Associate Director, Environmental & Social at New Forests

• The Associate Director, Environmental & Social plays an essential role in ensuring New Forests’ E&S and impact management delivers meaningful investment value as well as generating benefits, for the environment and society. This includes an internal focus on ensuring compliance and continual development of New Forests’ approaches to E&S management and impact investing; extensive engagement with investment portfolio companies to ensure capacity development and appropriate resourcing for delivery of E&S objectives.

This role will be responsible for:
Operations

• Providing oversight covering the E&S compliance of New Forests’ investments under management in SSA
• Supporting and developing the local investment management team to meet New Forests’ E&S criteria
• Drafting and/or commissioning E&S and impact baseline studies, E&S impact assessments and associated management plans & monitoring plans, biodiversity action plans, E&S and impact due diligence assessments, livelihood restoration plans, and Environmental and
• Social Action Plans (ESAPs) for new investments
• Providing feedback on all E&S and impact matters to the shareholders
• Coordinating the AFIP E&S Committee, including two independent members (quarterly reporting)
• Coordinating E&S and impact monitoring for all assets and the portfolio
• Coordinating the design and management of grant funded projects, often with an impact focus
• Managing and developing partnerships and relationships with stakeholders, including NGOs, communities, governments, joint venture partners, and other businesses
• Supporting the wider operations team in strategic oversight for plantation forestry management, including budgeting, execution, and reporting
• Identifying and supporting impact driven carbon, biodiversity, and community development opportunities associated with plantation forestry assets

New Investments

• Contributing to due diligence of new investments and ensuring that all transaction decisions are supported by appropriate E&S due diligence documentation
• Providing support during transactions to ensure that E&S compliance is incorporated in transaction documents and legal agreements
• Developing E&S compliance plans to ensure all investments comply with New Forests’ Responsible
• Investment Policy and meet all requirements for E&S management

General

• Managing and reporting on the Fund level ESAP
• Being an active contributor to development of New Forests’ ESG programs, including collaboration with corporate sustainability programs
• Providing E&S reporting on all investments in the region, including client and public reporting
• Contributing to building New Forests’ knowledge base and leadership on Sustainable Landscape Investment

We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications, experience, and strengths:

• Demonstrated experience in sustainable forestry, including third-party certification, community and social engagement strategies, occupational health and safety, safeguarding and land use management
• Previous operational experience in commercial forestry plantations in emerging markets
• Experience working with community and NGO partners (both regional and international) to deliver effective engagement programs
• Bachelor’s degree level qualification in Forestry/Agriculture/Development Studies/Environment or equivalent
• Detailed knowledge and experience in implementing and/or auditing to recognised international ESG standards including Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification and the International Finance
• Corporation Performance Standards (IFC PS)
• Knowledge of carbon standards (VCS and CCB) would also be highly beneficial
• Experience with design and implementation of E&S impact assessments, management and monitoring plans, biodiversity action plans, livelihood restoration plans, and reporting systems
• Experience in communication/reporting with clients and prospective clients, including international financial institutions
• Prior experience in an investment-related business, preferred
• Skill in MS Office suite of programs and knowledge of GIS packages and GP
• Strong verbal and written English language skills. A working knowledge or fluency in any major languages within SSA would be an advantage
• Willingness and ability to routinely undertake travel, throughout SSA, including in remote areas and sometimes in challenging conditions
• An ability to work in a cross-cultural, dynamic environment, with local management teams is essential