RECOFTC Thailand

Research Assistant

Bangkok, Bangkok
Work Type: Full Time
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Strengthening Governance and Inclusivity in Community-based Mangrove Management in Southern Thailand Project

Deadline for application: 29 August 2025

RECOFTC is an international nonprofit organization working towards a future where resilient communities with respected rights thrive in forest landscapes that they manage sustainably and equitably. We take a long-term, landscape-based and inclusive approach in supporting local communities to secure their land and resource rights, stop deforestation, find alternative livelihoods and foster gender equality. With almost 40 years of experience, we have built trusting relationships with partners from communities, governments, businesses, academia and civil society organizations. Our innovations, knowledge and initiatives enable countries to foster good forest governance, mitigate and adapt to climate change and achieve the UN Global Goals.

We operate in the Asia-Pacific region, with country offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Viet Nam.

RECOFTC is seeking a Research Assistant for the “Strengthening Governance and Inclusivity in Community-based Mangrove Management in Southern Thailand” project, based at the RECOFTC Thailand Office in Bangkok. The position is full-time, with an initial contract of 12 months and the possibility of extension, subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance. An offer of employment will be made only upon confirmation of project funding. 

Project background

Mangrove forests in Thailand, covering approximately 1.7 million rai across 24 coastal provinces, are critical ecosystems that provide biodiversity, climate resilience and livelihoods for local communities. However, these ecosystems face mounting pressures from land use change, coastal erosion and unsustainable development. Since 1961, Thailand has lost over 96,000 hectares of mangroves. The Andaman coastal provinces — Ranong, Krabi, Phang Nga, and Trang — retain over half of the country’s remaining mangroves and are priority areas for conservation.

Community Forestry (CF) is a proven nature-based solution for mangrove restoration and climate adaptation. Yet, under the Community Forest Act of Thailand, mangrove CFs lack formal recognition, resulting in unclear tenure, insecure resource rights and limited access to CF-related benefits. In 2023, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) recognized 99 community-managed mangrove forests under its ‘Mangrove Forest for Communities’ initiative —73 of them in the four priority provinces — but these sites remain outside the existing CF legal framework.

Women and youth play critical roles in mangrove protection but are often excluded from formal decision-making. Leadership roles are typically dominated by older men, limiting diversity of perspectives and hindering the integration of science, technology and inclusive solutions in CF Management Plans (CFMPs).  As a result, many CFMPs do not adequately address the needs of different user groups or respond to emerging climate and biodiversity challenges.

To address these issues, the project will support at least 18 CF leaders, particularly women and youth aged 20–35, from six CFs in the four target provinces: Ranong, Krabi, Phang-nga and Trang. Sites will be identified through field surveys and community consultations. The project will directly benefit around 600 community members who depend on these forests for their livelihoods.

It will deliver three main outputs:

  • Evidence-based advocacy to influence policies
  • Establishment of a Mangrove Community Forest Learning Hub for knowledge exchange and capacity-building
  • Development of six CFMPs and preparation for their registration under the CF framework

Collaboration with local civil society organizations (CSOs) and close coordination with DMCR, the government agency responsible for mangrove management, are central to the project’s strategy. These partnerships will guide site selection, foster inclusive community engagement and ensure effective development and use of the Learning Hub.

Through a gender-responsive and participatory approach, the project will strengthen community-led forest governance, enhance biodiversity conservation, improve climate resilience and promote equitable participation in policy-making processes.


Tasks and duties

The Research Assistant will be based at the RECOFTC Thailand Office in Bangkok and will report directly to the Project Coordinator. The position requires close collaboration with local partner civil society organizations (e.g., Landesa Thailand), community leaders, women and youth representatives and the RECOFTC Thailand team.

The Research Assistant will support participatory assessments and research activities in the project’s target communities. The role includes supporting fieldwork, community engagement, data collection, translation, reporting and coordination. This position is essential for ensuring high-quality, inclusive and evidence-based planning and advocacy in line with RECOFTC’s and Landesa’s objectives.

The role will require frequent field visits to the following communities:
 
  • Marui Subdistrict: Ban Khok Khai, Ban Khlong Jood
  • Laem Sak Subdistrict: Ban Laem Sak, Ban Similung, Ban Klong Rad

Specific tasks and duties 

a)  Research and data collection 


●    Support the design and field-testing of data collection tools for community assessments.
●    Assist in conducting household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and participatory mapping.
●    Collect and verify secondary data (e.g., demographics, land use, forest cover).


b) Community Engagement

●   Facilitate community meetings with local partners to ensure inclusive participation
●   Support knowledge-sharing and dialogue among community members to validate research and assessment findings

c)  Data management and reporting

●    Enter, clean and organize collected data using appropriate digital tools.
●   Translate interview notes, field documents and community feedback between Thai and English, as needed.
●   Prepare community profiles and contribute to the analysis and reporting of survey findings.

d)    Logistical and administrative support 
●   Coordinate logistics for field visits, meetings and workshops in collaboration with the project team and local partners.
●   Maintain organized records of all fieldwork, survey materials and reports.
●   Assist in planning and coordinating field-based community assessments.

e)    Logistical and administrative support 

●  Perform other relevant tasks as assigned by the Project Coordinator to support successful project implementation.

Qualifications and experience

The Research Assistant should have the following essential qualifications and experience:

Essential 
●     A bachelor’s degree in forestry, environmental science, rural development, or a related field
●    One to three years of relevant experience in field research and/or community engagement
●    Good knowledge of participatory research approaches and community forest governance in Thailand
●    Strong communication skills in Thai
●    Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills with experience working directly with local communities
●    Willingness and ability to travel frequently and stay in the field for extended periods
●    Thai national


Desirable
●    Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
●    Experience working in coastal or mangrove forest areas
●    Knowledge of gender equality and social inclusion – responsive research approaches
●    Experience in using Geographic Information System (GIS) for spatial data analysis and mapping
●    Working knowledge of English is an advantage

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 
  • Nurture commitment, responsibility and ownership 
  • Collaborate with partners and stakeholders 
  • Commit to sustainability 
  • Cultivate participation, gender equality and social inclusion
  • Prioritize well-being  


Commitment to RECOFTC policies and procedures 

At RECOFTC, we uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency and responsibility in all our operations. Our policies and guidelines are designed to ensure a safe, inclusive, sustainable and ethical environment for our staff, partners, consultants and the communities we serve.

All staff, consultants and contractors engaged by RECOFTC are required to comply with RECOFTC’s policies and procedures while performing their roles with RECOFTC.


How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV and a cover letter. The cover letter should explain why the candidate is suitable for the position, include salary expectations, and provide the current contact details of three referees, including recent supervisors. Please apply by clicking "Apply Now".

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. RECOFTC offers a competitive compensation package.

For more information about RECOFTC, please visit our website at https://www.recoftc.org/

RECOFTC is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on ethnicity, religion, age, nationality, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, colour, marital status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by RECOFTC's values and code of conduct. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified disabled applicants to participate in the application process. If you require special accommodation, please inform RECOFTC's Human Resources in writing at the time of application. The successful candidate will be selected based on merit. RECOFTC strongly encourages women to apply.


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