Position summary:
- The cocoa sector is of critical importance for
Rainforest Alliance. Our certification program has a large footprint in
the sector, from farm production through to the brand level, and thus can
affect certified farmers and their communities, but also has the critical
mass to affect change across the sector as a whole.
- As with all sectors that Rainforest Alliance
works in, the cocoa sector has a particular set of sustainability issues
and opportunities. Further contextualization of our certification program
to the realities of the cocoa sector helps ensure that the program
provides producers and companies with means to address these issues and
use these opportunities within the context in which they operate.
Rainforest Alliance is looking for a Project Manager to lead this
important work.
The Project Manager will work with a global team to identify solutions to address the following challenges through our certification program, among others:
- Sustainability risks in the sector – with a
focus on deforestation and child labor – systemic issues the cocoa sector
has struggled to address.
- Quality of implementation of the program in
smallholder producer scenarios – where some certificate holders have
struggled to implement internal management systems that assure quality of
implementation, while others have been able to do so but are currently not
rewarded for their efforts; and
- Supply chain complexity – where the sector needs
traceability models that address the complexity of their sourcing and
manufacturing operations ensuring strict traceability and better aligning
with needs, including those related to due diligence regulations, access
to data, and attractive claims.
Working
closely with Rainforest Alliance teams and partners, the Project Manager will
coordinate collaboration across global teams to identify strategies to address
the challenges, coordinate and lead engagement and feedback sessions with
companies, and other stakeholders – most notably producers and producer
organizations in origin – manage the execution of pilots on program
innovations, maintain a strong project framework that ensures on-time delivery,
and ensure alignment with Rainforest Alliance’s mission.
This role requires strong leadership, high-level stakeholder engagement, and
excellent program management skills to deliver results within a
high-visibility, time-bound framework.
This position will also contribute to external representation of Rainforest
Alliance’s work, engaging with private companies, government agencies,
producers and producer organizations and civil society partners to elevate the
impact and sustainability of the cocoa program.
The incumbent will report to the Director of Field Implementation.
Responsibilities:
- The Rainforest Alliance’s Core Values are
Impact, Change, Collaboration, Openness and Trust and as such they form
the basis of the behaviours we demonstrate:
Project Design and partnerships
- Design and supervise the project work plans,
deliverables, and timelines – ensuring delivery within the agreed scope;
- Lead coordination activities with all relevant
Rainforest Alliance teams, and other relevant project partners;
Leadership and Project Management
- Supervise the implementation of all project
activities; these can include consultation, prototyping, pilot design and
implementation, feedback processing, binding document development and
implementation.
- Direct the project team and ensure key
objectives and outputs are documented, agreed to, and met;
- Prepare and submit timely, high-quality
communications with both internal and external stakeholders (emails,
reports, etc.) to maintain transparency on key results throughout the
project and ensure Rainforest Alliance internal procedures are followed;
- Foster a process for effective collaboration and
sharing of knowledge and capacity within the project team and with other
project stakeholders; and
- Assess progress and risks of project
implementation and take appropriate risk mitigation measures to address
them.
Operational & Financial Oversight
- Work closely with the operational and finance
teams to develop and monitor the project budget, ensuring efficient and
transparent use of funds across workstreams.
- Ensure full compliance with Rainforest
Alliance’s financial policies and donor requirements, including invoicing
and other practices as needed;
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- A master’s degree (preferred) or Bachelor’s
degree in Project Management, Agriculture economics, Business studies,
Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Development Studies,
Business Administration, or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated ability (6 years) experience of
project management and relationship management;
- Minimum 3 years working experience in the cocoa
sector, with producer organisations, companies and community development,
knowledge of other sectors in with Rainforest Alliance operates is a plus;
- First-hand field knowledge of the main social
and environmental challenges in cocoa growing areas preferred;
- Ability to develop and maintain strong
relationships of trust and confidence with internal and external
stakeholders;
- Ability to work within a team structure as well
as independently, under pressure and stay focused;
- Demonstrated leadership and ability to
coordinate across global teams and functions;
- Excellent interpersonal skills, strong
communication skills, with ability to interact culturally, linguistically
and diplomatically with diverse internal and external individuals;
- Both written and verbal fluency in English and
French;
- Ability to travel for team meetings and
stakeholder engagement as needed; and
- Strong personal ethics and integrity and
commitment to uphold the rules and values of the Rainforest Alliance.
How to Apply
