Thailand WISC Country Coordinator

Management and Engineering Technologies International Inc. (METI), in support of the US Forest Service Office of International Programs and Trade (USFS/IPT), requires the services of a Country Coordinator to help administer its US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Office of Aviation and Cross Boarder Programs (INL/ACB), funded program in collaboration with the Royal Thai Government (RTG), and partner organizations to establish a Wood Identification and Screening Center (WISC) and related donor-funded activities in Thailand.

Background:

The US Forest Service (USFS) is the principal domestic technical agency for forestry and natural resource management in the United States, managing about 78 million hectares of forests and grasslands. Leveraging an expert workforce, USFS/IPT, works globally to protect forest industry, promote fair and legal trade, and advance stability through disaster preparedness and response.

INL/ACB and USFS/IPT have a longstanding collaboration to support global partner countries as they build, reform, and advance systems, capacities, and partnerships to prevent, detect, enforce and ultimately address environmental crime threats. INL/ACB and the USFS/IPT initially became interested in collaborative partnership with the RTG to house a WISC after the successful implementation of a Vietnam-WISC. As a regional hub in Asia-Pacific, a Thailand-WISC would increase wood identification and screening capacities in the region in support of law enforcement and regulatory agencies' efforts to combat illegal trade of forest products.

Position Description:

Working closely with staff at USFS/IPT based in Washington, DC, METI, and the RTG, the Thailand WISC Country Coordinator will serve as the primary liaison with the focal government agencies, and coordinate program activities with other relevant partners in Thailand, such as non-government organizations (NGOs). The Thailand WISC Country Coordinator will provide guidance on communication and coordination, as well as technical advice related to design, implementation, and monitoring as appropriate, to the USFS/IPT Thailand team.

Specific Task and Duties include:

The WISC Country Coordinator would support the program in capacities such as, but not limited to, the following:

- Co-manage multi-stakeholder partnerships, engage in consultative work planning, program design, and coordinate activities and meetings both virtually and in-person as needed with a team of colleagues based in Thailand, the US, and other countries in the Asia Pacific region.

- Use interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills to develop relationships with colleagues, partners, and relevant stakeholders across cultures, languages, and varying capacity levels. This will include collaborating with colleagues, partners, and other stakeholders virtually across various time zones and in-person.

- Use Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Meet, and other online applications to plan and participate in virtual and in-person meetings, workshops, and other events, and communicate with partners and colleagues. This includes producing regular technical and narrative style reports, evaluations, workplans, concept notes, assessments, and other written communication products for a wide range of audiences, including internal staff, partner organizations, and the public.

- Take initiative to complete tasks and develop action plans without day-to-day supervision while keeping colleagues up to date on your work progress and products. This includes providing administrative and logistical support to and coordinating with the RTG partners to develop and implement the Thailand WISC project.

- Collect necessary data and conduct relevant monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities throughout the period of performance to support regular reporting on Thailand WISC project progress, development, and outcomes.

- Travel to various locations in Thailand, the US, and potentially other countries in the Asia-Pacific region as needed to conduct program-related activities such as study tours/exchange visits, workshops, trainings, conferences, etc. This includes managing travel logistics, maintaining a high level of organization and work performance while on travel status, and providing travel-related support to USFS/IP colleagues.

Position Requirements:

The Coordinator should have the following skills and experience:

- A minimum of five years of experience in project implementation and partnership development in Thailand, preferably in the environmental and natural resource sectors, especially:

Environmental protection, timber legality and trade, wood identification, forest certification, environmental policy and law, natural resource management, natural resource law enforcement, forestry, international development and partnership planning, agroecology/agroforestry, sustainable forest management, regulatory frameworks, ecology, and other related natural science or social science fields.

- Minimum of Bachelor's degree, preferably in the natural resources field;

- Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder partnerships, engaging in consultative work planning, and coordinating activities and meetings;

- Ability to work effectively without day-to-day supervision;

- Ability to work in a dynamic environment with the RTG and US Government agencies, international donors, NGOs, community groups, and other stakeholders;

- Maintain flexibility and a positive attitude to perform work under often unpredictable and ambiguous circumstances.

- Excellent organizational skills;

- Excellent written and oral communication skills;

- Excellent interpersonal skills;

- Strong understanding of RTG functions, procedures, and structures, especially related to law enforcement and regulatory agencies working to combat the illegal trade of forest products

- Experience working with the key government partner(s), CSO, academia, and/or community groups in Thailand;

- Experience implementing U.S. Government funded activities and maintaining compliance with US Government regulations strongly preferred;

- Experience working on timber legality, forest protection, and/or natural resources crime prevention is an advantage;

- Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally for events, workshops, conferences, meetings, etc. as needed.

- Required computer proficiencies: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet;

- Language skills: Professional proficiency in spoken and written English and Thai language.

Location: This position will be ideally based in Bangkok, Thailand. Work-related travel to the US, and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region may be required.

Period of Performance:

The tenure of a Thailand WISC Country Coordinator is estimated to be part time for a 1-year period. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and abilities.

If the US Forest Service were to secure the services of an individual with these skills, the successful applicant would be hired through a contractor.

Please apply by September 25th by sending a CV, brief cover letter, and answers to the questions below to: usfs.thailand@gmail.com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Please answer the following short answer questions (100 word maximum per response):

1. Have you ever worked in a professional or volunteer capacity with US Government agencies to plan events or activities such as meetings, conferences, or workshops of any kind? If so, please describe your role in that work.

2. Have you ever worked, in a professional or volunteer capacity, with RTG organizations at the national, state, and/or local level? If so, please describe your role in that work.

3. Have you ever worked in a professional or volunteer capacity to coordinate events, conduct correspondence, and/or develop relationships between RTG ministries/organizations/institutes and US Government agencies? If so, please describe your role in that work.

4. Please describe why you are interested in filling the Thailand WISC Country Coordinator position.