Forest Management Coordinator; m-f-d - Panama

The Forest Management Coordinator will lead efforts to expand FSC Forest Management certification in Panama by identifying new certification opportunities and supporting current and prospective certificate holders. The role requires a field-focused professional who can build strong stakeholder relationships, provide practical technical guidance, deliver training, and support organizations throughout their certification journey. Working closely with forest managers, companies, government institutions, communities, and other partners, the Coordinator will help strengthen responsible forest management practices and increase FSC-certified forest area in the country.

• Develop and advance opportunities to increase Forest Management and Chain of Custody certification across Panama.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with forest managers, companies, government agencies, communities, and other key stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and trusted advisor for existing and prospective certificate holders.
• Provide technical guidance and hands‑on support to organizations implementing FSC requirements and preparing for certification audits.
• Design and deliver training, workshops, and capacity‑building activities to improve understanding and implementation of FSC standards.
• Conduct regular field visits to assess needs, address challenges, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Develop practical resources and tools that support certification uptake and effective implementation of FSC standards.
• Help the FSC Cluster team with stakeholder meetings, events, and strategic partnerships, working closely with colleagues and partners to support the growth of responsible forest management in Panama.

Education:

• University degree in Forestry, Forest Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Agroforestry, Agronomy, Natural Resource Management, or a related discipline.

• Additional training in forest certification systems, sustainable forest management, or auditing is considered an advantage.

• At least 5 years of professional experience in forestry, sustainable forest management, certification, environmental management, or related sectors.
• Proven experience working directly with forest managers, forest owners, forestry companies, or certification holders.
• Demonstrated experience delivering training, workshops, and capacity‑building initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder engagement experience, including working with public, private, and civil society organizations.
• Experience providing practical technical support in field-based environments.
• Familiarity with FSC certification systems and standards is highly desirable.
• Established professional network within Panama's forestry and environmental sectors is an asset.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Comfortable conducting frequent field visits and working in remote locations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other standard office applications.
• Fluent Spanish (written and spoken) and professional proficiency in English.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Be part of a globally recognized organization at the forefront of sustainable forestry and contribute to the mission to help protect the world’s forests.
• Play an active role in the FSC global community of 400+ forest stewards who come together in-person at least once a year.
• Benefit from cross‑cultural collaboration and networking opportunities by working in a dynamic, inclusive, and diverse international culture.

• Location:
  
  Panama.
• Working Hours:
  
  Full-time (40 hours/week).
• Duration of Consultancy agreement: 2 years (extension possible, subject to satisfactory performance).
• Start Date:
  
  As soon as possible.
• Travel:
  Frequent travel within Panama is required.

For FSC, inclusiveness and diversity are important values. As such, we welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds and are entirely committed to consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age and disability.