Position summary:

The Rainforest Alliance is recruiting a Chief of Party for an anticipated USAID Activity entitled Prosperous and Resilient Landscapes. The purpose of this ambitious initiative is to reduce Guatemala’s land-based greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration from land use. The Activity will increase the prosperity and resilience of rural Guatemalan communities in the Western Highlands, Alta and Baja Verapaz, and Peten by implementing activities that reduce the drivers of deforestation and increase forest cover while improving livelihoods, especially for forest dependent communities, Indigenous peoples, women, and youth.  The Activity will deliver impacts at landscape scale in key work areas, including forest conservation, sustainable forest management, and integrated fire management; climate-smart livestock practices; landscape restoration; and improving and expanding agroforestry systems and sustainable soil management in Guatemala.

The Chief of Party will provide overall strategic direction and oversight to the Activity, assuming ultimate accountability for delivery of targets and the overall theory-of-change.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as Chief of Party for the USAID-funded Prosperous and Resilient Landscapes Activity, including but not limited to:
• Provide overall strategic oversight and technical direction to the Activity.
• Take accountability for ensuring full delivery of technical, financial, compliance, resource mobilization and other contractual obligations.
• Serve as primary point of contact with USAID and critical link between USAID, partners, and senior RA staff, as well as other government of Guatemala and community stakeholders. Actively create opportunities to leverage resources and strategic support for sustainability and scaling of impacts.
• Build results-based and strategic partnerships with external stakeholders, such as government, municipalities, local forest communities, Indigenous representative organizations, and women and youth-led organizations.
• Coordinate and engage with implementing partners to ensure strong Activity governance.
• Develop and implement high-quality annual workplans, reports and adaptive management processes.
• Build a successful and effective team and establish effective management and coordination processes.
• Proactively identify and handle risks, raising key issues where appropriate.
• Coordinate extensively with RA senior staff and partners across geographies to mobilize internal resources, achieve efficient implementation, and integrate activity results and findings within RA’s broader institutional processes and strategies; and
• Supervise staff and subgrantees based in different locations within Guatemala.

Qualifications:

• 10 years’ proven experience in the international development field leading multilateral organizations, funds, or projects;
• Demonstrated relevant experience running large USAID activities is required;
• At least 5 years in a senior role, providing conceptual leadership and oversight of comprehensive natural resource management and livelihoods initiatives.
• Significant experience leading senior staff, and strong conflict resolution skills;
• Master’s degree in natural resources, environment, agriculture, economy, international and local development, or another relevant field desired;
• Demonstrated track record leading effective climate change mitigation and adaptation partnerships within GHG emission sectors;
• Demonstrated relevant experience engaging with diverse stakeholders (government, municipalities, local forest communities, Indigenous populations, women, youth and others) is required;
• Experience working in the Verapaces, Western Highlands and Peten regions of Guatemala is strongly preferred
• Technical knowledge and experience related to climate change, adaptation and/or mitigation initiatives;
• Demonstrate openness to change and ability to handle complexities;
• Excellent writing, editing and verbal communication skills;
• Written and verbal proficiency in Spanish and English;
• Fluency in a relevant local language of the Western Highlands and Alta and Baja Verapaz is preferred;
• Strong organizational skills to handle multiple priorities in a time critical manner; and
• Ability to travel a minimum of 30% of the time within Guatemala.

Hiring of this position is subject to USAID approval.

The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. To achieve our mission, we partner with diverse allies around the world to drive positive change across global supply chains and in many of our most critically important natural landscapes.