Forest Monitoring Specialist

Vacancy Announcement

Position:                       Forest Monitoring Specialist, USAID Sustainable Forestry Management
                                      Project, RECOFTC appointment

Application deadline:   13 December 2021

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, 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 Forest Monitoring Specialist as part of the RECOFTC Viet Nam team and the USAID Sustainable Forest Management Project (the Project). The successful applicant will be based in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The contract duration is for 12 months with a possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and project’s budget availability.

Project background

Forests are important to the global carbon cycle, carbon sequestration and carbon storage. Although Viet Nam is experiencing increases in overall forest cover, there has been a reduction in both total hectares of natural forests and forest quality. To contribute to reducing land-based carbon emissions and to increasing forest carbon sequestration in Viet Nam through reduction of deforestation, natural forest degradation and poor timber plantation management practices, USAID Viet Nam has initiated and is implementing the USAID Sustainable Forest Management Project (the Project). The project is being implemented from 2020 to 2025 in seven provinces in Viet Nam: Lao Cai, Son La, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Tri, and Quang Nam.

The goals of the Project are to (1) avoid carbon emissions from natural forest conversion; (2) Increase carbon sequestration through better management of plantation forests; and, (3) Improve quality, diversity and productivity of natural production forest.

The Project will implement a “Green Prosperity” approach that strengthens local communities’ ability to protect their natural resource base and reduce emissions while building a strong foundation for sustainable livelihoods and equitable economic growth. Engagement with the private sector and improved co-management by communities, local authorities, and the national government are at the core of the Project’s activities.

The Project will focus on five main objectives:

1. Improve and expand community forest management
2. Increase conservation-friendly enterprises in forest-dependent communities
3. Increase functionality of law enforcement system for forest crimes
4. Improve production forest management practices
5. Mobilize domestic resources for forest management and protection

Specific tasks and duties

The Forest Monitoring Specialist (the Specialist) works as a part of the Project team and will be supervised by the Community Forest Management (CFM) Director. The Specialist will concentrate on defining and developing monitoring capacity for the Project staff and guide project counterparts to implement cost-effectively monitoring of interventions in forestry, agriculture and other sectors in the target provinces.

The Forest Monitoring Specialist’s main duties are to:

• Develop methodologies and provide technical assistance in forest monitoring to the Project staff and partners, community forest groups, and relevant institutions to monitor changes of land use in forest areas, including deforestation and forest degradation
• Lead the development of baseline for forest monitoring, including changes in forest cover due to sustainable forest management practices in participating community forest areas, using remote sensing technology, geospatial information and other tools, in coordination with the Project’s Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist
• Work with GIS Specialist to develop spatial maps and monitor progress of demonstration sites of community forest management models
• Lead the design and demonstration of community forest monitoring, including a training module as part of community forestry management practice and its integration into a Forest Resources Monitoring System at provincial levels.
• Provide technical backstopping and capacity building support on participatory forest monitoring under community forest management modalities.
• Provide technical backstopping on community forest resource inventories and community-level mapping to support forest management planning processes at the target sites in line with the updated policies on forest inventories.
• Support data collection and monitor of community forest management, relevant value chain, and other activities that contribute to improved management of natural forests.
• Support monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) team on data collection, survey, and research related to the Project forest monitoring activities.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the CFM Director and/or Chief of Party

Qualifications and experience

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in natural resource management or related field and preferably with emphasis on forestry
• At least eight years of experience in monitoring and management of forest resources activities preferably related to forest resource monitoring system, management information system for the forestry sector, REDD+ and/or payment for forest environmental services monitoring.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in participating forest monitoring at community level
• Proficient in report writing and Microsoft Office applications
• Excellent written and spoken Vietnamese and 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
• 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, 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.