Join Our Team

Community Forests International is seeking a guest writer or video content creator to craft or co-craft a series of stories for impact. This is a paid, short-term contract opportunity.

As part of the contract funding priority, stories must seek to inspire action and educate viewers on the importance of protecting and restoring Wabanaki forests for climate and biodiversity values.

We are prioritising and strongly encourage applicants from Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqey communities.

To apply, please submit a short cover letter (maximum 2-pages) explaining why you are passionate about sharing stories that inspire climate action and how your voice aligns with Community Forests’ values. Please also include:

• Your preferred medium (blog posts or social media videos).
• 2-3 examples of previous work, ideally centred on themes of climate action, forests as nature-based solutions, and/or community-led solution building.
• Your expected rate per story or blog post.

Please submit your application to our Digital Communications Manager, Rebecca at rebecca@forestsinternational.org

Deadline is Friday, 10 March, 2023.

Type: Full-time
Salary: $45,000 – $50,000 with 15 days paid vacation (in addition to 12 public holidays) and optional $100 / month health bursary. Employees are entitled to 12 days of sick leave per calendar year.

Job Description

Community Forests International is seeking a Nature Based Solutions (NBS) Project Coordinator to join our ambitious and deeply collaborative team as we grow. The new team member will lead in the development and implementation of nature-based climate action projects focused on forest carbon storage, aggregated citizen-based forest care, and professional outreach & capacity building for a diverse group of stakeholders in the Wabanaki forest region.

The NBS Project Coordinator will work closely with Community Forests’ management and technical teams to expand climate-focused forest care and conservation finance projects in the Maritimes, directly contributing to critical climate, biodiversity and justice outcomes in support of a just transition to a carbon drawdown forest economy in the region.

Prioritization

We strive to be a caring and welcoming workplace and we are excited to receive applications from a diversity of people. Because this job involves working directly within the unceded land of the Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik Nations we are especially welcoming of applications from people of these Nations, or from people who have a direct lived connection to Indigenous communities.

Job Duties

a) Project Planning, Coordination, and Implementation

• Provide project leadership and backstopping as a key facilitator, team supporter, and collaborative problem solver supporting staff and external project stakeholders.
• Develop and administer detailed work plans and project budgets in collaboration with project teams and manage external project-based relationships with partners, funders, contractors, and collaborators.
• Establish, track and update all project-related activities, milestones, deliverables, expenses and performance—and provide course corrections as needed based on new information and experiences—to ensure delivery of projects on time, on budget, and to a high standard.
• Contribute to discovery, research and assessments of NBS practices including new and existing protocols & methodologies, and contribute to project development through ideation, strategic planning, and proposal writing.
• Track quantitative and qualitative reporting metrics closely for clients and funders, and develop project reports as required.

The role will directly support the Community Forests team in delivering NBS project-specific activities including:

• Develop and manage a ‘training and events calendar’ in coordination with key staff.
• Support technical staff in the development and delivery of direct training events to Indigenous and non-Indigenous forest professionals.
• Assist in the development of accessible climate-focused forest management resources and programs including peer-to-peer training and recruitment activities, and improve carbon and climate-focused forest management practices that maximize forest health over the long-term.
• Provide technical backstopping and follow-on advice to project partners and stakeholders.
• Collect and synthesize key performance indicators and produce periodic professional analyses and reports to support continuous learning, project refinement, and sharing of lessons with wider public and professional audiences.

b) Forest Program Support

• Support Community Forests’ broader mission by contributing fully to the organization’s vision, planning, culture, day-to-day operations and smooth functioning of the wider team.
• Collaborate with Indigenous organizations, clients, partners, local forest product marketing boards and co-ops, researchers, landowners, and the general public to further Community Forests’ actions.
• Contribute to funding applications and proposal development, project-to-program level integration, and strategic planning on a rolling basis.
• Regularly participate in Community Forests’ full team planning and professional development activities.

Essential Qualifications

Candidates should have a relevant bachelor’s degree (BA,BS,BBA) and 3-5 years of work experience in one or more of the following areas; natural sciences, outreach and education, business administration, natural resource management, project management, or forestry. Additional essential qualifications include:

• 3 + years of project management experience organizing and implementing multi-year projects.
• Track record of collaborative management with demonstrated strong interpersonal, communication and management skills.
• Familiarity with forest ecology and nature based solutions, with forest mensuration, forest management and forest carbon experience a strong asset.
• Competence using Microsoft Excel & Office and other digital workplace applications.

Essential Qualities

Candidates are required to be:

• Committed to Community Forests International’s full vision and mission and our core principles of trust and justice.
• Effective coordinator and team player who is able to work alone and as part of a dynamic team of peers.
• Self-directed and self-motivated, and able to organize and manage own workflow effectively while supporting team members.
• Impact-driven with high standards.
• Able to work at a computer for long periods.

