Certification Officer, Ethiopia (m-f-d)

The Mission

FSC works to take care of our forests and those who rely on them: by protecting plant and animal species, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, forest workers’ safety, and much more. We achieve this through FSC certification, ensuring forests around the world are responsibly managed. For more information on FSC, visit our website at www.fsc.org.

To effectively meet the challenge of protecting the world’s forests, we are committed to ensuring we have the world’s most skilled people working with us. This commitment extends to everyone that works in FSC around the world: from those that lead the design of policies and standards, to those that roll out those same policies and standards on the ground, and to those that provide us with backbone to do our work.

We are looking for an engaged Certification Officer who brings solid expertise and a passion for FSC’s mission, to work with us in a multinational environment.

The Scope

To provide technical support and guidance to stakeholders starting and/or already in process to obtain FSC certification and, to create awareness about Interim Forest Stewardship Standard (IFSS) in Ethiopia.

Main Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide day to day technical guidance and expertise for forest managers and businesses in Ethiopia to obtain FSC forest management and Chain of Custody (CoC) certification.
• Support the launch, country-wide awareness and information dissemination about the IFSS of Ethiopia.
• Facilitate governmental organisations and similar institutions that are working with the government to develop & implement a certification roadmap to obtain FSC certification for state forests including bamboo.
• Support selected companies and community groups to initiate certification pilots including group schemes and to obtain FSC certification.
• Work with the Certification Officer Eastern Africa to initiate, conduct and evaluate online and physical technical trainings for potential certificate holders in Ethiopia.
• Work with the Ecosystem Services Manager, Africa to develop Ethiopia’s FSC ES claims portfolio.
• As guided by the FSC Coordinator, Eastern Africa, participate in relevant government meetings, private sector and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) workshops and events.
• Organise in-country and/or external exchange field visits when necessary to facilitate learning for technical staff of the government, companies, and communities in the process to uptake FSC certification.
• Develop key partnerships, collaborations and networks with relevant institutions to promote FSC certification in Ethiopia.
• Liaise with the FSC Marketing and Communications Specialist, Eastern Africa to provide briefs for use in developing impact stories, press releases, newsletter articles and other communication initiatives mainly using social media.  
• Support FSC Africa Membership Officer to recruit more FSC Members in Ethiopia.
• Perform other duties as requested by the FSC Coordinator, Eastern Africa.

Qualification, Experience and Skills

• Working Education and Training:
  • A Bachelor’s or advanced degree in a forestry, natural resources, and environmental management.
     
• Working Experience, Style and Skills:
  • At least 4 years of professional experience in in the forestry sector with excellent knowledge and wide understanding of forest certification, particularly the FSC certification system.
  • Extensive experience working with and engaging governments, forest companies, environmental non-governmental organizations and smallholders and communities in forestry, and strong ability to establish and maintain positive interpersonal relationships.
  • Strong interest in promoting responsible forest management and sustainability within the forestry and environment disciplines.
  • Ability to work independently under minimal supervision.
  • Good time management and ability to perform well while handling simultaneous tasks.
  • Networking, influencing, planning and facilitation skills.

• Languages & Communication Skills:
  • Fluency in English and Amharic (spoken and written).
  • Exemplary verbal and written communication skills

• Computer Skills – good skills in the use of/experience with:
  • Standard software packages (MS Office).

Terms and Conditions

• Location: Ethiopia
• Working Hours: Full time (220 working days per calendar year).
• Type of contract and duration: 1 year consultancy contract.
• Starting Date: As soon as possible

How to Apply

• Please apply via our website by submitting your CV in English.
• Please do not send any photos of yourself.
• The deadline for applications is 11 February 2024.

We will confirm receipt of your application. However, only candidates shortlisted for an interview will be further contacted and will receive notice of the outcome of the selection process. Should you not receive a confirmation of receipt please check your spam filter and if you cannot find it there contact us at recruitment@fsc.org

For FSC, inclusiveness and diversity are important values. As such, we welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds and are entirely committed to consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age and disability.  

Please be informed that by applying for this position you automatically accept our Data Protection Information on processing your personal data.

We are looking forward to your application!