About the Forest Stewardship Council
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a globally recognised non-profit organisation that promotes responsible and sustainable forest management.
FSC works with forest managers, businesses, communities, governments and other stakeholders to support responsible forestry practices and strengthen the long-term health and resilience of forests.
With more than 150 million hectares of certified forests, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is recognised globally among NGOs, consumers and businesses for its work in sustainable forestry and forest certification.
Role Overview
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is seeking a Forest Management Coordinator to lead efforts to expand Forest Management certification in Panama.
Job Title: Forest Management Coordinator (m-f-d)
Job Location: Panama – Remote/Field-Based
Closing Date: Not specified
Contract: Temporary Consultancy Agreement – 2 years, with possible extension subject to satisfactory performance
Employment Type: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Start Date: As soon as possible
Travel: Frequent travel within Panama required
The successful candidate will identify new certification opportunities while supporting existing and prospective certificate holders throughout their certification journey.
This is a field-focused role requiring strong technical knowledge, stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills. The Coordinator will work closely with forest managers, forestry companies, government institutions, communities and other partners to strengthen responsible forest management practices and increase the area of FSC-certified forests in Panama.
The role is ideal for an experienced forestry or environmental professional who can provide practical guidance, deliver training and support organisations in implementing certification standards.
Main Roles and Responsibilities
The Forest Management Coordinator will be responsible for:
Certification Development
- Identifying and developing opportunities to increase Forest Management and Chain of Custody certification across Panama.
- Supporting existing and prospective certificate holders throughout the certification process.
- Providing technical guidance to organisations implementing FSC requirements.
- Supporting organisations in preparing for certification audits.
- Developing practical resources and tools to encourage certification uptake and effective implementation of FSC standards.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with forest managers, forest owners, companies, government agencies, communities and other key stakeholders.
- Serving as a primary point of contact and trusted advisor for existing and prospective certificate holders.
- Working with public, private and civil society organisations to strengthen responsible forest management.
- Supporting the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Cluster team with stakeholder meetings, events and strategic partnerships.
Training and Capacity Building
- Designing and delivering training programmes, workshops and other capacity-building activities.
- Improving stakeholder understanding of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards and certification requirements.
- Providing practical, hands-on technical support in field-based environments.
Field Engagement
- Conducting regular field visits to assess stakeholder needs.
- Addressing challenges related to certification and forest management.
- Identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Working comfortably in remote locations across Panama.
Minimum Education Requirements
Applicants should have a university degree in one of the following fields:
- Forestry.
- Forest Engineering.
- Environmental Engineering.
- Agroforestry.
- Agronomy.
- Natural Resource Management.
- Another closely related discipline.
Additional training in forest certification systems, sustainable forest management or auditing will be considered an advantage.
Experience and Skills Required
To be considered for this position, applicants should have:
- At least 5 years of professional experience in forestry, sustainable forest management, certification, environmental management or related sectors.
- Experience working directly with forest managers, forest owners, forestry companies or certification holders.
- Proven experience delivering training, workshops and capacity-building initiatives.
- Strong stakeholder engagement experience across public, private and civil society organisations.
- Experience providing practical technical support in field-based environments.
- Familiarity with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification systems and standards, which is highly desirable.
- Strong project management and organisational skills.
- The ability to conduct frequent field visits and work in remote locations.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other standard office applications.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
An established professional network within Panama’s forestry and environmental sectors will be an advantage.
Language Requirements
Candidates must have:
- Fluent Spanish, both written and spoken.
- Professional proficiency in English.
Working Hours and Contract Duration
This is a full-time position requiring 40 hours per week.
The role is offered under a two-year consultancy agreement, with the possibility of an extension based on satisfactory performance.
The successful candidate will be expected to start as soon as possible.
Travel Requirements
Frequent travel within Panama is an important part of this position.
The successful candidate should be comfortable conducting field visits and working in remote locations.
Why Join FSC?
This is an opportunity to contribute directly to sustainable forestry and responsible forest management in Panama.
Successful candidates will have the opportunity to:
- Work for a globally recognised organisation focused on protecting and responsibly managing forests.
- Contribute to the growth of FSC Forest Management certification.
- Work with forest managers, companies, communities, governments and environmental stakeholders.
- Join an international community of more than 400 forest stewards.
- Participate in cross-cultural collaboration and professional networking opportunities.
- Work in a dynamic, diverse and inclusive international environment.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply through the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) careers website and submit their CV in English.
Applicants should not include photographs of themselves with their applications.
Only applications submitted through the official application process will be considered.
If you do not receive confirmation that your application has been received, check your spam folder. If the confirmation cannot be found, contact careers@fsc.org.
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