ISEAL Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance is looking for a Technical Coordinator (Africa and Asia) to support the standard development and review processes, participate in research and field activities, involve African and Asian stakeholders in public consultation workshops, engage in the recruitment of new SAN member organizations, as well as train and support the technical teams in these new regions on SAN standard and policy contents. Location: London, United Kingdom. Deadline for Applications: open.

The Rainforest Alliance (RA) is an international nonprofit organization that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behaviour. 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.

Under the auspices of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), an international coalition of leading conservation groups, the Rainforest Alliance’s Sustainable Agriculture program works with farmers to ensure compliance with the SAN standards for protecting wildlife, wild lands, workers’ rights and local communities. Farms that meet these rigorous environmental, ethical and economic standards are awarded the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal. The SAN standards are applied by producers of major commodity crops (including bananas, pineapple, coffee, cocoa, tea, citrus and flowers) that profoundly affect the economies, environments, cultures and politics of tropical countries. Today more than 60,000 farms in 26 countries are certified and Rainforest Alliance Certified products are widely available in mainstream markets.

Position Summary:
The Technical Coordinator (Africa and Asia), forms part of the Sustainable Landscapes program of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Division. Under the supervision of the Manager (East Africa and South Asia), and in close cooperation with the Standards and Policy Manager of the Sustainable Agriculture Network Secretariat, s/he will support the standard development and review processes for Africa and Asia, participate in research and field activities related to the development of sustainable agriculture certification standards, policies and guideline documents, involve African and Asian stakeholders in public consultation workshops, engage in the recruitment of new SAN member organizations, as well as train and support the technical teams in these new regions on SAN standard and policy contents.

Responsibilities:

• Identify and build relationships with potential new Sustainable Agriculture Network members in Africa and Asia;
• Support the Sustainable Landscapes program, the Standards and Policy Unit and standards committee with stakeholder relationships and communications in Africa and Asia, and contribute to the development and review of standards and policy documents;
• Participate in field testing activities in these regions during standard review and development;
• Plan and coordinate standards meetings and events in Africa and Asia;
• Coordinate the development of local interpretation guidelines for different crops using workshops and other stakeholder outreach techniques and prepare draft guideline documents;
• Deliver training to technical teams on standards and policy documents;
• Support the preparation of funding proposals, budgets, work schedules and reports; and
• Other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, biology, natural resources or related field; Master’s degree preferred;
• 5-7 years professional experience in the agricultural sector in Africa and Asia with knowledge of agriculture production processes and certification systems;
• Knowledge and experience of social and environmental issues, especially as they apply to agriculture or natural resource management preferred;
• Experience with international certification, policy development, management codes and standards essential. Experience in quality systems desirable;
• Bilingual English/French, with strong written and oral skills in both languages; Spanish also desirable;
• Strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint);
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team;
• Excellent interpersonal skills in order to manage relations with the private sector, producers and NGOs; and
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally 30% of the time.

All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Salary: Commensurate with experience.

To apply: Send CV, cover letter and salary history to Human Resources, Rainforest Alliance, Winchester House, 259-269 Old Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5RA. E-mail: ukpersonnel [at] ra [dot] org. If emailing, use the following format in the subject line: first name and last name, job title of position you are applying for. The Rainforest Alliance is an equal opportunity employer.