Project Manager, Landrise at Rainforest Alliance

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Rainforest Alliance’s Core Values are Impact, Change, Collaboration, Openness and Trust and as such they form the basis of the behaviours we demonstrate:

Program management

• Lead the successful implementation of the LANDRISE project across Kenya and four additional landscapes—Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico, and Peru—ensuring delivery of all activities within the agreed scope, budget, and timeline.
• Provide overall strategic direction for all project pathways and interventions, including green business incubation, financial inclusion through revolving funds, incentivized waste management innovations, and youth and women-led livelihood activities.
• In collaboration with Rainforest Alliance technical specialists and theme leads, coordinate the deployment of AI-powered smart bins, development of digital tools, and integration of community training and incentive models aligned with economic empowerment outcomes.
• Be responsible for the planning and execution of annual work plans, procurement plans, and detailed implementation schedules, in compliance with Rainforest Alliance and donor procedures.
• Promote inclusive participation by women, youth, and forest-dependent communities in all program components to ensure equitable access to resources, decision-making, and economic opportunities.
• With support from the MEL team, contribute to the development and updating of the project’s results framework, and ensure timely execution of internal and external evaluations.
• Prepare and submit timely, high-quality technical reports, progress updates, and learning briefs to internal stakeholders and the Coca-Cola Foundation.

Partner Management & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead the operationalization of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with key partners, ensuring clear roles, deliverables, and accountability.
• Be responsible for the co-development of quarterly and annual work plans and budgets with partners and conduct regular technical reviews to assess performance and course-correct where needed.
• Facilitate orientation and training sessions for implementing partners, subgrantees, and consultants on project design, deliverables, compliance standards, and reporting requirements.
• Develop Terms of Reference (ToRs) for partner engagements and lead transparent, merit-based selection processes in collaboration with procurement and technical teams.
• Monitor implementation progress, financial disbursements, and results delivery across all partner activities, ensuring timely reporting and alignment with LANDRISE’s strategic objectives.
• Convene joint planning workshops, stakeholder dialogues, and landscape governance meetings to foster inclusive participation and coordinated implementation across the five geographies.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning (MEL) & Reporting

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the project’s MEL system, aligned with the LANDRISE results framework and donor requirements.
• Collaborate with the RA MEL team and external consultants to coordinate baseline, midline, and endline assessments, ensuring data quality, utility, and relevance to program learning.
• Track and analyze key performance indicators—such as access to finance, green job creation, income growth, and environmental outcomes—and feed insights into adaptive management processes.
• Prepare and submit timely, high-quality donor reports (technical and financial), case studies, knowledge products, and success stories.
• Coordinate learning sessions, reflection workshops, and cross-country MEL integration with RA teams in Indonesia, Ghana, Mexico, and Peru.

Operational & Financial Oversight

• Work closely with the finance manager to develop and monitor the project budget, ensuring efficient and transparent use of funds across workstreams and geographies.
• Ensure full compliance with Rainforest Alliance’s financial policies and donor requirements, including procurement, subgrantee management, and audit readiness.
• Be responsible for preparation of expenditure forecasts, documentation of financial transactions, and implementation of corrective actions in collaboration with operations and finance teams.

Team Supervision & Learning

• Directly supervise Project Associates and related field staff, setting clear performance objectives, conducting regular appraisals, and facilitating continuous professional development.
• Foster a high-performance culture that prioritizes teamwork, inclusivity, innovation, and accountability across the multi-country team.
• Promote cross-learning and peer exchange by coordinating experience-sharing sessions between project teams across the five countries, enhancing overall program effectiveness.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A master’s degree (preferred) or Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Agriculture economics, Business studies, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Development Studies, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• At least 8 years of progressive experience in leading multi-partner, donor-funded development projects, with a minimum of 3 years in a senior management or leadership role.
• Proven track record in implementing and overseeing international programs focused on economic empowerment, financial inclusion, climate-smart agriculture, or green/circular economy models.
• Demonstrable expertise in project planning and tracking, budget management, operational oversight, MEL systems, team leadership, and high-quality donor reporting.
• Strong familiarity with the agriculture, finance, and environmental sectors, including experience working with smallholder farmers, microfinance institutions, and market actors.
• Hands-on experience building and managing multi-stakeholder platforms involving civil society organizations, producer groups, private sector players, and local and national governments.
• Outstanding interpersonal, negotiation, facilitation, and communication skills, with fluency in English and working proficiency in Kiswahili; Spanish or Bahasa Indonesia is an added advantage.
• Strong commitment to sustainability, climate resilience, and gender and youth inclusion