Forest Landscape Restoration Project Manager at One Acre Fund

One Acre Fund, founded in 2006, One Acre Fund supplies 1 million smallholder farmers with the agricultural services they need to make their farms vastly more productive. Our 8,000+ team is drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. With operations across six core countries in Africa, we make farmers more prosperous by providing quality farm supplies on credit, delivered within walking distance of farmers’ homes, and agricultural training to improve harvests. On average, the farmers we serve harvest 50 per cent more food after working with One Acre Fund.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Forest Landscape Restoration Project Manager

Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Employment Type: Contract
Contract Duration: 1 Year
Preferred Start Date: As soon as possible

About the Role

• We are looking for a passionate program manager to lead the Forest Landscape Restoration pilot program. The Rwanda Tree Team is in the process of designing an exciting Forest Landscape Restoration pilot to dramatically and usefully increase tree cover in the landscape to boost natural productivity and self-sufficiency over the long term.
• This role would lead the design and implementation of the pilot in the first six sectors in 2023 and design the expansion of the pilot based on learnings from the first season. You will report directly to the Rwanda Tree Lead and directly manage 1 person with a total of about 25 - 30 field staff.

Responsibilities

• Project Financing and Partnerships:Support One Acre Fund Rwanda (and broader organization) efforts to build relationships with global buyers and financing partners for Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs. Specific responsibilities include:
  • Create a financial model to assess multiple project financing pathways and select the best one
    • Cultivating relationships with potential partners (including government and public sector entities) to finalize financing arrangements and project scope
    • Design projects following established targets and certification (or other PES) requirements.
    • Engage with third parties for support, including remote-sensing providers, MRV partners, etc...
• Research and data analysis:Manage qualitative and quantitative analysis to inform program design. The main pieces of research in the pilot include:
  • Qualitative research: use participatory methods to get input from potential clients, local leaders, and government entities to ensure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. Ensure that findings from qualitative research are sufficiently woven into program design.
  • Quantitative research: lead the design of the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems and tools to evaluate the progress of the pilot. Train the team on the tools to ensure efficient data collection & excellent data quality.
  • Impact modelling: Work together with the Global Impact team to shore up impact model assumptions and tradeoffs and keep models updated with data from pilot learnings
  • Iterative improvement & design - ensure that farmer and staff feedback is systematically incorporated into improving program design
• Project management:You will lead the project implementation of the Forest Landscape Restoration pilot in Rwanda. Key responsibilities include:
  • Lead the pilot design: of tree bundles based on input from important partners including farmers, One Acre Fund staff, and government entities.
  • Maintain the critical path: set specific targets, create action plans, lead implementation, and own the results
  • Document learnings: keep a detailed record of pilot challenges and learnings to improve implementation for future seasons
• Team building and management:Responsible for final decisions on team structure and site selection. Lead hiring, training and management of the FLR field team.

Career Growth and Development:

• We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance.
• We hold career reviews every six months and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications
Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• Candidates should possess a Bachelor's Degree qualification
• 3+ years of experience leading the design and implementation of agroforestry or agricultural programs in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Demonstrated ability to develop complex impact/business models for decision-making and fundraising
• 3+ years of experience leading complex projects and managing successful teams
• Cross-cultural competence and ability to work with diverse teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication across different audiences.
• Technical knowledge of land restoration techniques and Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes (either carbon or non-carbon) is a plus.
• Familiarity with carbon emissions reduction verification methodologies and standards is a plus.

Eligibility:

• One Acre Fund can support a work permit for this role. However, nationals of (or those with an extensive professional background and work history in) our countries of operation are preferred.

Benefits
Health insurance, housing, and comprehensive benefits.

Application Closing Date
23rd October, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here ( [email protected] ), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.
• We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.