Fairventures Worldwide Vacancy: Forestry Officer - Project 1m Trees, Palangka Raya

1. Background
One Million Trees is a project developed by Fair Ventures Worldwide in cooperation with the Borneo Institute in Central Kalimantan.

The working hypothesis of this project is that the wood industry is currently in process of transformation from the conventional use of slow-growing hardwoods towards innovative products from fast-growing lightwoods. In tropical forest areas this process will have profound effects and to facilitate and guide the transformation will be economically and ecologically beneficent. Therefore, the projects will promote the planting of fast-growing wood species in buffer zones in Central Kalimantan. These wood plantations will provide economic alternatives to deforestation, mitigate climate change and strengthen the livelihoods of local communities.

The project is conceptualized for the duration of ten years in total, whereas the first phase of year 1-5 focuses on planting, while the second phase of year 6-10 focuses on the establishment of downstream industries for the plantation wood.

2. Description of Position
The forestry officer works directly under the project manager and will conduct tasks regarding the technical forestry side of the project independently. Approximately half of the time will be spent in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, and the other half in Jakarta. Frequent travel beyond those places is expected. Due to the nature of this, frequent, open and productive communication is a key element of the position.

3. Tasks
Specific tasks of the forestry officer include, but are not limited to:

• Organization and implementation of trainings and workshops 
• A major output of the project 1m Trees is the training of nursery staff and farmer groups in regard to the nursing, planting and grooming of fast growing woods. The forestry officer will support the relevant experts in the preparation, organization and implementation of these trainings.

• Creation of training materials
• The forestry officer will assist the forestry expert in writing and designing the training materials for the trainings and workshops mentioned above as well as an online version to be used on the project website.

• Writing project documents, reports and PR materials
• The internal documentation as well as the external outreach of the forestry components of the project falls to the forestry officer.

• Survey of Indonesian Wood Exporting Companies
• In order to prepare for long term components, a systematic survey of Indonesian wood-exporting companies will be conducted by the forestry officer through telephone, mail and personal visits.

• Continuing Development of the Project and Local Fundraising
• As the project is currently only funded for the first year, the ongoing success depends on fundraising and development of the project.

• Other tasks within the project
• Tasks beyond those described above may result from the project activities.

4. Qualifications
Candidates for the position will offer the following qualifications:

• Academic background in forestry or agriculture with a focus on wood plantations. Alternatively background in economics combined with working experience in the wood industry or a related field 
• At least three years of relevant working experience in wood plantations, the wood industry or related fields
• International working or studying experience
• Experience in the organization of workshops and trainings
• Strong organizational skills
• Familiarity with wood certifications such as FSC, PEFC and V-Legal
• Familiarity with the forest situation in Central Kalimantan
• Fluent in English and Indonesian
• Writing skills, in both English and Indonesian
• Willingness to travel extensively (up to 50% of the time)
• Dynamic, open and communicative personality
• High degree of motivation and initiative

5. Place of work
The primary places of work will be Jakarta and Palangka Raya, with phases of travel throughout Java, Kalimantan and beyond.

6. Duration of work
The position will start Monday, April 14, 2014. Currently, the position is limited to one year, although extension is highly likely if the project continues.
 

7. Salary
A competitive salary will be paid. Incentives will be paid upon successful project development and local fundraising.
 

8. Application
Applications including cover letter, CV and references should be send to wolfgang.baum@fairventures.org until April 6, 2014.