Position summary:

The cocoa sector is of critical importance for Rainforest Alliance. Our certification program has a large footprint in the sector, from farm production through to the brand level, and thus can affect certified farmers and their communities, but also has the critical mass to affect change across the sector as a whole.

As with all sectors that Rainforest Alliance works in, the cocoa sector has a particular set of sustainability issues and opportunities. Further contextualization of our certification program to the realities of the cocoa sector helps ensure that the program provides producers and companies with means to address these issues and use these opportunities within the context in which they operate. Rainforest Alliance is looking for a Project Manager to lead this important work.

The Project Manager will work with a global team to identify solutions to address the following challenges through our certification program, among others:

• Sustainability risks in the sector – with a focus on deforestation and child labor – systemic issues the cocoa sector has struggled to address.

• Quality of implementation of the program in smallholder producer scenarios – where some certificate holders have struggled to implement internal management systems that assure quality of implementation, while others have been able to do so but are currently not rewarded for their efforts; and

• Supply chain complexity – where the sector needs traceability models that address the complexity of their sourcing and manufacturing operations ensuring strict traceability and better aligning with needs, including those related to due diligence regulations, access to data, and attractive claims.

Working closely with Rainforest Alliance teams and partners, the Project Manager will coordinate collaboration across global teams to identify strategies to address the challenges, coordinate and lead engagement and feedback sessions with companies, and other stakeholders - most notably producers and producer organizations in origin - manage the execution of pilots on program innovations, maintain a strong project framework that ensures on-time delivery, and ensure alignment with Rainforest Alliance’s mission.

This role requires strong leadership, high-level stakeholder engagement, and excellent program management skills to deliver results within a high-visibility, time-bound framework.

This position will also contribute to external representation of Rainforest Alliance’s work, engaging with private companies, government agencies, producers and producer organizations and civil society partners to elevate the impact and sustainability of the cocoa program.

The incumbent will report to the Director of Field Implementation.

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:

Project Design and partnerships

• Design and supervise the project work plans, deliverables, and timelines – ensuring delivery within the agreed scope;
• Lead coordination activities with all relevant Rainforest Alliance teams, and other relevant project partners;

Leadership and Project Management

• Supervise the implementation of all project activities; these can include consultation, prototyping, pilot design and implementation, feedback processing, binding document development and implementation.
• Direct the project team and ensure key objectives and outputs are documented, agreed to, and met;
• Prepare and submit timely, high-quality communications with both internal and external stakeholders (emails, reports, etc.) to maintain transparency on key results throughout the project and ensure Rainforest Alliance internal procedures are followed;
• Foster a process for effective collaboration and sharing of knowledge and capacity within the project team and with other project stakeholders; and
• Assess progress and risks of project implementation and take appropriate risk mitigation measures to address them.

Operational & Financial Oversight

• Work closely with the operational and finance teams to develop and monitor the project budget, ensuring efficient and transparent use of funds across workstreams.
• Ensure full compliance with Rainforest Alliance’s financial policies and donor requirements, including invoicing and other practices as needed;
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A master’s degree (preferred) or Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Agriculture economics, Business studies, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Development Studies, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated ability (6 years) experience of project management and relationship management;
• Minimum 3 years working experience in the cocoa sector, with producer organisations, companies and community development, knowledge of other sectors in with Rainforest Alliance operates is a plus;
• First-hand field knowledge of the main social and environmental challenges in cocoa growing areas preferred;
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships of trust and confidence with internal and external stakeholders;
• Ability to work within a team structure as well as independently, under pressure and stay focused;
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to coordinate across global teams and functions;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, strong communication skills, with ability to interact culturally, linguistically and diplomatically with diverse internal and external individuals;
• Both written and verbal fluency in English and French;
• Ability to travel for team meetings and stakeholder engagement as needed; and
• Strong personal ethics and integrity and commitment to uphold the rules and values of the Rainforest Alliance.

Level: 3

Deadline: 16 January 2026

Notes: Only candidates legally authorized to work in the Netherlands, the UK or Kenya 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.