We are seeking a highly skilled and dedicated adviser to lead RFN’s global work towards the finance sector to halt market-driven deforestation, forest degradation and human rights violations. RFN has been an international pioneer in advocating for finance sector action to stop deforestation, and this position will further develop and implement this work.

The next decade will be decisive to save the last tropical rainforests, and we at Rainforest Foundation Norway/Regnskogfondet (RFN) aim to achieve this goal. Global investments and trade in agricultural commodities and extractive minerals constitute the largest economic threats to the world’s tropical forests, and these economic activities are often financed through international private capital. Financial institutions play a role in ensuring the deforestation-free nature of global commodity trade, both through their financing decisions as well as through their role as shareholders of influential companies.

We are looking for a person that is systematic, creative and self-driven, and strongly believes in the fight to protect rainforests and indigenous peoples’ rights. You are well informed about commercially driven deforestation, and in particular the role of that financial institutions can play through their stewardship and active ownership activities. You are able to translate key issues that RFN and its partners work on into materials that are understandable and actionable for a financial audience.

You will be part of RFN’s Deforestation-Free Markets team, which is an ambitious, skilled, international, and very social team that has achieved impressive results both in Norway and internationally. The team is responsible for RFN’s global work to reduce demand for commodities that drive deforestation, to stop financing of rainforest destruction and to influence companies to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains. The work is done in close collaboration with other units in the organization, our partners in rainforest countries and other allies.

Applicants without specific knowledge on the drivers of deforestation within the responsibility of the position are also welcome to apply if they have other documented relevant experience and are personally suitable for the job.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead responsibility to develop, plan and implement RFN’s global strategy towards the finance sector to halt deforestation, forest degradation and human rights violations by commercial actors, to ensure that RFN’s advocacy work and recommendations to the sector is strategic, well-informed and actionable
• Be RFN’s main contact point towards finance sector, incl responsibility for maintaining and expanding our network and for oral and written communication
• Ensure synergy with other work-streams within the team, towards high-risk supply chains and public and private decision makers, and with other RFN teams
• Project management, incl. financial management, planning, monitoring, and reporting, for relevant funding streams
• Contribute to the fulfilment of the team’s overall mandate

Competencies and skills:

• Demonstrated ability to identify and engage with key actors in the financial sector that are important to achieve RFN’s objectives. An existing network with responsible finance actors is a plus.
• General knowledge of the key commodities driving deforestation, forest degradation and human rights violations
• Analytical skills to be able to assess where RFN may have an impact towards the financial sector
• Communication, collaboration and networking skills, for advocacy work towards high-level decision-makers in the financial sector, other relevant decision-makers, and co-operation with allied actors
• Ability to connect topics and insights from RFN colleagues and partner organisations to concepts and perspectives used by the financial sector.
• Project management skills, incl. financial management and planning/monitoring/reporting
• Demonstrated ability to use English as your work language. Knowledge of Norwegian, Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish and Portuguese is an asset.
• Personal traits: Systematic, creative, self-driven

Other abilities and personal strengths, incl. likelihood of quickly achieving the necessary knowledge and skills described above, may compensate for shortcomings in the competencies required. Personal suitability (personlig egnethet) will always be considered.

Experience from working within or towards the private sector, and especially the finance sector, on related issues is valued.

We can offer:

• An exciting, dynamic and meaningful job
• A working environment characterized by diversity, generosity, humour and highly skilled and motivated colleagues
• Salary according to agreement and good insurance and pension schemes
• Flexible working hours and freedom to design own work, incl personal development opportunities

The position is a permanent, full-time position, at RFN’s office in central Oslo. Other placements can be considered. The position requires a valid work permit within Schengen. Annual salary according to RFN’s salary table is NOK 620 000-720 000, depending on relevant experience and qualifications.

For more information, contact head of Drivers of deforestation programme, Nils Hermann Ranum, nils.hermann@rainforest.no or telephone +47 99 00 10 32.

Deadline for application is May 7, 2023.

Rainforest Foundation Norway supports indigenous peoples and traditional populations of the world’s rainforests in their efforts to protect their environment and secure their customary rights. RFN was established in 1989 and works alongside local environmental, Indigenous, and human rights organizations in the main rainforest countries in the Amazon region, Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. RFN is an independent organization, and part of the international Rainforest Foundation network, with sister organizations in the United Kingdom and the USA.