The posting
Deadline for application: 22 October 2026
RECOFTC is an international nonprofit organization working towards a future where resilient communities with respected rights thrive in forest landscapes that they manage sustainably and equitably. We take a long-term, landscape-based and inclusive approach in supporting local communities to secure their land and resource rights, stop deforestation, find alternative livelihoods and foster gender equality. We have almost 40 years of experience working with people and forests and have built trusting relationships with partners at all levels. As a trusted, honest broker, we occupy a distinct position as an international organization that supports, informs and brings together governments, communities, businesses, academia and civil society organizations. Our innovations, knowledge and initiatives enable countries to foster good forest governance, mitigate and adapt to climate change and achieve the UN Global Goals.
We operate in the Asia-Pacific region, with country offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Viet Nam.
In Thailand, RECOFTC works closely with government agencies, communities and partners to advance biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest landscape management, including through the Integrated Forest Landscape Management for Strengthening the North-eastern and Eastern Forest Corridors (IFLMS-NE&E) project. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) serving as the GEF implementing agency. RECOFTC holds overall executing and technical responsibility for the project as the operational partner, with FAO providing oversight and technical support, and the Royal Forest Department (RFD) serving as the lead government partner agency.
The project focuses on four forest complexes along Thailand's eastern border: Phu Phan, Phanom Dongrak–Pha Tam, Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai and the eastern forest, which together span 6.5 million hectares of globally significant wildlife habitat, home to species such as the Asian elephant, the Indo-Chinese tiger and the Great Hornbill. These landscapes are under growing threat from forest degradation, land-use change and habitat encroachment and fragmentation, which increasingly expose wildlife to human activity. The Government of Thailand has recognized that protecting these habitats requires a landscape approach, since the effectiveness of protected areas depends heavily on what happens in the surrounding lands and waters, shaped by the actions of communities, private landowners and government agencies.
The project’s primary goal is to strengthen biodiversity conservation across these four complexes by improving forest landscape management. This involves strengthening government policy, institutional arrangements and capacities for conservation within and between protected areas, mainstreaming biodiversity objectives into the management of forests, agricultural land and plantations, and reducing human-wildlife conflict. The project also contributes to broader national policies and laws on land degradation, gender equity, rural development and climate change.
Delivery of the project draws on a wide network of partners at the national, provincial and local levels, including government departments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and academic institutions. More than 30 stakeholder groups are engaged across the four target forest complexes, including provincial government departments, local authorities, local administrative organizations, forest plantation owners, community forest users, local communities and academic institutions.
RECOFTC is currently seeking a Project Technical Adviser for the IFLMS-NE&E project, based at the RECOFTC Thailand Office in Bangkok. The selected candidate will be offered a 24-month contract with the possibility of extension, contingent on funding availability and satisfactory performance. Any offer of employment resulting from this vacancy is contingent upon confirmation of project funding.
Tasks and duties
The Project Technical Adviser will be a member of the RECOFTC Thailand Office team, reporting directly to the Country Director and working under the supervision of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and the FAO. As the key technical lead managing the Project Management Unit (PMU), the Project Technical Adviser ensures high-quality technical results across all project components. The PTA oversees day-to-day implementation, management and administration, coordinates activities with project partners and provides technical support to the project on behalf of the operational partner, within the framework set by the PSC.
