Project Officer

Vacancy announcement  

Position: Project Officer, RECOFTC Viet Nam - CLICK HERE FOR VIETNAMESE

Deadline for application: 20 March 2024

RECOFTC is an international nonprofit organization working towards a future where resilient communities with respected rights thrive in forest landscapes that they manage sustainably and equitably. We take a long-term, landscape-based, and inclusive approach to supporting local communities to secure their land and resource rights, stop deforestation, find alternative livelihoods, and foster gender equality. We have more than 36 years of experience working with people and forests and have built trusting relationships with partners at all levels. As a trusted, honest broker, we occupy a distinct position as an international organization that supports, informs, and brings together governments, communities, businesses, academia, and civil society organizations. Our innovations, knowledge, and initiatives enable countries to foster good forest governance, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and achieve the UN Global Goals.

RECOFTC operates in the Asia-Pacific region, with country program offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Viet Nam. 

Summary work of RECOFTC in Viet Nam

RECOFTC is currently seeking a Project Officer for its Viet Nam Office, to be stationed in Son La, Viet Nam. This position is open to external candidates who are Vietnamese nationals. The selected candidate will be offered a 24-month contract from April 2024 to March 2026 with the possibility of extension, contingent on funding availability and satisfactory performance. An offer of employment is subject to funding confirmation.

About the project

The project is called “Change beyond supply chains, driving positive landscape transformation through inclusive business model” and aims to ensure change beyond supply chains and stimulate nature-positive restoration which provides livelihood options and enhances policy effectiveness. The project will develop inclusive business models that safeguard ecosystems and benefit society, based on ecosystem goods, services, and market forces. Through a research-to-action approach, stakeholders will explore degradation drivers, promote transparent stakeholder dialogues based on locally led research evidence, and identify local solutions compliant with policies. Inclusive and sustainable business models will be explored between Indigenous People and Local Communities and private sector which prevent degradation and incentivize restoration in the supply chain operations. Capacity development will support these operations through farmer field schools, piloting sustainable production practices, training programs and establishing a locally-led monitoring system assessing positive changes.

Task and duties

The Project Officer is a member of the RECOFTC Viet Nam Office, reporting directly to the Country Director.  The Project Officer will implement project activities according to the project’s scope, focusing on implementing locally-led research and business models, ensuring that the project’s expected results are effectively produced.

Specific tasks and duties

• Coordinate on Participatory Action Research (PAR) training and collecting field information together with the other team members
• Support the team in analyzing PAR results and developing regenerative agriculture business models
• Facilitate due diligence, negotiations and partnership agreement with local smallholders and private sector actors
• Support the development of demonstration sites for newly developed business models
• Support identification of farmer champions and assist in the roll-out of associated training programs
• Support the team in organizing and facilitating multistakeholder workshops
• Coordinate and arrange field visit of local study visits
• Assist on Participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework development
• Support general project coordination and management
• Prepare financial and programmatic reports
• Ensure Social Inclusion and Gender Equity (SIGE) is integrated into RECOFTC and Country Program communications
• Perform any other task as assigned by the Country Director

Qualifications and experience

The Project Officer should possess the following qualifications and experience:

Essential

• A bachelor's degree (or higher) in natural resource management, forestry, agriculture or related field
• A minimum of five years working experience in community-based work
• A minimum of four years of Project Management experience
• Demonstrable experience in training assistance, research and implementation
• Knowledge and understanding of forest governance and agriculture
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office, media and using web-based application
• Result oriented and able to meet deadlines
• Must be Viet Nam national
• Willing to be based in project area

Desirable:

• Knowledge and understanding of nature-positive business model development 
• Experienced in facilitating meeting and networking
• Able to work independently with time management skills
• Previous field experience in Son La working with IPLCs
• Willingness to travel 
• Knowledge of IPLC languages (Thai in Son La)
• Working knowledge of English

RECOFTC’s core values

At RECOFTC, our core values are the foundation of our culture and guide all our work. In addition to job-specific skills and experience, the applicant should possess the following characteristics, attitudes and skills: 

• Embrace innovation 
• Adapt to and learn from challenges 
• Nurture commitment, responsibility and ownership 
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders 
• Commit to sustainability 
• Cultivate participation, gender equity and social inclusion
• Prioritize wellbeing  

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV and a cover letter. The cover letter should explain why the candidate is suitable for the position, include salary expectations, and provide the current contact details of three referees, including recent supervisors. Please apply by clicking here.

When submitting your application, please use the position title as the subject line of your email. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. RECOFTC offers a competitive compensation package.

For more information about RECOFTC, please visit our website at https://www.recoftc.org/

RECOFTC is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on ethnicity, religion, age, nationality, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by RECOFTC's values and code of conduct. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified disabled applicants to participate in the application process. If you require special accommodation, please inform RECOFTC's Human Resources in writing at the time of application. The successful candidate will be selected based on merit. RECOFTC strongly encourages women to apply.