Forest Certification Junior Officer

Who we are

We are an environmental consulting company. What’s our purpose? We put nature at the heart of decision-making by developing science-based solutions.

We support public and private entities that want to improve the environmental, social and economic impacts of policies, projects and investments. As a spin-off of the University of Padova and a certified B Corp; we work locally and internationally bringing scientific innovation into everyone’s life.

At Etifor we like teamwork, we work hard and we never stop being curious: being part of the team means sharing our values (read our Culture Manifesto to find out more). For us the only thing that really matters is how green your heart is: we welcome and value (bio)diversity in all its forms!

Who are we looking for?

A passionate individual, enthusiastic about making a positive impact on the world's forests and eager to contribute to their protection and improvement through advancing environmental stewardship and certification;

A technically skilled person, with knowledge of sustainable forest management principles and practices, coupled with a keen interest in exploring forest certification standards, metrics and measurement methodologies;

A dynamic team member with the ability to work effectively both in the field and in the office;

A precise and organized person with good analytical and interpersonal skills, with the capacity to organize, analyze and report data efficiently, and fostering effective collaboration with diverse stakeholders;

Someone who shares our company's ethical and sustainability values and has a personal and professional interest in environmental issues.

Role and responsibilities

The person will work within Etifor's FORESTS Program and support the Forest Certification Manager and its team. 

The selected person will have the following responsibilities:

• support the management and advancement of the Etifor’s FSC® Certification Group (Gruppo Foreste Sostenibili) at Italian level, which today represents more than 4.000 ha of forest land managed by more than different types of forest managers (e.g. public bodies, forest enterprises, farms) and is continuously and rapidly expanding. This includes the following main activities:

a. collecting, organizing and analyzing data on sustainable forest management practices and impacts; 

b. organizing and facilitating meetings with forest managers and stakeholder; 

c. preparing technical and administrative documents and reports; 

d. assisting both internal and external auditing processes; 

e. providing day to day technical guidance to group members to ensure the compliance with FSC standards, including organizing online and physical training sessions for group members;

f. helping group members use the certification to take advantage of opportunities and secure funding for sustainable forest management (e.g. public grants, attracting private capital opportunities, etc.). This way, we maximize the benefits of the certification.

• support, as part of a team, the development and management of projects related to forest certification both at Italian and international level, including the support to areas and opportunities scouting, feasibility assessments, project design and budgeting, implementation, and project communication and dissemination; 
• support the development of new project proposals and tenders for Italian and international clients and project bids related to forest certification.

These responsibilities may be revised to leverage the specific skills and ambitions of the individual.

Education

We're looking for candidates with a Master's or Specialist degree in the fields of forestry and environmental sciences.

While your educational background is important, it doesn't tell the whole story. If you believe you have the right spirit, knowledge, and skills for this role, please send us your application! Etifor offers opportunities for ongoing training, so a strong commitment to staying updated on topics relevant to your role is essential.

Experience

Applicants should have a minimum of one year of experience in one or more of the following roles:

• consultant, employee or intern for private companies or public entities working on topics that are relevant for the job;
• collaborator or scholar in university departments dealing with the topics that are relevant for the job;
• agronomist and/or forestry technician, also either as self-employed worker or in associated firms;
• volunteer experiences related to topics relevant for the job.

Candidates with less experience than required may be considered based on their educational qualifications and other specific skills.

Required skills

• Fluent in Italian, with a good command of written and spoken English;
• Good organizational and analytical skills to efficiently carry out data organization, analysis and reporting tasks;
• Good interpersonal skills, with clear and effective written communication and active listening abilities, enabling effective engagement and collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders;
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, particularly Word and Excel.
• Knowledge of GIS software (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS, ...) will be considered a plus.
• Driver's license and access to a car are preferred.

What We Offer

The Etifor team will support your growth within the company in an international and friendly corporate environment. In particular, we provide:

• A dynamic, young, and innovative environment that values diversity and inclusion.
• Work-life balance through smart working contracts (minimum 4 days in presence per month, or more if you wish) and flexible hours.
• Professional growth opportunities with tailored paths, mentoring, and numerous training and development opportunities (keep in mind that Etifor is a spin-off from the University of Padua).
• A team working at both the local and international levels to reconnect people with nature by addressing climate change and biodiversity loss issues.
• Welfare plan, adjusted based on seniority, which includes transportation vouchers, travel opportunities, sports, wellness, and cultural benefits, plus daily meal vouchers worth 8 euros per working day.

Contract info

Start Date: May-June 2024.

Work Location: Etifor's office in Padua at Piazza Alcide de Gasperi, No. 41. We have a super-flexible smartworking policy!

Duration and level: To be determined during the interviews, based on experience.

Compensation: RAL 18-23k + ticket restaurant (8 euros per day worked) + Welfare plan + variable end-of-year bonus

Contract Type: Full-time (CCNL Commercio).

Hope we gave you all the information you need to consider joining our amazing team!