Beneficial Qualifications and Skills

Exceptional candidates will also display the following:

• A growth mindset.
• Familiarity with climate-smart forest management interventions and /or forest carbon project development lifecycle.
• Strong scientific and technical skills including financial modelling, statistical analysis, remote sensing, GIS, carbon modelling, and/or forest biometrics is highly desirable.
• Understanding of Traditional Indigenous Wabanaki Forest Knowledge.
• Business, entrepreneurial, and/or partnership development experience
• Multilingual in local languages an asset.

Work Location and Salary

The successful candidate can work remotely from anywhere, but with a preference for candidates located in the Maritimes. This position is a full-time permanent position and is remunerated based on 37.5 hours per week (flexible) with a starting salary range of $45,000 to $50,000 annually depending on starting experience level and offering further performance-based opportunities for growth. Community Forests recognizes 12 public holidays and starting employees receive additional paid vacation accumulated on the basis of 1 day per month (6% of wages) to a maximum of fifteen 15 days per calendar year. An additional $100 / month opt-in health bursary is available for staff who carry private health insurance. Community Forests is currently reviewing and updating all employee benefits and as these improvements come online all staff are eligible to enjoy them.

Application

Please submit your resume and a cover letter with “NBS Project Coordinator” as the subject line to: jobs@forestsinternational.org

If you require any accessibility accommodations for the application process, please reach out.

Applications will be received and evaluated on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is hired. Only successful candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Community Forests International is committed to diversity in our workplace and encourages applications from traditionally marginalized groups such as, but not limited to: racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons from the LGBTQIA2S+ community. We encourage applicants to self-identify in their cover letter if they are a member of an underrepresented community (if they are comfortable doing so).

The Trade Expert will play a significant leadership role in helping grow the ethical and climate-smart horticulture trade in Zanzibar by building on existing partnerships and developing new relationships to increase overall investment and positive impact. As a key local focal point and liaison based full-time on the main island of Unguja, Zanzibar, the Trade Expert will work alongside an international executive team and local technical staff to implement a multi-year project funded by the European Union while pursuing additional complimentary growth opportunities for the organization.

Responsibilities and Key Performance Indicators

• Facilitate representation at 3 regional, national, or international trade shows and engage approximately 45 investor, processor, exporter, and buyer entities per year.
• Secure at least 2 new international ethical buying partnerships to support the development of value webs engaging approximately 20 new local small- and medium-sized horticulture enterprises per year.
• Coordinate the creation of 2 comprehensive development plans for horticulture production and processing hubs on Pemba and Unguja islands respectively including detailed investor business cases and costing.
• Broker Public Private Partnership (PPP) investment for the construction of 2 commercial horticulture production and processing hubs over an 18-month period.
• Ensure achievement of world-class outcomes including; an average 75% annual increase in volume and 5% annual increase in value of international horticultural trade for approximately 15,000 small-scale horticulture producers annually.

Additional Responsibilities

• Facilitate clear communication and information flow between producer, buyer, government, and implementing institutions to establish and maintain mutual understanding and cooperation in the development of various horticulture production, processing, and trade partnerships.
• Frequent travel between Unguja and Pemba Islands, the region’s two main working zones.
• Travel to key trade events and meetings within the European Union to generate, negotiate and secure new international partnerships.
• Work closely with the executive leadership of Community Forests Pemba and Community Forests International to cultivate a “pipeline” of potential clients, contracts, and partnerships unique to the Zanzibar region and informed by expected value calculations and win-loss tracking.

Experience

• At least 5 years professional experience in similar position.
• Degree or diploma in business, marketing, or a related field with preference given to relevant horticulture, sales, or trade focus.
• Demonstrated entrepreneurship is a strong asset to this role.

Core Competencies

• Relationship Building. Ability to engage and negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders to secure beneficial, lasting partnerships.
• Communication. Effectively explain complex concepts in simple, clear language and accurately interpret the ideas, information, and needs of others.
• Accountability. Holds self and others accountable for all decisions and interpersonal relationships while following through on commitments and focusing on those activities that have the greatest positive impact.
• Drive. Possess a high level of self-motivation and ability to work independently to accomplish critical tasks on deadline.
• Innovation and creative problem-solving. Ability to develop new and better ideas or solutions that result in improvement of team performance or outcomes.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in digital applications including but not limited to Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with additional fluencies in other European languages and/or Swahili being an asset.
• Financial budgeting, forecasting, and tracking.
• Project design and management.
• Sales, marketing, and communications.

Additional Qualifications

• Ability to demonstrate freedom to travel between Tanzania and European Union member states to conduct work.
• No criminal record.

Living Conditions

The incumbent will be positioned at least part-time in Stone Town – Unguja, Zanzibar Tanzania where the project office is located. Despite that, however, considerable time will be spent travelling outside the working area for various purposes including representing the Project/CFP in various events.

To apply, please send a cover letter and Curriculum Vitae (CV) outlining your experience as it relates to this job description to zach@forestsinternational.org with the subject heading ‘Trade Expert’.