Specific tasks and duties include:
Project management responsibilities
- Lead overall project management to ensure effective delivery of results in line with the project proposal, to a high-quality standard
- Develop and update the project work plan in consultation with the PSC and project partners
- Manage the PMU staff, ensuring timely recruitment and performance reviews in line with RECOFTC policy, while supervising the team and promoting effective teamwork and internal communication
- Manage the project budget to ensure effective and efficient spending, including compliance with organizational policies, procedures and donor requirements
- Prepare and submit progress and financial reports and develop annual work plans and budgets, ensuring project indicators remain up to date
- Supervise the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Officer in developing the project baseline and MEL work plan, ensuring timely delivery of MEL activities, including the mid-term review and final evaluation
- Ensure the project’s plans and strategies (social and environmental safeguards, gender strategy, stakeholders engagement strategy, etc.) are implemented in line with the project proposal and logframe
- Ensure strong coordination with project partners, co-financing agencies and other ongoing GEF projects in Thailand
- Supervise the Communications Officer in developing a communication strategy that ensures the project’s visibility aligns with GEF, FAO and RECOFTC guidelines
Technical responsibilities
- Ensure the project’s technical work draws on the best available tools and expertise, including from Thailand, RECOFTC, FAO and other sources
- Ensure quality review of all technical deliverables, including delivery against GEF core indicators and the project results framework, particularly on biodiversity conservation and natural resources management
- Prepare and deliver training on relevant topics as prioritized in the annual work plan and review and guide training and technical materials prepared by other technical experts
- Prepare policy guidance notes and presentations for key project events, and present project results in relevant policy forums
- Lead expert consultations and guide the team’s approach to technical issues such as forest corridor connectivity, human-wildlife conflict and sustainable forest management
- Represent the project and RECOFTC in external meetings, events and forums as needed, communicating project achievements and lessons learned to diverse audiences
- Serve as PSC Secretariat, facilitating PSC meetings and leading communication with the RFD and FAO to keep all parties updated and secure support as needed
Qualifications and experience
The Project Technical Adviser should have the following qualifications and experience:
Essential
- Postgraduate degree in Forestry, Natural Resources Management, Environment, Agriculture or a related discipline
- At least 10 years of senior-level experience on donor-funded projects and programmes
- Demonstrated extensive experience and technical expertise in biodiversity conservation and related fields
- Substantial experience working with government agencies, the UN or other development sector actors
- Ability to interact tactfully and effectively with multiple institutional actors across diverse sectors and levels, communicating messages and promoting dialogue
- Ability to manage teams and consultants, promoting teamwork and team development
- Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
- Strong computer literacy, particularly with Microsoft Office
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Thai and English
- Thai nationality
Desirable
- Extensive knowledge of environment, socio-economic development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity and ecosystems, or natural resource management in Thailand and internationally
- Experience with and understanding of principles and approaches for integrating environmental and social considerations in smallholder-dominated landscapes
- Established relationships with relevant stakeholders, particularly the Royal Forest Department and other government line agencies
- Strong facilitation skills for complex multistakeholder workshops and meetings
RECOFTC’s core values
At RECOFTC, our core values are the foundation of our culture and guide all our work. In addition to job-specific skills and experience, the applicant should possess the following characteristics, attitudes and skills:
- Embrace innovation
- Adapt to and learn from challenges
- Nurture commitment, responsibility and ownership
- Collaborate with partners and stakeholders
- Commit to sustainability
- Cultivate participation, gender equality and social inclusion
- Prioritize well-being
Commitment to RECOFTC policies and procedures
- At RECOFTC, we uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency and responsibility in all our operations. Our policies and guidelines are designed to ensure a safe, inclusive, sustainable and ethical environment for our staff, partners, consultants and the communities we serve.
- All staff, consultants and contractors engaged by RECOFTC are required to comply with RECOFTC’s policies and procedures while performing their roles with RECOFTC.
How to apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV and cover letter. The cover letter should describe the candidate’s suitability for the position, state salary expectations and provide contact details of three referees, including recent supervisors.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. RECOFTC offers a competitive compensation package.
For more information about RECOFTC, please visit our website at https://www.recoftc.org/
RECOFTC is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on ethnicity, religion, age, nationality, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, colour, marital status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by RECOFTC's values and code of conduct. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified disabled applicants to participate in the application process. If you require special accommodation, please inform RECOFTC's Human Resources in writing at the time of application. The successful candidate will be selected based on merit. RECOFTC strongly encourages women and individuals from Indigenous and ethnic groups to apply.
