Programme Management Specialist, Wyss Academy for Nature, Hub Southeast Asia

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. We have almost 40 years of experience and 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 works closely with the Wyss Academy for Nature to research, develop and implement innovative solutions to address climate change, biodiversity loss, land-use change and rising inequality. These solutions aim to connect technical, social, economic, institutional and policy innovations at the interface of nature and people. 

The Wyss Academy for Nature is a Swiss foundation that co-designs and tests new development pathways and conservation approaches that benefit nature and people. Its work is grounded in scientific knowledge, stakeholder engagement and the implementation of innovative solutions. The Wyss Academy for Nature operates through four regional stewardship hubs in East Africa (Kenya), South America (Peru), Southeast Asia (Thailand) and Europe (Switzerland), guided by its vision of a just and sustainable world where nature conservation and human well-being reinforce one another.  

RECOFTC is seeking a Programme Management Specialist for the Wyss Academy to support the planning and implementation of activities under the RECOFTC-Wyss Academy collaboration. The successful candidate will be based at the Hub Southeast Asia Office located in the RECOFTC Main Office in Bangkok. The position is offered a 24-month contract, with the possibility of extension subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance.

The Programme Management Specialist is part of the Hub Southeast Asia team of the Wyss Academy for Nature and reports to the Hub Director. The Specialist provides analytical, methodological and operational support and manages a portfolio of innovative projects that create mutual benefits between nature conservation and sustainable livelihood development within the Hub’s Solutionscapes. The position is based in Bangkok, with frequent field visits (approximately once a month, each lasting one or two weeks) to Nan Province, Thailand.

• Under the guidance of the Hub Director and Senior Advisor, lead and coordinate the planning and implementation of the Hub’s Solutionscape portfolio, including its projects and activities from the co-design with local communities and partner organizations to close-out
• Lead adaptive management and administrative processes for projects and activities within the Hub’s Solutionscapes, including project development, budgeting, procurement, grants and contracts management, monitoring and reporting
• Manage the project portfolio in close collaboration with project and activity leads to ensure programme integrity, internal coherence within the Hub’s Solutionscapes and alignment with the global Wyss Academy strategy and other regional hubs
• Coordinate with Hub Southeast Asia team members, including the Senior Advisor, Programme Officer, Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Officer, Communications and Knowledge Management Officer, Research Coordinator and Finance and Operations Officer to ensure efficient project operations and that implementation upholds strategic focus, accountability, integrity and timeliness
• Contribute to Hub Southeast Asia’s administrative processes, including annual planning and budgeting, risk and compliance management, internal and external evaluations, and financial and technical reporting according to relevant guidelines
• Represent the Wyss Academy in Thailand and across the region, building strong partnerships and raising the profile of the Wyss Academy
• Represent Hub Southeast Asia in discussions, events and exchanges within the global Wyss Academy team and other regional hubs
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the Hub Director and/or Senior Advisor

• Master's degree in a field related to the relationship between nature and people (e.g., Environment, Natural Resource Management, Geography, Social Forestry, Agriculture, Sustainability, Economics), or equivalent professional experience
• At least seven years of experience in project development and management in nature conservation, natural resource management or sustainable development within the public, private or development sector
• Proven experience implementing programmes or projects at the interface of science, policy and practice
• Experience in budget and financial management
• Experience in project or programme learning, monitoring and evaluation
• Proven track record in private sector engagement and/or public-private partnership development
• Extensive network in sustainable development, nature conservation and natural resource management in Southeast Asia, particularly in Lao PDR and Thailand
• Demonstrated competency in inclusive community engagement using participatory approaches
• Excellent communication and partnership-building skills, with experience working effectively with stakeholders across academic, public and private sectors and diverse cultural contexts
• Self-motivated, collaborative and impact-driven, with strong teamwork skills
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary and cross-cultural teams
• Willingness to travel frequently within the country and internationally
• Fluency in English and Thai, both written and spoken
• Thai national

• Proven track record in proposal writing and/or fundraising
• Experience integrating gender equality and social inclusion into programme design and implementation

• Embrace innovation 
• Adapt to and learn from challenges 
• Nurture commitment, responsibility and ownership 
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders 
• Committed to sustainability 
• Cultivate participation, gender equity and social inclusion
• Prioritize wellbeing  

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