Program Coordinator

Vacancy Announcement

Position: Program Coordinator, RECOFTC Viet Nam

Application deadline: 31 August 2022

At RECOFTC, we believe in a future where people live equitably and sustainably in and beside healthy, resilient forests. 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 equity. We are the only non-profit organization of our kind in Asia and the Pacific. We have more than 30 years of experience working with people and forests and have built trusting relationships with partners at all levels. Our influence and partnerships extend from multilateral institutions to governments, the private sector, and local communities. Our innovations, knowledge, and initiatives enable countries to foster good forest governance, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

RECOFTC is inviting candidates to apply for the position of Program Coordinator. The successful applicant will be based at RECOFTC Viet Nam in Hanoi, Vietnam. The contract duration is for 24 months with a possibility of extension subject to funding and satisfactory performance. The position is for Vietnamese nationals only.

Position summary

The Program Coordinator works as a key member of the RECOFTC Viet Nam team. They have primary technical oversight duties for the USAID Sustainable Forest Management project. The Coordinator provides technical inputs on program development and implementation, project management, networking, resource mobilization, and business development. The Coordinator reports to the Director, RECOFTC Viet Nam, and works closely with RECOFTC Viet Nam team members and teams at RECOFTC’s main office in Bangkok. 

Responsibilities and duties

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Director of RECOFTC Viet Nam, the Program Coordinator’s tasks and duties include:

Program development and project implementation

• Provide technical support to projects, with a focus on the USAID Sustainable Forest Management project. This work includes oversight of consultants working on community forestry development and management in Viet Nam. Important topics include non-timber forest products, climate change mitigation and adaptation, gender equality and social inclusion, forest carbon, landscape restoration, forest governance, community-based enterprise development and ecotourism.
• Review project reports, especially from consultants, and ensure timely submission to project managers and donors.
• Integrate social inclusion and gender equity across programs and projects. 
• In coordination with RECOFTC Viet Nam Director, closely work with experts at RECOFTC‘s main office to mobilize technical support and identify program development opportunities for RECOFTC Viet Nam
• Design and support the delivering of training and capacity development activities in community forestry, sustainable forest management, free prior and informed consent, social inclusion and gender equity and landscape restoration.
• Provide technical support to the team focal point for monitoring and evaluation, including reporting on expected project outcomes.

Networking and resource mobilization

• Facilitate a national network of practitioners and policymakers on community forest management.
• Expand networks and partnerships and identify resource mobilization opportunities for RECOFTC Viet Nam.
• Under the guidance of the RECOFTC Viet Nam Director, work closely with the business development team at RECOFTC’s main office to identify and realize business development opportunities for RECOFTC Viet Nam. This may include proposal writing, budget development and project implementation. 
• Explore private sector engagement opportunities for business development for RECOFTC Viet Nam, following RECOFTC’s private sector engagement strategy and guidelines.
• Identify fundraising opportunities for capacity development services or technical consultancies to support achievement of RECOFTC Viet Nam’s income generation plan and meet annual financial targets. 

Other

• Work closely with other team members of RECOFTC Viet Nam and the RECOFTC staff on the USAID SFM project to provide technical and mentoring support to build capacity and deliver in a timely manner.
• With support from the Communication Officer, monitoring and evaluation focal person, and other technical staff of RECOFTC Viet Nam, raise the profile of RECOFTC Viet Nam.
• Share key insights about program development and networking opportunities in RECOFTC’s monthly program coordination meetings.
• Identify and develop outcome reports and key learning opportunities to support business development and resource mobilization.
• Integrate cross-cutting initiatives and ensure coherence at a program level.
• Participate in annual program development meetings, mid-year reviews and year-end reviews of the annual work plan of RECOFTC Viet Nam.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the Director, RECOFTC Viet Nam

Qualifications and experience

The Program Coordinator will have the following essential qualifications and experience:

Essential

• Master’s degree or equivalent in forestry, environmental studies, development studies, social science, or related fields
• Minimum of eight years’ experience in managing development projects in the field of community forestry, climate change mitigation and adaptation, landscape restoration, and management, forest carbon offset, GIS and Remote sensing and related fields
• Experience in developing project proposals, donor reports, and editing consultancy reports in both Vietnamese and English
• Strong experience in organizing multi-stakeholder meetings and workshops and facilitating training 
• Ability to coordinate with other team members and effectively manage tasks and time 
• Good understanding of fundraising and the private-sector engagement context in Viet Nam and in the region 
• Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner in Vietnamese and English, and to communicate effectively
• Sound knowledge of project management methodologies and tools
• Computer literate 
• Good report writing and presentation skills in Vietnamese and English
• Strong teamwork and networking skills
• Willingness to travel frequently within the country and the region, and work in multi-stakeholder and cross-cultural environments
• Vietnamese national only

Desirable

• Familiarity with USAID Viet Nam and the working style of USAID projects
• Ability to adapt and take initiative to improve the work quality
• Ability to mentor and support team members and partners' capacity to grow within the area of responsibility
• Multi-tasking and ability to organize several tasks to meet deadlines
• Understanding and willingness to promote social inclusion and gender equity (SIGE)
• Hands-on experience and ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• Interpersonal communication skills, individually and in groups with an ability to work as an active member of teams, flexibly and with an open mind 
• Ability to work in a variety of cultural and institutional contexts

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
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders
• Nurture commitment, responsibility and ownership
• Prioritize sustainability
• Cultivate participation, social inclusion and gender equity

How to apply

Interested candidates are requested to submit a 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 [email protected]. 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. Offers are based on salary history, relevant experience and qualifications of the selected candidate.

To learn more about RECOFTC, please visit our website www.recoftc.org.

Applicants shall not be discriminated against based on ethnicity, religion, age, nationality, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, colour, marital status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by RECOFTC’s values and code of conduct. Reasonable accommodation may be made so that qualified disabled applicants can partake in the application process. Women are strongly encouraged to apply. Please inform RECOFTC’s Human Resources in writing of any special needs at the time of application.

RECOFTC is an equal opportunity employer and the successful candidate will be selected based on merit.

RECOFTC retains the right to offer this position at a job grade relevant to the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.