Hub Director, Wyss Academy Hub Southeast Asia, RECOFTC Main office

Deadline for application:  24 October 2025

RECOFTC is an international nonprofit organization working towards a future where resilient communities with respected rights thrive in forest landscapes that they manage sustainably and equitably. We take a long-term, landscape-based and inclusive approach in supporting local communities to secure their land and resource rights, stop deforestation, find alternative livelihoods and foster gender equality. We have almost 40 years of experience, we have built trusting relationships with partners from communities, governments, businesses, academia and civil society organizations. Our innovations, knowledge and initiatives enable countries to foster good forest governance, mitigate and adapt to climate change and achieve the UN Global Goals.

We operate in the Asia-Pacific region, with country offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Viet Nam.

RECOFTC closely collaborates with the Wyss Academy for Nature to research, develop and implement innovative solutions for addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, land-use change and rising inequality. These solutions aim to connect technical, social, economic, institutional and policy innovations at the interface of nature and people.

The Wyss Academy for Nature is a Swiss foundation that co-designs and tests new development pathways and conservation approaches that benefit nature and people. Its work builds on scientific knowledge, stakeholder engagement and the implementation of innovative solutions. The Wyss Academy for Nature operates through four regional stewardship hubs in East Africa (Kenya), South America (Peru), Southeast Asia (Thailand) and Europe (Switzerland) guided by its vision of a just and sustainable world where nature conservation and human well-being reinforce one another.  

The Hub Southeast Asia of the Wyss Academy for Nature, in collaboration with RECOFTC, is seeking a visionary and entrepreneurial Hub Director to lead its team and operations. This senior leadership position offers a unique opportunity to drive systemic change by co-creating and implementing innovative, on-the-ground solutions that benefit nature and people. The role is based in Bangkok, Thailand. The initial appointment is for 24 months, with the possibility of extension.

Tasks and duties
The Hub Director is a key member of the Hub Southeast Asia team, r eporting to the Wyss Academy’s Head of Regional Stewardship Hubs and RECOFTC’s Executive Director. The Hub Director will serve as the primary contact point between the region, RECOFTC, the Wyss Academy for Nature’s headquarters (HQ) and other regional stewardship hubs.

The Director will develop, guide and supervise the implementation of a portfolio of projects driving systemic change towards nature-people benefits in landscapes such as in Nan Province, Thailand and beyond  . The Director directly supervises the Hub Southeast Asia team, comprising about eight staff members    and consultants, maintaining a culture of collaboration and support to ensure the team is fully engaged and integrated within RECOFTC. This includes adherence to RECOFTC policies, procedures, ethics and core values.

The Hub Director’s main duties are:
Strategic leadership, coordination and management

• Lead the design and execution of Hub Southeast Asia operations in collaboration with the Hub’s Senior Advisor, Wyss Academy for Nature teams, local partners and external experts
• Develop and manage an inspiring, innovative and impact-oriented project portfolio
• Collaborate with the Hub Southeast team and partners to define project scope, establish milestones and set deliverables and indicators aligned with institutional objectives
• Lead programmatic, technical and financial reporting
• Design and implement strategies to optimize project performance in areas such as budgeting, monitoring and evaluation, and contract management

Partnership management and communications

• Expand and strengthen the Wyss Academy’s partner network, fostering collaboration and proactively increasing the Hub’s visibility in Southeast Asia
• Serve as the primary liaison on behalf of the Wyss Academy for Nature Hub Southeast Asia with all external partners, including host country representatives, donor agencies, government ministries, research institutions, NGOs and the private sector
• Work closely with Hub Southeast Asia Communications Specialists, Regional Research Leaders and the Wyss Academy HQ Communications team to ensure cohesive and effective communication
• Strengthen the partnership and collaboration with Kasetsart University and RECOFTC, leveraging their networks and resources

Resource mobilization

• Develop the Hub’s strategic vision and lead proposal and business development activities.

Financial and administrative management

• Oversee financial management and administration, ensuring compliance with RECOFTC policies, Wyss Academy directives, donor requirements and all applicable laws
• Supervise preparation of annual budgets and coordinate with the Wyss Academy HQ Finance team, Senior Advisor and budget holders
• Ensure all transactions and procedures comply with RECOFTC’s policies, guidelines and relevant government regulations

Human resources and team leadership

• Provide leadership and direct management for a team of about eight staff and consultants
• Foster a culture of collaboration and engagement within the Hub, connecting the team with HQ and other Wyss Academy hubs and external partners
• Champion a people-centred work environment that supports staff development and retention
• Oversee and promote accountability through effective performance-management processes
• Lead team-building initiatives, ensuring meaningful participation in decision-making
• Ensure adherence to national and international health and safety laws and standards

Qualifications and experience
The Hub Director should have the following essential qualifications and experience: Essential

• Postgraduate qualification related to the relationship between nature and people (e.g., Geography, Sustainability), or equivalent professional experience, preferably with additional management training or an MBA
• At least 10 years of progressive leadership or management experience in sustainable development, nature conservation, or natural resource management in the public, private or civil society sectors
• Proven track record in designing and managing innovative, knowledge-driven projects with concrete and measurable impacts for people and nature
• Demonstrated experience working at the nexus of science, policy and practice, with the ability to translate research into actionable outcomes and influence high-level decisions  
• Established record of building and maintaining strategic partnerships and networks within sustainable development, nature conservation and natural resource management, particularly in Thailand and the broader Southeast Asia region
• Experience in innovation development and management, particularly within innovation labs or relevant programmes in private or civil society organizations
• Fluency in Thai and English
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams and cross-cultural environments

Desirable

• Out-of-the-box thinking and willingness to take calculated risks to achieve impact
• Ability to inspire change and successfully manage people and projects to achieve strategic goals
• Experience managing complex programmes or institutions, including oversight of financial resources and budgets
• Strong decision-making skills, particularly in complex or ambiguous situations
• Demonstrated capacity to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders at all levels
• Skill in communicating complex information and translating it into clear, actionable outcomes for varied audiences
• Proficiency in other Southeast Asian languages

RECOFTC’s core values

At RECOFTC, our core values are the foundation of our culture  and guide all our work. In addition to job-specific skills and experience, the applicant should possess the following characteristics, attitudes and skills:

• Embrace innovation 
• Adapt to and learn from challenges 
• Nurture commitment, responsibility and ownership 
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders 
• Commit to sustainability 
• Cultivate participation, gender equality and social inclusion
• Prioritize well-being  

Commitment to RECOFTC policies and procedures   

At RECOFTC, we uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency and responsibility in all our operations. Our policies and guidelines are designed to ensure a safe, inclusive, sustainable and ethical environment for our staff, partners, consultants and the communities we serve.  

All staff, consultants and contractors engaged by RECOFTC are required to comply with RECOFTC’s policies and procedures while performing their roles with RECOFTC.  

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV and cover letter. The cover letter should describe the candidate’s suitability for the position, state salary expectations and provide contact details of three referees, including recent supervisors. Please apply by clicking "Apply Now".

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. RECOFTC offers a competitive compensation package.
• For more information about RECOFTC, please visit our website at https://www.recoftc.org/

RECOFTC is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on ethnicity, religion, age, nationality, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, colour, marital status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by RECOFTC's values and code of conduct. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified disabled applicants to participate in the application process. If you require special accommodation, please inform RECOFTC's Human Resources in writing at the time of application. The successful candidate will be selected based on merit. RECOFTC strongly encourages women and individuals from Indigenous and ethnic groups to apply.