ThaiNGO

Vacancy Announcement

Project Assistant

For Empowering Community Forestry Networks towards improved and inclusive forest governance mechanism through multi-stakeholder cooperation Project

Application deadline: 20^th February 2018

The Center for People and Forests - RECOFTC holds a unique and important place in the world of forestry. It is the only international not‐for‐profit organization that specializes in capacity development for community forestry and devolved forest management. RECOFTC engages in strategic networks and effective partnerships with governments, nongovernment organizations, civil society, the private sector, local people, and research and educational institutes throughout the Asia‐Pacific region and beyond. With over 30 years of international experience and a dynamic approach to capacity development—involving research, analysis and synthesis; strategic communication; training and learning networks; and piloting and demonstrating—RECOFTC delivers innovative solutions for people and forests.

RECOFTC is now seeking a Project Assistant for its Thailand Country Program’s “Empowering Community Forestry Networks towards improved and inclusive forest governance mechanism through multi-stakeholder cooperation” Project. The successful candidate will be based at RECOFTC Thailand Country Program in Bangkok, Thailand with frequent travelling. The contract period will be for 12 months, national recruited condition, with the possibility of extension. Expected starting date is on 1^st March 2018 or as early as possible.

BACKGROUND

The Empowering Community Forestry Networks towards improved and inclusive forest governance mechanism through multi-stakeholder cooperation Project is a four year project funded by European Union (EU) to the Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC). The project is scheduled to start on March 1, 2018. The project aims to strengthen multi-stakeholder engagement processes to ensure that Forest Governance Mechanisms (FGMs) defined by various legal reforms will be developed, implemented and monitored in an inclusive manner with empowered and well-coordinated community forest (CF) networks playing a key role, complemented by empowered and capacitated CF leaders. More specifically the project will concentrate on two specific objectives to be met by 2022:

• Empowered CF networks improve forest governance mechanisms through strengthened collaboration with Local Authorities and multi stakeholder processes
• CF leadership, in particular with attention to women and youth, are capable of effectively representing CF constituents (in particular the voices and interests of those marginalized in forest landscape governance mechanisms) and in sustaining CF networks.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Project Assistant will work under direct supervision of the Project Coordinator. His/her main role is to ensure that the project is effectively and systematically implemented according to the project work plan and to the EU and RECOFTC administration and financial policies and standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

The main tasks of the Project Assistant will include but not be limited to the following:

Administration and financial management

• Develop a project administration and financial system according to the EU and RECOFTC policies and guidelines;
• Assist in project budget planning and monitoring including auditing under supervision; of  Project Coordinator and guidance from the Director, Thailand Country Program;
• Input monthly accounting record and produce project financial report monthly;
• Prepare budget, advance, payments and settlement for the project team;
• Assist Project Coordinator in coordinating with the project partners to ensure smooth financial management and to be in line with the EU policy and to report to EU on financial issue;
• Work with the RECOFTC Financial team to proceed day to day financial issues;
• Key financial inputs into the SAP system and review the correctness of the information;
• Prepare service agreements, contracts, procurement documents and other supporting documents;
• Maintain project document filing and recording;
• Assist in administrative and logistic arrangement for meetings, training, or project events;

Operation support

• Support in administering the CF portal system and CF database;
• Take minutes of meeting and document discussion in workshops or training;
• Record project activities into the RECOFTC database system;
• Arrange meetings and/or facilitate field events;
• Perform any other task as assigned by the Project Coordinator and Director, Thailand Country Program

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The Project Assistant will have the following essential qualifications and experience

Essential:

• Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Social Sciences or related fields
• At least three years in position of administration, project financial, preferable in non-profit organization
• Experience working on SAP or relating accounting systems
• Experience in managing financial and administration of key development donor such as EU
• Good English skills and experience in preparing contractual agreements
• Good communication skill and ability to coordinate with different partners
• Thai nationality

Desirable:

• Good knowledge of web-based communication software
• Good in details and careful on numeracy
• Service minded and work well under pressure
• Output and outcome oriented
• Willingness to travel regularly

General:

In addition to job specific skills and experience, the applicant should possess the following characteristics (including attitudes and skills)

• Interpersonal communication skills, individually and in‐groups, with an ability to work as an active member of teams. This implies flexibility and open‐mindedness;
• Possess leadership personality, and able to take on and solve problems quickly and efficiently;
• Hands‐on experience and able to work independently with minimum supervision;
• Initiative and ability to make informed independent judgments (which is not inconsistent with an overall team approach);
• Ability to work in a variety of cultural and institutional contexts.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their CV and a cover letter, indicating salary expectations and current contact details of three referees, including recent supervisors, to HR@recoftc.org. Please quote the position title in the subject line of the email. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. RECOFTC has a competitive compensation package. However, offers shall be based on salary history, relevant experience and qualifications of the selected candidate.

To learn more about RECOFTC, please visit our websitewww.recoftc.org

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.  RECOFTC is an equal opportunity employer and the successful candidate will be selected based on merit.

RECOFTC retains the right to offer this position at a job grade relevant to the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.