M&E Specialist, Cocoa Supply Chain

External Posting • New York, NY

86d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Rainforest Alliance leads a global Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) project focusing on the cocoa sector with one of our long-term strategic private sector partners. This project works to accelerate our partner's regenerative transition and support producers within their cocoa supply chain to become more efficient, and prosperous at scale. This includes in-depth, science-backed outcome monitoring and evaluation for adaptive management across at least 4-6 countries. By elevating the current M&E system to excel in operational execution, scope, and speed, we support our partner. We provide applicable data-driven insights on interventions and their impact. This enables our partner to accelerate the progress of their regenerative transitions, achieving sustainability targets, and steering further investments. As a result, we are looking for a M&E Specialist, Cocoa Supply Chain. You should bring extensive M&E, project management, and cocoa supply chain experience. You will oversee the implementation of the M&E scope of work for the project. You will support robust M&E system design and innovation, working closely with our project partner. The M&E Specialist, Cocoa Supply Chain will also lead the execution of M&E campaigns with Rainforest Alliance regional field staff to ensure high quality M&E project design, data collection, analysis, results dissemination, and communication with our partner. You will be reporting to the Supply Chain M&E Lead and will work with the project team, Rainforest Alliance departments and thematic experts, and staff in the countries of implementation.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in agriculture, forestry, natural resources, environmental management, or related field;
• Minimum 5 years' experience in related field and M&E, including a preferred 3 years' experience with private sector sustainability activities in the cocoa sector;
• Statistical abilities for campaign design and data analysis;
• Knowledge of ESG reporting frameworks for corporations;
• Experience managing multicultural – global teams remotely;
• Work culturally, linguistically, and diplomatically with diverse internal and external individuals;
• Excellent English writing, editing and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to travel a minimum of 15-20 % per year, internationally.

Responsibilities

• Manage the implementation of the supply chain monitoring and evaluation cocoa project. This includes planning, execution, data analysis, quality assurance, and stakeholder coordination. Ensure alignment with objectives and deadlines.
• Lead the development and implementation of detailed team workplans, ensuring alignment with project goals and timelines.
• Proactively identify and address project management needs to maintain smooth operations and mitigate potential risks;
• Manage the work of a small team of staff and / or consultants in Africa and Latin America, ensuring effective coordination of M&E field data collection campaigns in 4+ countries; coordination scope includes 3rd party enumerators training, data quality assurance, data analysis, and preparation of comprehensive M&E reports;
• Ensure coordination internally with other Rainforest Alliance teams (i.e. data teams, thematic experts, field/regional teams, finance) and external consultants for the execution of the project, ensuring timely deliveries of the project M&E component;
• Maintain relationships with company partner, M&E service providers, and other key stakeholders;
• Oversee budget planning and execution to ensure financial accountability and the efficient allocation of resources.
• Design, review, and advise on M&E systems and indicators;
• Coordinate with external partners to ensure smooth coordination in survey development and quality data collection to ensure high quality data results;
• Design and lead on statistical components of the M&E campaigns to ensure delivery of statistically relevant data to the company partner;
• Oversee regenerative agriculture, carbon emissions, and farm economics analysis review with Rainforest Alliance thematic experts;
• Coordinate the contextualisation of M&E findings with insight and experience from cocoa and other sectors, using relevant secondary data and field observations;
• Lead data analysis on M&E data collected in the field, identifying important outcomes and trends relevant to the cocoa supply chain, bringing expertise in data analysis for impact decision-making;
• Lead the distribution and communication of M&E results and important findings to company partners and RA internal teams, including addressing feedback;
• Ensure delivery of high-quality work promptly.

Benefits

• Opportunities for professional growth and career development.
• Remote working flexibility and flexible hybrid working environment.
• Competitive salary package.
• A favourable time‑off policy, including annual leave days, to help you recharge and balance life outside of work.
• Resilience and personal leave days
• Employee assistance programs
• Wellbeing activities
• Sabbatical opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level