Project Technical Adviser, RECOFTC Thailandd

About RECOFTC

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 working with people and forests and have 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 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.

In Thailand, RECOFTC works closely with government agencies, communities and partners to advance biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest landscape management, including through the Integrated Forest Landscape Management for Strengthening the North-eastern and Eastern Forest Corridors (IFLMS-NE&E) project. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) serving as the GEF implementing agency. RECOFTC holds overall executing and technical responsibility for the project as the operational partner, with FAO providing oversight and technical support, and the Royal Forest Department (RFD) serving as the lead government partner agency.

The project focuses on four forest complexes along Thailand's eastern border: Phu Phan, Phanom Dongrak–Pha Tam, Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai and the eastern forest, which together span 6.5 million hectares of globally significant wildlife habitat, home to species such as the Asian elephant, the Indo-Chinese tiger and the Great Hornbill. These landscapes are under growing threat from forest degradation, land-use change and habitat encroachment and fragmentation, which increasingly expose wildlife to human activity. The Government of Thailand has recognized that protecting these habitats requires a landscape approach, since the effectiveness of protected areas depends heavily on what happens in the surrounding lands and waters, shaped by the actions of communities, private landowners and government agencies.

The project’s primary goal is to strengthen biodiversity conservation across these four complexes by improving forest landscape management. This involves strengthening government policy, institutional arrangements and capacities for conservation within and between protected areas, mainstreaming biodiversity objectives into the management of forests, agricultural land and plantations, and reducing human-wildlife conflict. The project also contributes to broader national policies and laws on land degradation, gender equity, rural development and climate change.

Delivery of the project draws on a wide network of partners at the national, provincial and local levels, including government departments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and academic institutions. More than 30 stakeholder groups are engaged across the four target forest complexes, including provincial government departments, local authorities, local administrative organizations, forest plantation owners, community forest users, local communities and academic institutions.

RECOFTC is currently seeking a Project Technical Adviser for the IFLMS-NE&E project, based at the RECOFTC Thailand Office in Bangkok. The selected candidate will be offered a 24-month contract with the possibility of extension, contingent on funding availability and satisfactory performance. Any offer of employment resulting from this vacancy is contingent upon confirmation of project funding.

Tasks and duties

The Project Technical Adviser will be a member of the RECOFTC Thailand Office team, reporting directly to the Country Director and working under the supervision of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and the FAO. As the key technical lead managing the Project Management Unit (PMU), the Project Technical Adviser ensures high-quality technical results across all project components. The PTA oversees day-to-day implementation, management and administration, coordinates activities with project partners and provides technical support to the project on behalf of the operational partner, within the framework set by the PSC.

Specific tasks and duties include:

Project management responsibilities

• Lead overall project management to ensure effective delivery of results in line with the project proposal, to a high-quality standard
• Develop and update the project work plan in consultation with the PSC and project partners
• Manage the PMU staff, ensuring timely recruitment and performance reviews in line with RECOFTC policy, while supervising the team and promoting effective teamwork and internal communication
• Manage the project budget to ensure effective and efficient spending, including compliance with organizational policies, procedures and donor requirements
• Prepare and submit progress and financial reports and develop annual work plans and budgets, ensuring project indicators remain up to date
• Supervise the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer in developing the project baseline and MEL work plan, ensuring timely delivery of MEL activities, including the mid-term review and final evaluation
• Ensure the project’s plans and strategies (social and environmental safeguards, gender strategy, stakeholders engagement strategy, etc.) are implemented in line with the project proposal and logframe
• Ensure strong coordination with project partners,