Director of Asia Pacific Conservation

Position Title:  Director of Asia Pacific Conservation 

Location:  Remote in region (Asia Pacific) or USA 

Salary: Commensurate with experience. Salary to be determined by the regional market in the candidate’s country of residence.

Status: Full-time, salaried, exempt 

Reports to: Vice President, Conservation 

Application Instructions: Please upload your resume to ensure your application is completed. In lieu of a cover letter you will be asked the essay question: “In 500 words or less, please describe your experience working with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in conservation. With this experience in mind, how do you perceive the opportunities and challenges of balancing ambitious conservation targets with respect for Indigenous rights and community priorities in the region over the next five years?” 

ABOUT US:

Since 1988, Rainforest Trust has been safeguarding imperiled tropical habitats and saving endangered species by supporting rights-based conservation measures such as affirming and securing rights to Indigenous or Traditional Territories, recognizing Conserved Areas (OECMs), and establishing traditional Protected Areas, including those with co-management of Indigenous or local communities. Working in partnership with local organizations and communities, we have protected more than 56 million acres of vital habitat across Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. Rainforest Trust is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that relies upon the generous support of the public to successfully implement our important conservation action.

HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR MISSION:

The Director of Asia Pacific Conservation will lead projects and partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region with a particular focus on Indonesia and the island of New Guinea.

• Lead the Asia Pacific regional team to cultivate and manage a regional conservation project portfolio that advances 30×30 goals to create protected and conserved areas.
• Build and leverage strong relationships with local organizations, Indigenous and local communities, regional experts, and government agencies.
• Advance Rainforest Trust’s influence and fundraising efforts through communication, visibility, and partnerships.
• Strengthen Rainforest Trust’s grantmaking approach by overseeing effective processes and fostering high-impact grants.

TO SUCCEED IN THIS ROLE, WE’RE HOPING YOU’LL HAVE:

• A deep understanding of protected and conserved area creation in Asia-Pacific, including national frameworks, land tenure systems, and 30×30 policy contexts.
• Experience managing high-performing, diverse, international, and remote teams.
• Deep relationships with regional conservation actors, including IPLCs and local NGOs.
• The ability to build new strategic relationships in complex stakeholder environments.
• An understanding of IPLC roles and challenges in achieving durable conservation and 30×30.
• Demonstrated ability to raise funds and build relationships with donors (especially foundations).
• The ability to communicate complex legal and scientific content to a non-technical audience.
• The ability to expand RT’s influence in the donor ecosystem and build new strategic partnerships.
• A strong grasp of grantmaking processes and what makes a good conservation grant.
• Experience managing grant systems and workflows (e.g. Asana, Salesforce).
• Recognition of the critical role local NGOs play over International NGOs.
• The ability to adapt grantmaking approaches to better support local NGOs and ensure funding reaches grassroots organizations.
• An understanding of how to assess proposals’ strengths, weaknesses, feasibility, alignment with strategy, and potential impact to guide strong conservation funding decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Fluency or proficiency in spoken and written Bahasa Indonesia a plus.
• A demonstrated commitment to and enthusiasm for Rainforest Trust’s mission and respect for our core values: Nature & People; Efficiency; Transparency; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Partnerships & Collaboration; Science & Innovation.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Rainforest Trust values the diversity of our planet and environment and wants our team to reflect the richness of the global population we serve. We believe that striving to maintain a demographically diverse workforce where employees are treated equitably and feel a strong sense of inclusion is not only an ethical imperative but also a key driver of innovation and excellence, enhancing our ability to fulfill our mission of conserving and protecting our natural environment.  

We put this belief into action by striving to apply this lens to every aspect of employment, from how we hire and recruit, to how we determine compensation and benefits, to the training and development we offer, and the working conditions we create. 

We are an equal-opportunity employer and give all qualified applicants consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. 

WORKING CONDITIONS AND TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Rainforest Trust is a remote first organization and the incumbent will be expected to work primarily from home with an excellent internet connection, though part-time office space may be available in Washington DC. Occasional national and/or international travel may be required for organizational meetings and other events. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by a teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Ability to remain in a stationary position at a computer terminal for an extended period. The person in this position frequently communicates with colleagues both verbally and in writing and must be able to exchange accurate, neat and thorough information. 

ANTICIPATED SALARY 

The salary for this position is commensurate with experience. The actual salary for international hires will be determined by the regional market in the candidate’s country of residence. Information on other benefits may be found on our Careers Page.