Location: San Jose, Costa Rica (Preferred) or London, UK
The Sustainable Agriculture Division of the Rainforest Alliance, based in San José, Costa Rica, is the international secretariat of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), a coalition of independent conservation and rural development groups that promote responsible farming practices. The program began in Latin America in 1992. Now, more than 25,000 farms in 18 countries are certified, and Rainforest Alliance Certified products are widely available in mainstream markets.
The Sustainable Agriculture Division of the Rainforest Alliance, based in San José, Costa Rica, is the international secretariat of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), a coalition of independent conservation and rural development groups that promote responsible farming practices. The program began in Latin America in 1992. Now, more than 25,000 farms in 18 countries are certified, and Rainforest Alliance Certified products are widely available in mainstream markets.
The Director will guide the SAN in its role as the leading global voice for Sustainable Agriculture. The SAN is about to embark on an exciting global expansion plan, which will be led by the Director. As the head of the international secretariat of the SAN, s/he will ensure that the Sustainable Agriculture Standard represents the leading edge of thinking on sustainable agriculture, expand and strengthen stakeholder involvement in the standards setting process, and guide standards and certification systems development to ensure the highest level of credibility. S/he will work in close collaboration with the SAN members to strengthen the SAN. The Director will supervise a team of four.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Maintain the SAN's role as leader in sustainable agriculture; create and implement long term strategies and plans to ensure that the SAN and its standard continues to represent cutting edge thinking;
- Create strategies, lead and expand global stakeholder engagement in the SAN and Sustainable Agriculture Standard;
- Ensure credibility of the SAN standards setting and certification system; lead implementation of new structures or systems to ensure program continues to meet the highest level of evolving credibility standards; ensure compliance with ISEAL credibility criteria;
- Lead SAN fundraising efforts in collaboration with the SAN development committee; create a fundraising plan, identify and cultivate potential donors, conceptualize and develop proposals;
- Oversee the development of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard and related policies; ensure representation from all key stakeholder groups and guide international efforts to ensure local involvement in standards development;
- Lead the transition of the certification system from a single certifier model primarily focused on Latin America to an open accreditation system model working globally; lead the development of SAN policies, procedures and systems needed to guide the certification system as it opens and expands;
- Guide the development of external communications tools for the SAN;
- Provide oversight and guidance to the SAN revenue generation model;
- Develop and implement annual plan and budget;
- Provide legal oversight of the Red de Agricultura Sostenible, A.C. Consolidate the SAN governance and operational structure to enable global growth, supervise all matters related to formal records, legal and financial affairs;
Qualifications
- MBA and/or M.S. in conservation biology, agronomy, rural development, resource management, resource economics or related field;
- Minimum 10 - 12 years field experience in international conservation and project management in tropical countries;
- Demonstrated experience in standards development and certification systems;
- Minimum 5 - 7 years experience leading global action networks;
- Proven ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations and with a wide range of people with diverse economic, political and professional backgrounds;
- Knowledge of the socio-environmental impacts of agriculture on tropical communities, ecosystems and local economies;
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills in English and Spanish; French a plus;
- Strong computer skills (MS Office and Internet); and
- Ability to travel internationally at least 25% of the time.
To Apply
Send resume, cover letter and salary history to Human Resources, Rainforest Alliance, P.O. Box 11029-1000, San Jose, Costa Rica; fax: (506) 234-8916; email: crpersonnel[at]ra.org.
Send resume, cover letter and salary history to Human Resources, Rainforest Alliance, P.O. Box 11029-1000, San Jose, Costa Rica; fax: (506) 234-8916; email: crpersonnel[at]ra.org.
