Rainforest Alliance is seeking a Consultant supporting the design of Risk Assessments, Certifications and Standardized Projects

Summary Information

·       Department: Product Design

·       Location(s): UK, The Netherlands

·       Desired start date and duration: as soon as possible – approximately 6 months

·       Under direction of: Senior Product Managers

Consultancy Summary

About the Rainforest Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance (RA) is an international nonprofit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. We are building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.  We envision a world where people and nature thrive in harmony.

The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities.

For more information, please visit http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Rainforest Alliance wants to diversify its portfolio of services and develop scalable solutions for farms and companies to add value for our partners. The objective is to =offer more scalable impact pathways at the producer level across the Rainforest Alliance's impact areas.

For this purpose, the Rainforest Alliance is recruiting a Project Manager to provide project management, insights delivery and consultation support to the design, development and implementation of new risk assessment, certification and standardized project solutions. 

The position will be responsible for project managing and solution development with a core team, and a wider and changing working group to take the solutions through a portfolio management approach:

·       Managing internal and external stakeholders on primary and secondary research, analysis and idea synthesis.

·       Managing the translation of these draft solutions into solid requirement and data frameworks.

You will be working with and report to three product managers that are accountable for product delivery for risk assessments, certification and standardized projects solutions.

Process Responsibilities:

·       Ensure momentum and oversight of the different projects and deliverables;

·       Serve as convener of the project teams;

·       Undertake day-to-day management of the different projects, including smooth project implementation and efficient use of resources; file and version management

·       Ensure the participation and involvement of selected stakeholders in project activities and project tasks;

·       Facilitate design workshops (in-person and online);

·       Lead project work planning and ensure the timeliness and quality of results as well as timely preparation of reports on achievements and challenges faced within the projects;

·       Proactively identify and handle risks, bringing key issues where appropriate;

KEY DELIVERABLES

·       The deliverables described in Table 1 on the following page.

·       Work plan – end of week 2: a work plan outlining the above deliverables, timelines and capacity needs based on current deadlines and work planning.

·       Filing system of data, decisions, planning.

·       Project set-up and management in Dovetail, our customers insight hub.

·       Centralized Confluence page that contains all the information for the development of the solutions, to facilitate internal and external communication.

·       Setting up and managing weekly project team meetings to ensure prioritization and efficient follow-up.

Table 1: The position is responsible for delivering the below numbered activities to each of the product lines: Risk Assessment, Certification and Standardized Projects (and selected and to be discussed specific solutions), or combined across the product lines where that makes sense.

This table is an indication of the activities envisioned now, yet this maybe subject to change as we move along in the design process.

General terms and conditions for Request for proposal

·       Proposals and/or any additional information received after the submission time and date are subject to rejection by The Rainforest Alliance. Incomplete proposals may be rejected by RA at its discretion.

·       The Rainforest Alliance reserves the right to request additional information at any time during the procurement process.

·       RA is at liberty to make multiple or no selections as part of the proposal process. RA also reserves the right to cancel the procurement.

·       All proposal costs shall be borne by the applicant and will not be reimbursed by RA.

Contractor Services at a minimum, must include:

·       In-depth knowledge of sustainability topics, market, and policy trends related to sustainability. Strong knowledge of conservation, community development, forestry, or agriculture is preferred.

·       Experience in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, work environment – preferably within a global organization; Familiarity with agile and lean ways of working is preferred.

·       Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to interact culturally, linguistically, and diplomatically with diverse internal and external individuals;

·       Ability to travel domestically and internationally on occasion.

·       Demonstrate openness to change and ability to handle complexities;

·       Strong organizational skills to handle multiple priorities in a time-critical manner;

Selection Criteria

·       Cost effectiveness

·       Relevant technical certifications/expertise/tenure:

·       Demonstrated experience in consultancy, sustainable development, business development, or corporate partnerships;

·       Demonstrated experience in project management of product development projects.

·       Demonstrated experience in effectively managing international multidisciplinary teams;

·       Excellent written and verbal proficiency in English;

·       Availability;

·      Eligibility to work in the Netherlands or the UK;

Proposal Process and Format

·  Selection round one: Company profile, CVs of suggested staff and a daily rate, to be provided to Rainforest Alliance by 3 March, 2025.

· Selection round two: Presentation (deck) in meeting that will demonstrate the understanding of the work scope as per the full Terms of Refence provided to pre-selected consultants after having signed an NDA. To be provided to Rainforest Alliance within one week of provision of ToR.

Thank you for your interest in working with The Rainforest Alliance