Community Engagement Specialist/Manager

About Forest Carbon

Forest Carbon restores degraded wetland forests. Our company is a premium restoration project developer in Southeast Asia that delivers benefits for local communities, biodiversity and investors through a proven business model.

With offices in Jakarta and Singapore, Forest Carbon is built on a track record of success in the region. The team brings a decade of experience working on the ground, mapping wetlands and assessing below-ground carbon storage, hiring local workers and obtaining community support. Forest Carbon relies on this technical expertise and a growing pipeline of project opportunities to secure millions in private sector investment for threatened ecosystems.

Forest Carbon’s Sumatra Merang Peatland Project (SMPP) is now a proven business model for large-scale restoration, with more than 5 million Euro in investment capital raised. Sales secured from major global brands support restoration efforts on more than 22,000 hectares, which reduces the risk of fire, strengthens the rural economy and creates jobs, and delivers returns for investors and partners. Forest Carbon has several upcoming projects that aim to build the success of SMPP for increased climate, community, and biodiversity benefits across Indonesia.

About the role

We are seeking a talented individual to join our team as a Community Engagement Specialist/Manager to work across projects within the community team to contribute to project development and implementation process through sound leadership, interpersonal skills, implementation of environmental and social analysis, frameworks and tools. In line with FC’s Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) and international standards, the candidate will lead data collection and community engagement processes to inform the project design and implementation. . The candidate will also contribute to the refinement of FC tools and processes based on learning and reflection. The candidate will have experience in social sciences, forestry, or/and conservation. A knowledge of environmental and social standards (ex IFC, FSC, and CCB) is required as well as a passion for and experience working with forest dependent communities.. Lastly, the individual must be a self-starter, with strong analytical skills, and the ability to adhere to, but adapt protocols to the local context. The Community Associate, will report to the Community Lead and will work within the Community team, while at the same time working collaboratively with other technical and operations teams, and when required, third party consultants and partners.

Responsibilities

General duties

• Guide project site community development managers with implementation of community engagement processes and FC’s ESMS system.

• Working across projects, facilitate implementation of data collection and analysis as well as community consultations, in line with the company’s ESMS to ensure consistency with international standards particularly Climate, Community and Biodiversity and IFC Performance Standards.

• Lead and contribute to reports such as feasibility reports, monitoring reports, and project design documents.

Project Design: Data collection and community engagement

• Facilitate primary data collection activities with FC field team and third-party consultants (when required) through training and the adaption and implementation of data collection tools.

• Lead data analysis for, but not limited to feasibility studies, stakeholder analysis, livelihood assessment and community monitoring plan.

• Support the planning and execution of community benefit sharing mechanism and FPIC Lead and support the preparation, implementation, and reflection of other community engagement activities as part of the project design process.

• Contribute to the refinement of FC ESMS processes and tools.

Project Implementation: Data collection and community development

• Guide community development managers on the implementation of M&E processes and implementation of ESMS

• Facilitate and manage partnerships with local NGOs as necessary to ensure quality program delivery.

• Lead and contribute to field reports and monitoring reports.

Other

• Provide technical and logistical support for community development managers and officers if required.

• Support project monitoring and evaluation.

Qualifications

• 8 years of professional experience, preferably working with forest-dependent communities.

• Master’s Degree in forestry, social sciences, environmental science, or another similar natural science from an international university.

• Ability to implement community-based research (qualitative and quantitative research) with a strong attention to detail and ability to synthesize results.

• Knowledge and experience implementing environmental and social performance standards (ex IFC, FSC, CCB).

• Experience leading stakeholder consultation engagements and conflict resolution.

• Proven experience leading socioeconomic data collection teams and utilizing mobile data collection tools.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (in English and Indonesian).

• Ability to travel frequently within the region.

We look forward to reviewing your application!