Manager, Central Africa - TREES (Management & Executives)

The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit 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. 

The Rainforest Alliance has been awarded grants to implement or assist in the implementation of two important projects in Central Africa:

1. A sub-grant from the World Resources Institute (WRI) to help implement an important regional project in Central Africa funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Environment Program and co-funded by implementing partners. WRI is the grant recipient, primary project implementation organization and sub-grants manager while the Rainforest Alliance is the key implementing partner responsible for all field activities, including recruitment and engagement of independent international consultants and in-country project technical staff and consultants. Titled 'A Regional Focus on Sustainable Timber Management in the Congo Basin,' the objective of the project is to promote a harmonized approach to the sustainable management of production forests in six countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Republic of Congo) in the Congo Basin.
2. A grant from the Congo Basin Forest Fund (CBFF) managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) to promote community-forest enterprise development in Cameroon. Community forest enterprises are hypothesized to be an appropriate model of sustainable forest management based upon experiences of community forest concessions in Guatemala's Peten region. This project is managed by Rainforest Alliance with field implementation carried out by two Cameroonian NGO's -- OPFCR "Organisation pour la Protection de la Forêt Camerounaise et de ses Ressources" and CEPFILD -- "Cercle de Promotion des Forêts et des Initiatives Locales de Développement". The goal is to build 4 functional and economically viable community forest enterprises operating in two regions (Sangmelima and Kribi) linked to 12 community forests.

The Manager, Central Africa will assist the Sr. Project Manager, Africa in strategic planning, project implementation and project reporting.  More specifically, s/he will be in charge of a) planning, coordinating and monitoring TREES field activities in Cameroon and in the region, b) assisting in the drafting and management of sub grants and/or consulting agreements, c) monitoring, evaluating and reporting of the activities and deliverables of sub-grantees and consultants, and d) supervising Cameroon-based TREES staff.  In addition, s/he will provide technical expertise and produce project specific deliverables.  Finally, s/he will also ensure constant liaison with COMIFAC, local partners, forest stakeholders and funders in the region.

• Plan and coordinate the implementation of deliverables at project level, and provide specific technical assistance to ensure achievement of targets, deliverables and results defined in the project plans;
• Define consultant and sub-grantees scopes of work and monitor activities and deliverables;
• Ensure timely delivery of quarterly and annual progress reports;
• Assist in the implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation systems, and ensure documentation of deliverables and results;
• Participate in and provide logistical assistance for audits and mid-term reviews;
• Assist in the preparation and monitoring of work plans and budgets according to project logical framework, financial projections, internal procedures and policies, and donor requirements;
• Other duties as assigned.

WRI-GEF Project

• Manage administrative and technical relations with COMIFAC, forestry agencies and stakeholders;
• Provide technical expertise in support of COMIFAC;
• Coordinate and monitor activities of WRI sub-grantees in the pilot countries;
• Help organize and participate in meetings of the Project Steering Committee, National Steering Committees, as well as relevant meetings, workshops and events in the region;

CBFF Project

• Monitor and evaluate the implementation of the field activities by the sub-grantees, and conduct at least quarterly visits to the field;
• Assist in the procurement  of equipment by defining technical specifications, drafting calls for tenders, and evaluating suppliers and proposals;
• Interact with the project funder and grant administrator to report on technical progress;

Regional Representation

• Assist in fostering strategic alliances and ensure coordination with governments, private sector and communities;
• Participate in projects’ related technical workshops and conferences in the region;
• Assist in identifying and pursuing funding opportunities for Rainforest Alliance, in the Congo Basin  in particular;

Local Representative

• Designated bank account signatory; approve payment requests to ensure compliance with policies & procedures and internal control;
• Signature of employment related agreements and letters, as needed; and,
• Power of Attorney for legal entity; delegated authority for executing legal documents on behalf of RA, subject to review and approval.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Manages 2 employees. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

• University degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Natural Resource Economics or related field required; Advanced degree a plus;
• Minimum 10 years experience in forest management and policy, project management, planning and monitoring, and at least 2 years of supervisory responsibilities, preferably with an intentional NGO funded by international cooperation sources; regional experience is required; private sector experience is a plus;
• Strong knowledge of forestry and conservation issues, community forestry, policies and institutions in Central Africa ;
• Recognized technical expertise in one or more of the following fields: Climate Change and REDD, Land rights and Customary Use of Forests, Illegal Logging and FLEGT, Log Tracking, Community-based Forest Management, Forest Certification.
• Familiar with all of the above mentioned fields;
• Good interpersonal skills with ability to cultivate relationships with high-level government and donor partners, private companies and NGOs and interact culturally and diplomatically with diverse stakeholders and staff; 
• Fluent French and excellent English communication skills, including strong written, presentation and verbal skills; Spanish a plus;
• Demonstrated ability to prepare quality progress and technical reports;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to foster a strong sense of team work; 
• Strong computer skills (MS Office and Internet); and
• Willingness and ability to travel a minimum of 35% of the time within the region.

Only candidates authorized to work in Cameroon will be considered.