Head of Asia Regional Office

The European Forest Institute

is seeking a

Head of Asia Regional Office

The European Forest Institute (EFI) is an international organisation with 30 member countries and around 130 member organisations.  EFI’s headquarters are located in Joensuu, Finland.  EFI has several offices across Europe, including in Barcelona, Spain and under its International Partnerships Facility a project office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The International Partnerships Facility (IPF) of EFI is a global centre of knowledge and expertise that supports policy and governance reforms to safeguard the world’s forests. It promotes sustainable forest and land use to help protect and restore forests and maximise their role in green economic growth, climate change mitigation and poverty alleviation. It also fosters legal, deforestation-free and sustainable commodity production and trade.

EFI is seeking a senior professional with leadership and international experience to lead EFI’s Project Office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is the regional hub for IPF activities in Asia and the Pacific. The office currently hosts about 10 EFI staff members and coordinates the activities of in-house consultants as well as sub-contractors in Indonesia, Malaysia,Thailand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead IPF’s activities in Asia and the Pacific.

• Manage the team and further develop the interdisciplinary team of national and international experts.

• Overall planning, reporting and use of funding for activities in Asia and the Pacific.

• Technical backstopping of experts.

• Liaise with donors for the joint management of projects implemented by the IPF in Asia and the Pacific and to understand evolving needs related to sustainable forest and land use, forest governance, climate change mitigation, restoration, and sustainable commodity supply chains. 

• Acquire funding for future IPF activities in Asia and the Pacific.

• Coordinate and network with other key players in the forestry and land-use landscape in Asia, the Pacific and globally.

• Position EFI in the broader forest governance, climate, sustainable agriculture commodity supply chains landscape in Asia and the Pacific and lead its future development in the region. 

• Closely communicate with relevant key stakeholders in partner countries, the EU and other donors, as well as representatives from the EU and EU Member States, UK FCDO, EU Delegations, EU MS Embassies, civil society, private sector and international agencies.

• Represent EFI at relevant meetings and events.

Duty station:

The employee will be based at EFI’s Project Office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Employment conditions:

The employee will be an EFI staff member. This is a fixed term appointment of three years with the possibility for further extension subject to the successful candidate’s performance.

This position offers a unique opportunity to work within a stimulating international environment in one of the Institute’s senior positions.

How to apply:

Interested candidates are requested to send (in English) a CV including copies of academic degree certificates/diplomas with a motivation letter outlining how you fulfill the requirements for the position by Monday 2nd June 2025 23:59 CET, using our online application form.

For more information about the post, please contact: Valérie Merckx, Head of International Partnerships Facility: valerie.merckx@efi.int

EFI is an equal opportunity employer. All applications will be treated confidentially.

• Master or higher university degree in relevant discipline. 

• Demonstrated capacity to work across different disciplines.

• At least 15 years of international experience in leading forest and land-use governance processes and teams with a particular focus on Asia.

• Experience with EU policies and project management in the field of forest governance, environmental management and/or technical cooperation.

• Proven track record in fundraising and implementation of policy and governance reform projects.

• Excellent coordination, managerial and networking skills.

• Excellent communications capacity, experience and willingness to engage and work at Director / Ministerial level and with media.

• Capability to create an inspiring teamwork environment in an international and multi-cultural setting with experts from different countries and backgrounds.

• Professional proficiency in English. Command of Bahasa Malaysia/Indonesia or other Asian languages is an asset.