests and climate change, particularly related to REDD+ mechanisms, with at least 3 years of experience in Colombia, Ecuador and/or Peru;
  
• At least 4 years of project management experience;
• Field-level experience in sustainable forest and/or sustainable agriculture management;
• Strong working knowledge of UNFCCC policies, REDD+ and PES schemes and voluntary carbon markets, and forest sector and climate change policies of focal countries;
• High level of knowledge of both local-level stakeholders and regional organizations working in agriculture and forest management and forest carbon;
• High level of familiarity with regional and international development, agriculture and forestry trends, programs, organizations and funders in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru;
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, environmental issues and sustainability practices;
• High level of organizational and managerial ability;
• Fluency in Spanish and English – U.S. State Department FSI equivalent 3/3 Spanish and English;
• Excellent communication, writing, editing, public presentation and strategic thinking skills critical; 
• Prior experience on USAID funded projects is preferred;
• Experience developing/implementing social and environmental safeguards for forest carbon projects is preferred;
• Knowledge of non-profit operations preferred;
• Knowledge of relevant indigenous languages is preferred;
• Ability to travel approximately 60% of the time; and
• Strong computer skills (MS Office and internet).

To apply:
Send resume, cover letter and salary history to climate@ra.org.

The Rainforest Alliance is an equal opportunity employer