Forest Officer

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

ANSAB is a civil society organization that has been working for biodiversity conservation and livelihoods improvement across South Asia for three decades. It places community empowerment and economic incentives at the heart of its approach, and has been consistently evolving, consolidating, institutionalizing and advancing the approaches and strategies for the promotion of community-based enterprises and value chains, natural resources management and biodiversity conservation, enabling policy environment and multi-stakeholders.

ANSAB is urgently seeking to recruit a qualified, dynamic, and results-oriented individual for the position of Forest Officer under a project to be implemented across ten Himalayan districts of Nepal: Darchula, Bajhang, Bajura, Humla, Mugu, Jumla, Dolpa, Rukum-East, Gorkha, and Taplejung.

POSITION: FOREST OFFICER

Duty station: One or two of the project districts

Duration: 4 years (including a six-month probation period)

Required number: 1

Major roles and responsibilities:

The forest officer is responsible for the efficient and timely execution of the project activities at district/s level. Under the overall supervision of Senior Manager- Biodiversity and day-to-day reporting to Field Program Coordinator, S/he will look after two of the above-mentioned districts. It is important to note that this position requires excellent coordination skills and needs frequent visits to the project working areas. Given below are the key roles and responsibilities.

1. Liaise with district line agencies viz: Division Forest Offices, Park Offices, FECOFUN district chapters, NTFPs traders, trade associations, harvesters, etc. for effective implementation of activities;
2. Organize and facilitate different surveys, assessments, research, workshops, trainings, and meetings in the district/s, including the exposure visits. Conduct if necessary;
3. Support and mobilize experts while conducting resource inventory of identified NTFPs;
4. Collect district-level trade studies of selected NTFPs;
5. Capacitate and mobilize social mobilizers and Local Resource Persons (LRPs) within the district/s;
6. Analyze the gaps in CFUGs with respect to FairWild Certification standards;
7. Coordinate with CFUGs to (i) deliver trainings on organizational governance, sustainable harvesting, sustainable forest management to meet FairWild certification requirements; (ii) support to prepare and implement different management plans; (iii) provide technical support to identify, assess, and manage high mountain herbs; and (iv) form sub-committees as required;
8. Provide support to existing and potential entrepreneurs on enterprise development, business skills, marketing, FairWild certification, and associated document management.

Qualifications and skills:

1. Minimum B.Sc. in forestry, natural resource management, botany or related field with one years' experience working in the Himalayan districts; 
2. Knowledge on community forestry, resource inventory, NTFPs and certification;
3. Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills in English and Nepali;
4. Ability to plan and prioritize work under pressure and tight deadlines; 
5. Good computer skills, including MS Word and Excel. Knowledge of GIS mapping will add value; 
6. Two-wheeler riding skill with a valid driving license.

Qualified candidates meeting the above requirements may apply by sending an updated Curriculum Vitae (maximum three pager), a cover letter with expected gross salary to jobs@ansab.org.np - clearly mentioning the position you are applying for in the subject line by 4th August, 2025.

Residents from the project districts are strongly encouraged to apply. ANSAB is an equal opportunity employer and doesn’t discriminate any applicant with regards to gender, caste, race, color, or religion.

Only short-listed candidates will be invited for written test and interview. No telephone enquiries will be entertained.