Project Director, USDA Small-Acreage Forest Landowner Support Project

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Join Our Amazing Team as Project Director – Support small-acreage Forest Landowner Participation in Puerto Rico!

NOTE: This position is contingent upon NCBA CLUSA securing the USDA award.

The USDA Supporting Underserved and Small-Acreage Forest Landowner Participation in Emerging Private Markets Project (FSL) seeks to support the participation of underserved and small forest landowners in emerging private markets for climate mitigation and/or forest resilience in Puerto Rico.

The Project Director will provide overall technical oversight and leadership, overseeing the design and implementation of the USDA Forest Service project in Puerto Rico. The Project Director will manage project staff, consortium partners and/or sub-partners to ensure that project deliverables are on time and within budget. The Project Director will also be responsible for program compliance, ensuring all program activities are implemented in accordance with USDA rules and regulations.

As the Project Director, you will lead this transformative initiative as follows:

 ESSENTIAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Provide technical oversight, leadership, and oversee the design and implementation of project activities.
• Lead internal and external project planning and reporting, including annual work planning with sub recipients.
• Work closely with NCBA CLUSA Headquarters to ensure high-quality periodic reporting.
• Serve as the primary representative of the project to USDA, relevant government entities, partners, and other implementers and stakeholders.
• Represents NCBA CLUSA at local, regional, and national conferences and donor meetings, as appropriate.
• Plans and directs program quality for the entire program providing holistic program quality guidance that includes relational administrative and financial areas.
• Reviews and approves critical project documents including design on action plans, annual work plans, progress reports, monitoring and evaluation data and budgets.
• Negotiates technical and strategic aspects of partnerships (prime and subcontractors).
• Manages project communications, disseminates experiences and results, ensures compliance with NCBA CLUSA and donor requirements.

Team Management

• Ensures project harmony among project staff, consortium partners and/or sub-partners,
• Manages, supervises, and builds capacity of all field staff, long‐term staff, short‐term staff, consortium partners, and/or sub‐partners, as proposed.
• Develops and manages a team that includes members of diverse backgrounds in order to successfully co-create and implement a sustainable integrated design.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, social inclusion, and capacity building into all activities as appropriate.

Finance and Compliance Management

• Oversees the project budget and all project financial resources.
• Ensures the effective use and coordination of USDA resources and the compliance of the financial systems and controls with USDA standards.

• Ensures implementation and management of a sound system for monitoring and evaluating the impact of project activities.

EDUCATION, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in project management, business administration, agroforestry, forestry, agriculture, environmental science, or other related field.
• 10+ years of project management experience, preferably in the areas of forestry, agroforestry, forest management, agriculture, and/or climate.
• Demonstrated understanding of USDA contract rules and regulations.
• Currently based in Puerto Rico.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships and collaborations with government counterparts, USG donors, and other key stakeholders and partners such as forest landowners, land managers, and agricultural producers.
• Ability to successfully recruit, train, build capacity, motivate, and manage staff, consortium partners, and/or sub-partners.
• Ability to negotiate and manage agreements and all required programmatic and financial reporting requirements.
• Proven ability to produce results in challenging contexts.
• Excellent communication (both oral and written), analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills. The ability to work productively with peers across Puerto Rican municipalities and U.S. states.
• Ability and willingness to travel to project sites in Puerto Rico as requested by NCBA CLUSA or donor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to fluently read, write and speak English and Spanish.

TRAVEL:

Travel as required based on NCBA CLUSA or donor requests.

 RELATIONSHIPS:  The Project Director reports to the Practice Area Director and works closely with the International team and is expected to work in a positive, professional manner with all NCBA CLUSA staff, former staff, members, potential members, vendors, and the public.

Why Join Us:

This is more than a job; it’s a chance to contribute to a project that will redefine Puerto Rico’s agricultural landscape. You’ll work alongside passionate professionals, fostering relationships with partners, shaping policies, and driving meaningful change.