Regional Ecosystem Services Lead, APAC (m-f-d)

Regional Ecosystem Services Lead, APAC (m‑f‑d) FSC International • Bonn, North Rhine‑Westphalia, Germany

The Scope

We are looking for an engaged Regional Ecosystem Services Lead APAC who brings solid expertise and a passion for FSC’s mission to work with us in a multinational environment. As our Regional Ecosystem Services Lead APAC you will play a key role in strengthening FSC’s ecosystem services strategy by driving market uptake, engaging diverse stakeholders and ensuring credible high‑quality implementation on the ground. We are seeking a strategic collaborative professional who can translate complex sustainability concepts into practical action, build strong partnerships and champion the value of ecosystem services certification to unlock enhanced forest benefits.

Stakeholder Engagement and Market Development

• Conduct market analysis to identify gaps in Ecosystem Service offerings and potential growth areas.
• Develop strategies to engage with stakeholders including corporates and governments to facilitate the uptake of ecosystem services and the growth of ES‑certified area.
• Develop strategic partnership plans (e.g. with NGOs, brands, financial institutions) to drive tangible outcomes and revenue‑generating opportunities related to ecosystem services.
• Identify key stakeholders for feedback on ecosystem service initiatives and strategies.
• Design and implement capacity‑building formats tailored to the needs of certificate holders and partners.
• Map and expand stakeholder networks focusing on communities, governmental bodies and the private sector to foster collaboration.

Policy & Advocacy

• Engage with government agencies and financial institutions to advocate for the integration of ecosystem services into relevant policies and frameworks.
• Oversee the development of policies that recognize and promote ecosystem services at regional and global levels.
• Participate in regional policy dialogues, events and conferences to represent organisational interests and share insights.

Capacity & Knowledge Building

• Oversee the development and delivery of training programs ensuring high completion rates and relevant content for certificate holders, auditors and communities.
• Create and adapt technical guidance materials specifically designed for the Asia Pacific region.
• Provide timely responses to technical inquiries to ensure stakeholders receive necessary assistance.

Internal Performance & Coordination

• Monitor and report on the progress of regional ecosystem service strategies ensuring alignment with global organisational goals.
• Manage project budgets effectively ensuring variance remains within acceptable limits.
• Facilitate collaboration with other FSC programmes (e.g. Forest Management, Marketing & Communications) to enhance overall impact.

Impact Measurement

• Develop metrics and frameworks to assess and report on the benefits derived from ecosystem services initiatives (e.g. tonnes of carbon sequestered, hectares of restored habitat, water quality indicators).
• Assist partners in utilising ecosystem service claims for marketing purposes to enhance visibility and outreach.
• Track and analyse the visibility of initiatives through media mentions and case studies and regularly report on impact.

Your profile

Education and Training

• University degree in Environmental Science, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Ecology, Sustainability/Climate, Environmental Economics or related field; or equivalent experience.
• Additional training in Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV), impact measurement, project finance for nature‑based solutions or ESG/sustainability reporting is an asset.

Working Experience, Style and Skills

• Experience: 7–10 years in forestry ecosystem services, nature‑based solutions, climate/biodiversity markets or sustainable land use in APAC, with hands‑on programme or project delivery.
• Technical: Familiarity with ecosystem services identification, baselining, monitoring approaches and credible result/claim verification; understanding of market demand and corporate use cases for ES outcomes.
• Project & Portfolio Management: Proven ability to scope, plan, budget and deliver multistakeholder projects across countries; strong risk management and issue‑resolution skills.
• Stakeholder engagement: Track record working with forest managers, communities/Indigenous Peoples, NGOs, private sector and public actors; skilled at translating technical content for diverse audiences.
• Commercial acumen: Comfortable nurturing partnership pipelines, structuring collaboration agreements and aligning value propositions around verified environmental outcomes.
• Work style: Solution‑oriented, proactive, organised and comfortable operating across cultures in a fast‑moving, impact‑driven environment; diligent with high attention to accuracy.

Language & Communication Skills

• Fluency in English (spoken and written).
• One or more APAC languages (e.g. Mandarin, Bahasa Indonesia/Malaysia, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi) is advantageous.
• Excellent facilitation, presentation and writing skills; can produce clear guidance and compelling impact narratives.

Digital Skills

• Strong proficiency with MS Office/365 (Excel/PowerPoint/Word/Teams/SharePoint).
• Experience with CRM or pipeline tools (e.g. Salesforce) and content management systems is a plus.
• Comfort with basic data workflows for MRV (e.g. spreadsheets, dashboards) and collaboration platforms.

Others

• Experience working in multicultural, multilingual global teams and/or NGOs/non‑profits.
• Strong alignment with FSC’s mission and values; cultural awareness and sensitivity toward diverse stakeholder perspectives.
• Ability to represent FSC with professionalism and integrity.

Why us

• Be part of a globally recognized organization at the forefront of sustainable forestry and contribute to the mission to help protect the world’s forests.
• Play an active role in the FSC global community of 400 forest stewards who come together in person at least once a year.
• Benefit from cross‑cultural collaboration and networking opportunities.

The Fine Print

• Location: Remote APAC region.
• Working Hours: Full time – 40 hours per week.
• Duration of Consultancy agreement: 2 years (extension possible subject to satisfactory performance).
• Travel: Travel is required (mostly regional).

How to Apply

Ready to make a difference? Join FSC and help shape a sustainable future. Don’t delay – apply now!

Please apply via our website by submitting your CV in English. Do not send any photos of yourself.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please be informed that by applying for this position you automatically accept our Data Protection Information on processing your personal data.

We are looking forward to your application!

About us

Welcome to FSC! The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a globally recognized non‑profit organization at the forefront of promoting sustainable forestry. With over 150 million hectares of certified forests and a trusted reputation among NGOs, consumers and businesses, FSC is leading the way in ensuring the long‑term health and resilience of the world’s forests.