Vacancy: Program Officer RECOFTC

Vacancy Announcement
Program Officer under Capacity Building and Technical
Services
Application deadline: 23rd June 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.
In recent years, the organization has opened country
offices in Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR
and Indonesia, with its headquarters in Thailand. The
Center’s work focuses on the four
thematic areas of people, forests and climate change;
conflict management over natural
resources; livelihood and access to markets for forest
dependent communities; and building
capacities for community forestry at all levels.

LOCATION & DURATION
RECOFTC is seeking a qualified candidate to work in the
Capacity Building and Technical
Services (CBTS) Unit. The successful applicant will be
based in Bangkok. The contract duration is
for 2 years with a possibility of extension depending on
performance and availability of funding.

POSITION SUMMARY:
The program officer position works as a key member of the
Capacity Building and Technical
Services (CBTS) Unit. S/he will contribute to the
development and implementation of CBTS’s
training and learning interventions to support community
forestry development and expansion
as outlined in the RECOFTC Strategic Plan and Program
Plan. The main objective of the CBTS
unit is to assess capacities at national and regional
levels; design and develop capacity
development programs, products, and services relevant to
RECOFTC’s clients and partners; and
coordinate and facilitate their delivery through various
projects via collaboration with other
RECOFTC units and external partners.
S/he will be responsible for:
• Supporting the overall
development of the CBTS Unit together with the Unit Manager
• Playing a key role in the
implementation of CBTS’s activities associated with the
development of high quality capacity development products
and services, in particular
on community forestry or community based natural resource
management
• S/he reports to the CBTS
Manager and will also be accountable to other RECOFTC staff,
clients, partners, collaborators, and funding agencies.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Development:
• Take a leading role in the
development of capacity development strategy in the focus of
community forestry, community based natural resource
management
• Responsible for increasing
the understanding of community forestry management
processes and practices in its wider governance context at
the national and regional
levels
• Based on an understanding of
RECOFTC’s program and strategy, identify opportunities
for RECOFTC’s capacity development programs, products and
services to support
community forestry within the region
• Contribute to the overall
program development goal
• Assist with identifying new
organizations and funding agencies and developing joint
project proposals for support by funding agencies with
them

Program Coordination,
Monitoring and Evaluation:
• Support the CBTS Unit in
planning, implementation, and monitoring of ongoing
activities, including budgets, particularly for assigned
projects
• Assist in coordinating with
other units and projects within RECOFTC
• Contribute to the maintenance
of the Management Information System (MIS) database
for internal monitoring and coordination
• Support the fulfillment of
reporting obligations and leading the preparation of progress
reports for assigned projects
• Contribute to the development
of policies and procedures for capacity‐building products
and services, annual work‐plans, reporting, and other
M&E activities of CBTS

Program Delivery:
• Take the lead role in the
overall development (training course content, budget,
consultant contracts, agreements with partners, material
preparation, contracting
translation services, training of trainers, session plans,
reporting, etc.) of community
forestry capacity development programs, products, and
services.
• Take a lead role in the
development, adaptation, documentation, and translation of
appropriate training/learning materials, including manuals
and case studies
• Collaborate with other
RECOFTC staff and partners to implement capacity development
projects or components within projects that involve
training or related activities,
• Assist the CBTS and
Communications teams with market research/needs assessment
and for marketing of capacity‐building programs, products,
and services at all levels
• Act as trainer/facilitator
for RECOFTC other training activities as required (in addition to
those for which s/he is assigned responsibility)

Partnerships and Effective
Resource Mobilization:
• Develop and maintain contact
with strategic partners and stakeholders; keeping abreast
of their strategies and priorities, as well as problems
encountered, sharing this
knowledge with colleagues, and using it for program
development
• Contribute to, develop and
maintain relevant networks in focal countries and facilitate
their active participation and exchange with national,
regional, and global thematic
networks
Other:
• Any other tasks that may be
assigned by the CBTS Manager

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES:
Essential:
• At least 10 years experience
in the field of community forestry/CBNRM/ participatory
natural resource management
• Significant demonstrated
experience in capacity development and participatory training
delivery in the field of natural resources management
• B.Sc. or higher degree in
forestry, natural resources management
• Strong team building,
leadership, and networking qualities
• Fluent written and spoken
English
• Willingness to travel
frequently

Desirable:
• Field work experience at the
community level in community‐based forest management
or community‐based natural resource management
• Fluent in one or more languages
from RECOFTC focal countries; Cambodia, China,
Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand

General:
In addition to job specific skills and experience, the
applicant should possess the following
characteristics (including attitudes and skills);
􀂾Interpersonal communication skills, individually and in‐groups,
with an ability to work as an active
member of teams. This implies flexibility and open‐mindedness;
􀂾Initiative and ability to make informed independent
judgments (which is not inconsistent with an
overall team approach); and
􀂾Ability to work effectively in a multicultural work
environment with colleagues of different
nationalities.
Interested candidates are requested to submit CV and a
cover letter indicating why they are
suitable for this position along with 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 a
competitive compensation package. However, offers shall be
based on salary history, relevant
experience and qualifications of the selected candidate.
To learn more about RECOFTC, please visit our website http://www.recoftc.org/

Women 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.