Project Administrative and Finance Officer, Regional Model Forest Network – Asia, Main Office

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 more than 36 years of experience working with people and forests and has built trusting relationships with partners at all levels. As a trusted, honest broker, we occupy a distinct position as an international organization that supports, informs and brings together governments, communities, businesses, academia and civil society organisations. Our innovations, knowledge and initiatives enable countries to foster good forest governance, mitigate and adapt to climate change and achieve the UN Global Goals.

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

We invite candidates to apply for the position of Project Administrative and Finance Officer for the Regional Model Forest Network – Asia Initiative. The successful applicant will be based in the RECOFTC Main Office in Bangkok, Thailand. The contract is for a 27-month duration, with the potential for extension based on funding availability and satisfactory performance. The position is for Thai nationals only. An offer of employment is subject to funding confirmation.

About the project

RECOFTC is implementing a regional project focusing on strengthening the model forest approach and network in Asia, supported by Canada’s Global Forest Leadership Program.

Canada’s Global Forest Leadership Program focuses on supporting activities related to expanding Canada’s international engagement, collaborations and partnerships, and sharing Canadian expertise abroad. This includes support for initiatives that contribute to:

• advancing the international forest policy agenda, including on climate, biodiversity, sustainable forest management, the bioeconomy, and wildland fire management;
• strengthening partnerships with like-minded organizations and countries through sharing expertise and forest stewardship assistance; and
• decreasing market barriers to sustainable forest product

International Model Forest Network (IMFN) is one such approach that strengthens Canada’s collaboration and approach to forest sector leadership with international and domestic partners. The Program supports a resilient, innovative and environmentally-sustainable Canadian forest sector by catalyzing innovation from seed to market, providing continued support for Indigenous projects, improving climate-related knowledge around forests, enhancing international engagement, and expanding innovative use of wood in construction as a low-carbon-building material. IMFN has a network of more than 60 model forests across more than 30 countries, covering more than 70 million hectares of forest.

The Regional Model Forest Network – Asia (RMFN – Asia) initiative brings people across Asia together to help them sustainably manage their landscapes. It currently covers eight model forests spread across China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand. It aims to further expand the network in coming years to other countries, such as Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Viet Nam, depending upon the resource availability. The RMFN – Asia chairperson is based at the Royal Forest Department in Thailand.

Tasks and Duties

The Project Administration and Finance Officer is a member of RECOFTC’s Program Coordination and Technical Services (PCTS) Unit and works under the supervision of the Regional Project Manager to support the Regional Model Forest Network Secretariat functions. The Project Administration and Finance Officer will work closely with the Regional Project Manager, under the support of the RMFN – Asia’s chairperson, RECOFTC program and finance team at the main office to ensure the RMFN – Asia secretariate functions effectively.

The Project Administrative and Finance Officer’s specific tasks and duties include:

Project administration and support

• Assist the Regional Project Manager in running the RMFN – Asia secretariat functions at the Main Office and with the project’s administrative arrangements
• Assist in preparing and in the monitoring and evaluation of deliverables
• Responsible for the procurement of goods and services for the project and payment of contracts with partners and consultants in compliance with donor and RECOFTC’s policies and procedures
• Organize project team meetings regularly as agreed with the Regional Project Manager
• Manage and maintain the filing system of the projects for both electronic and hard copies
• Maintain information databases of relevant consultants and partners working with the project on RECOFTC’s intranet
• Provide other administrative, financial and secretarial support to the RMFN – Asia Secretariat unit and other projects/teams as assigned by the Regional Project Manager

Financial and accounting

• Assist the Regional Project Manager in the overall project budget planning and monitoring
• Closely monitor country teams’ budgets and expenditures and provide related support
• Assist the Regional Project Manager and RMFN – Asia’s Secretariat unit in disseminating any new or updated financial management policies or regulations to relevant project stakeholders
• Assist the Regional Project Manager and MFN – Asia’s Secretariat unit in monitoring and updating the project staff time allocation plan and providing updates on any changes to the staff time plan
• Coordinate and prepare donor’s requests including financial reports, financial inquiries, audits and other outputs
• Process and record payments and fund transfers in compliance with IMFN’s and RECOFTC’s policies and procedures
• Ensure that the financial operations of the project comply with RECOFTC and IMFN policies and requirements
• Work closely with the Finance team to monitor the fiscal operations of the project and prepare timely financial reporting following established tools and practices
• Manage the contracts of consultants and other service providers for the project, and keep the RECOFTC consultant database updated
• Perform other financial and accounting tasks as assigned by the Regional Project Manager

Qualifications and experience:

The Project Administration and Finance Officer will have the following essential qualifications and experience.

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance management or related fields
• At least five years’ experience in an administration role, with financial management and monitoring responsibilities
• Experience working with international non-profit organizations
• Ability to prioritize, plan, and organize work with minimum supervision
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and cross-cultural environment
• Strong interpersonal skills, self-motivated and a team player
• Strong computer literacy, particularly with programs in Microsoft Office
• Fluent in verbal and written English
• Willingness to travel frequently to project field sites
• Thai national

Desirable

• Previous experience providing administrative and financial support for United States government funds
• Knowledge of the SAP system
• Understanding of basic forestry context and relevant issues, including issues linked with forest and climate change in the lower Mekong region countries
• Knowledge of any other languages of project focal countries
• Able to provide support for project audits such as organized management of all supporting documents for project transactions

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
• Committed to sustainability
• Cultivate participation, gender equality and social inclusion and gender equity
• Prioritize wellbeing