Manager, Institutional Relations

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. To achieve our mission, we partner with diverse allies around the world to drive positive change across global supply chains and in many of our most critically important natural landscapes.

Our alliance spans 70 countries and includes farmers and forest communities, companies, governments, civil society, and millions of individuals. Together we work to protect forests  and biodiversity, take action on climate, and promote the rights and improve the livelihoods of rural people.

As an international nonprofit organization with more than 30 years of experience in sustainability transformation, we understand that the social and economic well-being of rural communities is tightly connected to ecosystem health. This knowledge has shaped our rigorous programs to advance sustainable land-use and commodity production.

At the Rainforest Alliance we combat climate change, protect forests and biodiversity, promote human rights, and improve livelihoods. The enormity of the social and environmental challenges we are facing requires working together in a broad alliance. This is why we bring farmers, forest communities, companies, and consumers together to change the way the world produces, sources, and consumes.

Why

To protect nature and improve lives it’s becoming increasingly urgent that we approach the way we use our land and produce food and other products in more sustainable ways. For this to succeed we need to fundamentally change the way that businesses operate and source, and the choices we all make as consumers.

How

Our growing global alliance aims to transform our relationship with our natural resources and each other, to create a better future for people and nature together.

The Rainforest Alliance encourages diversity and inclusion across the global organization. With this commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, disability and any other protected group.

Position summary:

At the Rainforest Alliance we are looking for a strategic, collaborative and globally minded fundraising professional to engage with some of the world’s biggest funders of climate and agriculture programs.

Working as part of an international fundraising team, the Manager, Institutional Relations, will be tasked with positioning Rainforest Alliance as a relevant, innovative and capable development partner. With a focus on the European Union and the German Government, they will be familiar with international policy instruments and political developments which will help to gather insight and donor intelligence, grow relationships and develop highly competitive six- and seven- figure proposals. The position is instrumental in supporting the Rainforest Alliance in its work to continue implementing impact-driven programs in different parts of the world.

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.

• Proactively manage a small portfolio of strategic donors for Rainforest Alliance:
• Conduct desk-based research and liaise directly with external contacts to identify funding opportunities and gain insight on donor policies, strategies and trends;
• Develop and implement cultivation and engagement strategies, coordinating with regionally based colleagues as well as other members of the Institutional Relations team;
• Ensure systems are in place to identify and track opportunities, managing regular and efficient internal and external communications, and ensuring internal protocols are followed;
• Engage in direct fundraising and proposal pitches, meetings and donor cultivation efforts in coordination with program teams and technical colleagues; and
• Ensure effective donor stewardship, through editing high-quality reports and managing timely, relevant and engaging donor communications.

• Lead on proposal development, serving as bid lead on six- and seven- figure opportunities:
• Work closely with technical, program, MEL and finance staff to coordinate the development of concept notes and proposals, theories of change, logical frameworks, etc.;
• Advise colleagues on proposal strategy to ensure maximum competitiveness;
• Engage and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, particularly when RA is part of a large consortium or public-private partnership.

EXPERIENCE/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s Degree preferred
• At least 5 years’ experience in public sector fundraising, with proven track record of securing six figure + government grants;
• Demonstrable experience of working with and/or knowledge of the systems and processes of the European Union and/or the German Government. Knowledge of the Global Environment Facility, UN Agencies and other European governments a plus;
• Knowledge of the work of the Rainforest Alliance (conservation; community development; forestry; agriculture; livelihoods) strongly preferred;
• An understanding of program design and monitoring and evaluation, ideally within an international development setting;
• Experience with consortium development and/or public-private partnerships (PPPs) within a funding context preferred;
• Experience in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, work environment – preferably within a global organization;
• Experience of working within Latin America, Africa or Asia-Pacific context a plus;
• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) with fluency in English;
• Additional language skills in one of the following: Spanish, German and/or French fluency a significant plus;
• Must be a strong writer that is detail oriented, resourceful, and able translate complex, technical information into persuasive donor proposals and reports;
• High degree of organizational skill, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and work under tight deadlines;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as be an effective team member;
• High degree of skill in using MS Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint);
• Willing to engage in occasional travel where required (nationally and internationally, approximately 10% of the time).

Job Level: 3

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Deadline: March 17, 2023

Notes:

Only candidates authorized to work in the countries listed above will be considered

If you have any questions about the job vacancy, please contact the HR department: recruitment@ra.org