Product Manager - test / Lakshmi in Manchester

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 35 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, 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 Manager for Explore. The successful applicant will be based in the RECOFTC main office in Bangkok, Thailand. The contract duration is for 24 months with a possibility of extension subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance.

About the project: Established in 2020, Explore is managed by a Secretariat hosted by RECOFTC in partnership with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF). The program receives financial support from Sida. Explore develops the research capacity of universities in Southeast Asia on forest landscape governance. It supports researchers, universities and research institutions to improve their ability to conduct quality and transformative research, as well as leverage research to support policy development and implementation at various levels leading to more equitable, community-oriented forest landscape governance. The overall objective of the Explore program is to support governments in using high quality research to improve policies and institutional frameworks for the inclusive and sustainable management of forest landscapes in Southeast Asia that contribute to climate and development goals such as SDGs. The program is now in Phase 2. The main objective is for innovative and well-designed research to be used widely by key stakeholders and support informed policy and decision making at landscape, national and regional levels. Phase 2 is being implemented from October 2022 to September 2027. The Explore program is a long-term engagement between Sida, RECOFTC and CIFOR-ICRAF, and it envisages three phases with a timeline of 10-12 years.

Specific tasks and duties:

• Oversee the implementation of the whole Explore Program.
• Oversee development and monitoring of Explore’s annual workplan and budget in line with its 5-year program.
• Refine and oversee implementation of the program’s risk management plan, ensuring that identified risks are avoided and mitigated as necessary.
• Prepare documents and other key deliverables for the Explore donors, including Sida, in a timely manner.
• Oversee fundraising activities from non‑Sida sources for Explore Phase 2.
• Liaise with the Explore Project Advisory Committee (PAC) drawn from academics, policymakers and forest governance experts from around the world.
• Facilitating the quarterly Explore Advisory Committee meetings.
• Reviewing and finalizing PAC meeting minutes.
• Preparing progress reports for PAC.
• Ensure that the Explore Secretariat is working with RECOFTC’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning team with regard to monitoring, evaluation, and learning of the project and ensure required data collection processes for the annual reports and other reporting.
• Promote understanding of RECOFTC’s whistleblower policy to ensure that all partners and network members are aware of it and know how to use it during the project implementation.
• Act as focal point with Sida and other donors.
• Act as focal point with CIFOR-ICRAF, this includes liaising with CIFOR-ICRAF regarding gathering technical inputs into the program implementation and with its representative on the PAC.
• Supervise the Secretariat’s coordination with RECOFTC’s seven country offices and provide recommendations on how to engage with universities in ways that will benefit the network and potentially RECOFTC’s implementation of its current (2018‑2023) and future (2023‑2028) Strategic Plan.
• Support and monitor formal agreements with partners, including universities and research institutions in Southeast Asia.
• Act as focal point for Sida network partners, including Sumernet, SHAPE‑SEA and EPP‑SEA.
• Act as Explore Secretariat focal point with strategic partners for policy outreach, and program synergies and fundraising (e.g. AFoCO, APFNet, AUN, FAO and FFP).
• Oversee the workplans and overall budget for Explore’s grant recipients, including ensuring that grant recipients adhere to the Explore financial and research guidelines.
• Oversee the capacity development program for grant recipients focusing on project management (incl. financial management).
• Oversee the review and updating as appropriate of Explore’s grant selection criteria and guidelines.
• Contribute to the production of high-quality, effective and influential content focusing on the Explore’s key objectives and scope.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the unit director.

Qualifications and experience:

Essential:

• PhD degree in environmental science, social science, political science or natural resource management.
• Minimum 10 years of experience implementing and monitoring budgets for a similar research network or multi‑country/regional projects on natural resource management or forest governance.
• Extensive experience in research and project management including planning and funding/financial management and monitoring.
• Extensive experience in fundraising.
• Strong work ethic.
• Extensive experience in working with universities on research or other types of collaboration.
• Experience working collaboratively with professional communication teams in similar network contexts.
• Strong team building, leadership and networking skills.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Willingness to work in the RECOFTC main office in Bangkok or in a telework arrangement in ways that build comradery with staff, the Secretariat and the PAC.
• Willingness and ability to travel to countries for university coordination, awareness raising and fiscal oversight of grants with the implementing partners of the network.
• Champions gender equity and social inclusion in natural resource management and development sectors.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning systems and principles.
• Knowledge of one or more regional languages, especially those of Mekong countries.
• Good understanding of the role of universities in informing regional and transboundary policy decisions.
• Strong public speaking, facilitation and convening skills.

Core values:

• 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, with salary expectation 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. Offers are based on salary history, relevant experience and qualifications of the selected candidate. For more information, visit www.recoftc.org. Applicants shall 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 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.