Market Development Officer (m-f-d) – Congo Basin & West Africa

Basin

Organization: FSC - Forest Stewardship Council
Location: Basin
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
- Sustainable trade and development
- Sustainable Business Development
Closing Date: 2025-03-21

The Scope

We are looking for an engaged Market Development Officer who brings solid expertise and a passion for FSC’s mission, to work with us in a multinational environment.

The Market Development Officer will undertake market development across various value chains by driving Chain-of-Custody (COC) certification, Promotional License Agreements (PLA), and increasing FSC brand awareness in B2B and B2C market segments in the region.

Main Roles & Responsibilities

Develop and implement a sub-regional Value Chain Development plan across all applicable forest product sectors.
Achieve annual COC certification and PLA targets.
Handle COC enquiries, e-training site, certification body queries.
Follow relevant market sector trends and undertake market analysis when required.
Key Account management with with important Certificate Holders and PLA holders (e.g. retail groups).
Maintain and develop marketing materials following Trademark Usage Guides and Brand Style Guides.
Organize and attend relevant events, as required.
Administer PLAs handling the approval processes, maintain salesforce database, license pricing, invoicing and renewals.
Work in collaboration with FSC International and Africa Comms Teams and develop sub-regional market relevant content (all media including social).
Implement campaigns, commission impact stories, newsletter content and update sub-regional components of the website.
Prepare monthly market development and communications.

Your profile

Education and Training:

University degree or equivalent training or experience in a relevant field, for example, e.g. marketing, communications, business studies.

Working Experience, Style and Skills:

At least 4 years of professional experience in marketing or sales for highly respected organisation(s), with executive level client-facing experience.
Commercial orientation: understanding of private sector buying patterns and commercial value propositions.
Some knowledge of Sustainability Certification Systems (e.g. FSC, Fairtrade, Fair wild, MSC, Better Cotton, Rain Forest Alliance).
Marketing/Communications/Sales Planning and reporting.
Good time management: Ability to drive results within agreed timelines and handle simultaneous functions and stakeholder interests
Solution oriented attitude to work.
Natural and highly effective collaborator with ability to drive results through teamwork.
Demonstrate good engagement and networking skills.

Language & Communication Skills:

Excellent command of English (spoken and written).
Proficiency in another language for example French and other local languages is a plus.
Exemplary verbal and written communication skills that create cohesive team efforts and support decision making.
The ability to facilitate interactive discussions and maintain positive interpersonal relations.

Digital Skills – good skills in the use of/experience with:

Standard software packages (MS Office).
Social media posting.
Creative design e.g. Canva, PowerPoint
Experience (basic) with Customer Relations Management (CRM) systems such as Salesforce.
Website content platform upload experience.

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 by working in a dynamic, inclusive, and diverse international culture with over 60 nationalities represented under one roof.

The Fine Print

Location: Congo Basin/West Africa.
Working Hours: Full time - 40 hours per week.
Contract: Service and Licence Agreement.
Duration: 2 years (extension possible).
Starting Date: As soon as possible.
Travel: Sporadic travel is required.

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.
Please do not send any photos of yourself.
The deadline for applications is 21 March 2025.

For FSC, inclusiveness and diversity are important values. As such, we welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds and are entirely committed to consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age and disability.

We will confirm receipt of your application. Should you not receive a confirmation of receipt please check your spam filter and if you cannot find it there contact us at careers@fsc.org

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!

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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.

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We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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