The Partnership Manager will play a significant leadership role in helping grow Community Forests Pemba by building on existing partnerships and developing new relationships to increase overall positive impact and opportunity. As a key internal harmonizer and external liaison for the organization, the Partnership Manager will work alongside CFI international executive team and local CFP technical staff to implement the multi-year VIUNGO project funded by the European Union while pursuing additional growth prospects for the organization.

Responsibilities and Key Performance Indicators

Communication

• Facilitate clear communication and information flow between executive, management and field staff to establish and maintain mutual understanding and Communicate and travel between Unguja and Pemba Islands, CFP’s two main working zones, to assist with capacity building of CFP and foster smooth interzonal collaboration within CFP and with organizational partners.  Serve as a focal point and liaison between CFP’s local implementing offices in Zanzibar and the Canada headquarters of Community Forests International.
• Relay key information between executive team members and other staff. Attend both management and daily field operations meetings to develop an overall picture of organizational priorities and productivity, and assist with transmitting information between different organizational levels and stakeholders with special emphasis on ensuring executive staff receive up-to-date information.

Operations

• Provide daily direct guidance and collaborative support to the Pemba Zone Operations Manager and the Unguja Zone Operations Manager.
• Support important action items that executive and management team members may require such as assisting with business administration, human resources, or operations on project coordination.
• Assist the executive, management, and operations team with prioritizing key team tasks and with problem-solving issues.
• Lead in the planning and delivery of key organizational meetings to ensure agendas are clear and well structured, action items are assigned to specific individuals and followed up, and any necessary minutes or decisions are documented and circulated to appropriate staff and management.
• Assist with evaluating organizational performance and process improvements, including the development and tracking of organizational-level performance indicators and providing periodic updates to management along with recommendations for improvement. Determining the best way to track performance and keep teams on track towards their goals.

Organizational Development and Strategy

• Provide recommendations to executive leadership on strategic improvements to the organization based on research as well as observations and interactions with daily operations across various organizational levels — from field activities to management — and directly assist with the implementation of approved recommendations.
• Support the creation and implementation of internal strategies to act on growth opportunities specific to the local implementing offices in Zanzibar including the development of key alliances and proposal writing and management.

External Relations and Partnerships

• Act as liaison and ambassador for  CFP  as needed to communicate organizational priorities and to facilitate constructive collaborations with civil society, government, and private sector organizations including formal partnerships. In all cases, maintain CFP’s organizational priorities and integrity in first priority. Specific focus areas include:
  • Working closely with the executive leadership of Community Forests Pemba, Community Forests International and VIUNGO project partners to cultivate a “pipeline” of potential clients, contracts, and partnerships unique to the Zanzibar region and informed by expected value calculations and win-loss tracking.
  • As required, represent CFP and VIUNGO Project at regional, national, or international gatherings including trade shows, sectoral conferences, or funder meetings.

Key Performance Indicators

• Regular constructive meetings and collaborations with executive,  management, and operations managers strengthen internal communications and processes as evidenced in a track record of clear agendas, action items, and successful delivery of tasks and targets related directly to the core duties described above: communications, operations, organizational development, and partnerships.
• Assist with the identification and development of at least 2 new international partnerships to strengthen ethical horticulture value webs that support producers in Zanzibar, such as ethical spice buyers or investors, over an 18-month period.
• Assist with facilitating Public Private Partnership (PPP) investment for the construction of 2 commercial horticulture production and processing hubs over an 18-month period.

Experience

• At least 5 years of professional experience in similar
• Degree or diploma in business, marketing, administration or a related field with preference given to relevant horticulture focus.
• Demonstrated growth mindset and entrepreneurship skills are a strong asset to this role.

Core Competencies

• Relationship Building. Ability to engage and negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders to secure beneficial, lasting partnerships.
• Emotional Intelligence. Capacity to perceive, assess, and respond in positive ways to the emotions of oneself, of others, and of the CFP team as a whole to avoid and diffuse conflicts and facilitate smooth working collaborations.
• Communication. Effectively explain complex concepts in simple, clear language and accurately interpret the ideas, information, and needs of others.
• Accountability. Holds self and others accountable for all decisions and interpersonal relationships while following through on commitments and focusing on those activities that have the greatest positive impact.
• Drive. Possess a high level of self-motivation and ability to work independently to accomplish critical tasks on deadline.
• Innovation and creative problem-solving. Ability to develop new and better ideas or solutions that result in improvement of team performance or outcomes.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in digital applications including but not limited to Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with additional fluencies in other European languages and/or Swahili is an asset.
• Project design and management.
• Communications, marketing, and funder relations.

Location & Travel

The incumbent will be positioned mainly at CFP’s head office on Pemba Island, Zanzibar with periodic travel to Unguja Island, Zanzibar where CFP maintains a second zonal team. Occasional travel outside these working areas for various purposes including representing CFP/VIUNGO Project in partnership discovery and development initiatives will also be required.

To apply, please send a cover letter and Curriculum Vitae (CV) outlining your experience as it relates to this job description to zach@forestsinternational.org with the subject heading ‘Partnership Manager’.