Position summary:

The Global Programs department is responsible for supporting Rainforest Alliance's strategy through global initiatives, regional projects, and partnerships. It ensures consistent programmatic design and delivers services in a synergistic manner. The Director, Forests leads all aspects the Forests unit within the Global Programs department, activating the full potential of the organization's Forests work. The Director leads strategic positioning, communication with external stakeholders, engages in alliances, and ensures a comprehensive programmatic expertise portfolio. The Director ensures effective collaboration across Rainforest Alliance departments and is committed to providing clear direction and supporting teams in driving impact. The Director contributes to a data-driven and conscientious culture by defining clear priorities and enabling creative solutions to complex problems. Identifying critical cross-departmental and external alliance growth opportunities and having the expertise and communication style to positively influence these collaborations are key to the success of this role.

Responsibilities:

• The Rainforest Alliance’s Core Values are Impact, Change, Collaboration;
• Openness and Trust and as such they form the basis of the behaviours we demonstrate;
• Proactively lead and support the organization in achieving its 2030 Strategy with respect to forest restoration and sustainable land use initiatives, promoting speed, scale and simplification in design, implementation and impact creation;
• Coordinating initiatives that restore degraded lands, promote sustainable forest management, and support local communities. Developing and implementing projects that promote forest landscape restoration, sustainable forest management, and biodiversity conservation;
• Ensure consistency, coordination, accountability, and continuous learning between expertise areas, leading all aspects of Rainforest Alliance’s interests as a whole, rather than from a single programmatic expertise area only;
• Ensure seamless, effective and service oriented processes for collaboration cross functionally;
• Guide program design and implementation using research, findings, impact data, and qualitative feedback to make data driven decisions;
• Cultivate a culture of positive and proactive collaboration, engaging widely and inclusively across the organization, clearly demonstrating having taken broad perspectives into consideration, and embed continuous learning and simplification into all aspects of programmatic work;
• Ensure an effective embedding of a producer centric approach in all forest work;
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies applicable laws and corporate behavioural framework- responsibilities include hiring; mentoring and evaluating; guiding professional development opportunities; and addressing employee relations issues.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in relevant field (E.g. Ecology and Conservation biology), Natural Resources Management or Sustainability-related field;
• At least 12 years of progressive relevant experience biodiversity and forest conservation, with at least 8 years working in the forestry field and leading senior staff in multiple countries;
• At least 8 years of senior-leadership level experience, including industry collaboration, strategic alliances, and systems change methodologies maximizing producer and market value;
• Extraordinary commitment, energy and a positive mindset;
• Knowledge of sustainable development issues and commitment to Rainforest Alliance’s goals of strengthening livelihoods and securing human rights; conserving forests and other high-value ecosystems; restoring production systems and rural landscapes; and mitigating climate change and building climate resilience;
• Direct experience working with forest communities preferred;
• Key competencies: Transformational leadership, innovation, adaptability, persuasion, critical and reflective thinking, public speaking, resourcefulness, relationship builder based on trust, empathy and openness, and strong organizational skills to manage multiple priorities in a time sensitive manner;
• High quality spoken and written English, preferably with knowledge of other languages.

Level: 1

Deadline: 26 September 2025

Salary: For USA based candidates only:

• National Salary range (Excluding NY and DC) - $95,746 - $136,780
• New York Salary Range - $104,278 - $148,969
• Washington DC Salary Range - $102,448 - $146,355

Notes: Only candidates legally authorized to work in locations where the Rainforest Alliance is registered will be considered.

If you have any questions about the job vacancy, please contact the HR department: recruitment@ra.org

The Rainforest Alliance encourages diversity and inclusion across the global organization. With this commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, disability and any other protected group.