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 behavior. 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.
SmartWood, a program of the Rainforest Alliance is the world’s leading Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) forest management certifier, setting the international gold standard for credibility in auditing environmentally and socially responsible forestry. SmartWood offers a diverse set of certification and verification services, including FSC certification, legality verification, SmartLogging and carbon validation and verification. Today more than 2,700 operations spanning 68 countries have been certified by the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program.
Position Summary:
The Regional Manager will be responsible for providing leadership and oversight in the management of SmartWood certification activities in the Asia Pacific region. S/he will oversee the staff and the day-to-day operation, including audit services, finance, quality control and client and stakeholder relations. S/he will serve as a Rainforest Alliance representative in the region to expand the reach and visibility of the organization as well as maintain its favorable image. In conjunction with RA’s overall strategy, s/he will implement a marketing strategy for the region with annual sales and business targets. S/he will also closely coordinate with Sustainable Agriculture Auditing Services (SAAS), a program of the Rainforest Alliance’s Sustainable Agriculture Division, which carries out audits under the sustainable agriculture standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) in the Asia Pacific region.
Responsibilities:
Marketing & Sales
- In conjunction with SmartWood management, develop strategic business plans for the Asia Pacific region with special emphasis on entering new markets and adding new RA services in this region;
- Directly market SmartWood certification to potential clients in the commercial, community, forestry and wood products industries;
- Develop and meet sales and business targets for the region;
- Provide certification client leads to the SmartWood headquarters; and
Customer Service
- Provide customer service to current and interested clients in the Asia Pacific region, to include but not limited to, information about certification, market linkages, and guidance on certification process, logo use, marketing, etc.; and
Project Management
- Ensure that SmartWood representatives and consultants follow and implement the relevant technical and administration certification protocols in the region;
- Ensure close coordination with the SAAS program to ensure efficiencies and opportunities for both programs are sought, explored and implemented;
- Provide input from the region in the policy development and technical improvements of the RA certification systems;
- Identify and increase the pool of qualified representatives, consultants and assessors; and
- Provide direct first response to complaints and disputes relating to active certification assessments and clients.
Manage Certification Jobs
- Eventually be able to serve as lead auditor for FSC or SAN certification; and
- Write and review certification assessment and audit reports.
Partnerships & Representation
- Serve as the senior representative for RA with government, industry, and NGOs in the region;
- Deliver certification training courses for representatives and consultants; and
- Identify and develop new alliances, including RA representatives in all target countries, to develop capacity with in-country government, industry, and NGOs.
Finance & Operations Management
- Oversee and responsible for local operational activities including office administration, IT, accounting, and human resources;
- Oversee the finances and accounting of the regional office. Ensure timely and accurate submission of local government required financial reporting and monthly financial reporting to Finance-NY;
- Act as senior-level in-country program person;
- Serve as legal representative and holder of powers of attorney as needed;
- Serve as senior-level liaison to operations, human resources, and legal teams at Rainforest Alliance headquarters;
- Have signing authority on bank accounts including co-signing checks above pre-determined limit;
- Convene monthly operations meetings with other senior level program representatives and operations staff;
- In coordination with Finance-NY develop annual budget and support annual audit;
- Create a culture of team building and unity in the Indonesia office; and
- Ensure effective communications among programs in the Indonesia office.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws; and
- Other tasks as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Forestry/Forest Products, Agriculture, Ecology, Natural Resource Management or a related field; Master's Degree preferred;
- Minimum of 5 years managerial level experience;
- Experience in a results-driven sales and marketing position with demonstrated success in achieving revenue goals;
- Knowledge of FSC or SAN certification protocols a plus;
- Must have strong planning, analytical, and project management skills, with ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously while adhering to deadlines;
- Strong interpersonal skills;
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English;
- Language capability in either Bahasa Indonesian, Japanese, or Malay-based language a plus; and
- Strong computer skills (e.g., word processing, spreadsheet and presentations).
Salary:
Commensurate with experience.
