Senior Director, Growth and Impact at Rainforest Alliance

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Director, Growth and Impact reports to the Chief Growth and Impact Officer (CGIO) and will act as a trusted advisor and Chief of Staff to the CGIO, driving strategic priorities, strengthening cross-functional alignment, and ensuring seamless execution across our global teams in the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

This is a unique opportunity to shape how programs translate into funding and real-world impact, connecting science, programs, development, and regional teams to deliver lasting change for forests, climate, and communities.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Chief of Staff to the Chief Growth and Impact Officer

• Partner with the CGIO to set priorities, develop and execute strategic plans to drive business growth and social impact, aligned with the organization's mission and vision.
• Identify risks, bottlenecks, and misalignments early and bring solutions to the CGIO proactively.

Cross-Departmental Integration and Strategy Implementation

• Align teams across regions and functions, breaking silos and ensuring coordinated delivery
• Lead cross-functional teams to design and implement programs, products, and services that address social and environmental challenges.
• Translate the CGIO's strategic direction into clear workplans, roles, and accountability structures across departments and geographies.

Program-to-Funding Pipeline and Development Integration

• Serve as the integration lead between the programmatic and development functions
• Ensure funding priorities are informed by programmatic strategy and that programs are positioned effectively for donor investment.
• Work with internal teams to understand the funding landscape and pipeline and identify and articulate fundable program priorities.
• Support the CGIO in donor engagement as needed, providing briefings, talking points, and strategic framing.

Organizational Leadership

• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws — including hiring, mentoring, and evaluating staff; guiding professional development; and addressing employee relations issues.
• Model and promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and producer centricity across the Growth and Impact function and the broader organization.

WHAT YOU BRING:

• Master's degree in Business, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related field.
• Synthesize complexity and drive clarity across large, diverse, and geographically dispersed teams.
• 15 years progressive, relevant experience, with at least 10 years in senior roles involving cross-functional coordination, organisational strategy, or operations within international organisations.
• Proven experience as a Chief of Staff, Deputy Director, or equivalent integrating role within a complex, multi-regional organisation or management consultancy.
• Experience working across the Americas, Africa, and/or Asia in an international nonprofit, NGO, or sustainability-focused context.
• Experience with the program-to-funding cycle in a donor-funded environment, with experience coordinating between programmatic and development teams.
• Knowledge of sustainable development issues and deep commitment to Rainforest Alliance's goals: conserving forests and other high-value ecosystems; mitigating climate change and building climate resilience; and strengthening livelihoods and securing human rights.
• Direct experience working with producers (small, medium, and large) and/or forest communities.
• Key competencies: transformational leadership, systems thinking, political acumen, adaptability, persuasion, critical and reflective thinking, relationship building based on trust, empathy, and openness, and strong organizational skills to manage multiple priorities in a time-critical manner.