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Forestry Investments Specialist, FSC I&P

Terms of Reference

1/27/2026

Overview

Are you passionate about combating climate change and protecting biodiversity? Would you like to contribute to an international organization dedicated to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and protecting the world’s forests? FSC Investments and Partnerships (FSC I&P) is seeking for a Forestry Investments Specialist to support the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) sustainable finance work. FSC I&P is hiring a contractor to accomplish the following overarching tasks: a) identification and development of a strong pipeline of bankable projects ready for investment that yields economic, environmental, and social benefits for forest stewards; b) identification and prospecting of financial institutions as potential investors for forest-related projects, and c) ultimately, the realization of financing to the projects, closing the deals.

This position is a contract with specific deliverables and responsibilities. The time commitment is expected to equate to the time commitment of a full-time position. The position has a global reach, and it is preferred to be based in Indonesia where FSC actively works.

This position’s primary point of contact for coordination, engagement, and deliverables is the Chief of Sustainable Finance and Partnerships at FSC I&P.

About FSC and FSC Investments & Partnerships

In the early 1990s, leaders in business, human rights, and the environment established FSC to combat threats to the world’s forests. FSC certification ensures products from forests are responsibly managed according to robust guidelines benefiting the environment and society.

Established in 2016, FSC I&P is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to amplifying responsible forest management and innovation. It collaborates with FSC offices worldwide and the International Secretariat in Bonn, Germany.

About the Consultancy

FSC sustainable finance work aims to increase capital flows to sustainable forestry by catalyzing system-level conditions that incentivize sustainable finance toward responsible forestry, enabling people, businesses and ecosystems to be resilient and thrive.

This contract will enable FSC to position sustainable forestry as a credible, investable asset class and accelerate capital flows toward projects that benefit people, businesses, and ecosystems.

The consultant will identify, assess, and prepare forestry projects for investment readiness, building a strong pipeline of high-integrity opportunities aligned with FSC’s mission. Success for this job looks like that by the end of the 12-month period, the contractor will have identified at least 10 bankable projects investor-ready; five of them during the first six months or earlier; and at the end of the 12 months, at least 3-5 closed deals and/or in the process to close; considering the timing of the consultancy.

The Focus is on emerging markets and projects that deliver verified environmental and social impacts, including climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and community benefits such as jobs and gender equity. Project identification will be a result of close collaboration with FSC relevant actors to be facilitated by the Chief of Sustainable Finance & Partnerships.

The decision on which projects to support will be determined by the Chief of Sustainable Finance & Partnerships.

Deliverables

1. Pipeline Development & Origination

The Consultant will deliver the following:

  1. Origination of Bankable Projects
  • Identification, qualification, and documentation of a minimum of 10 investment ready or near investment-ready forestry and nature-based projects, especially in emerging economies and/or Global South.
  1. Screening & Feasibility Dossiers
  • Initial screening assessments and feasibility summaries for all projects added to the pipeline, including technical potential, financial viability, risks, and expected social/environmental impact.
  1. Global Pipeline Management System
  • A maintained and monthly updated pipeline tracker (Excel, CRM, or equivalent) capturing project status, metrics on its contributions to FSC priorities (Number of hectares, verified impacts, etc)and key technical/financial/social metrics, and status in the investment process to demonstrate origination effectiveness

2. Investment Readiness Support

The Consultant will deliver the following:

  1. Investment-Ready Documentation Packages
  • For selected projects, preparation or refinement of key investment readiness materials, including:
  • business models
  • financial projections
  • ESG safeguards
  • social co-benefits and community impact documentation
  1. Due Diligence Coordination Package
  • A documented due diligence process for each supported project, including completed checklists and evidence of compliance and/or alignment (for those in the FSC pipeline) with FSC standards and global best practices.
  1. Blended Finance Structuring Inputs
  • Drafts or technical notes supporting the structuring of blended finance instruments (equity, debt, guarantees, grants), tailored to project needs, as needed to facilitate engagement with financial institutions

3. Investor & Partner Engagement

The Consultant will deliver:

  1. Investor Facing Materials
  • High quality investment memos, pitch decks, and virtual data room folders for priority projects.
  1. Facilitated Introductions & Matchmaking Notes
  • A record of introductions made between project developers and financing partners, including follow-up actions and outcomes.

4. Knowledge Sharing

The Consultant will deliver:

  1. Knowledge Sharing Products
  • At least one internal knowledge brief or presentation summarizing insights, lessons learned, and best practices to strengthen local team and partner capacity.

5. Other Deliverables

  • Additional outputs as mutually agreed with the Chief of Sustainable Finance & Partnerships, aligned with the objectives of strengthening FSC’s sustainable finance pipeline and partnerships.

Qualifications:

Education:

  • Degree in finance, economics, forestry, environmental management, or related field, or the equivalent experience

Experience:

  • 5+ years in project origination, investment readiness, or development finance, preferably in forestry, natural capital, or nature-based solutions.
  • Proven track record engaging investors and moving projects to financial close.
  • Familiarity with blended finance instruments (guarantees, mezzanine, concessional capital).
  • Strong understanding of taxonomies and regulatory frameworks
  • Experience with TCFD, TNFD, ISSB-aligned disclosures

Skills:

  • Knowledgeable about what financial institutions look for when they make decisions about risk management, financing and investing.
  • Outstanding analytical, collaborative, teamwork, and communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to work efficiently, flexibly, empathetically, and diplomatically in multicultural and multi-stakeholder environments.
  • Highly organized and collaborative, with a capacity for building long-term relationships
  • Strong financial modeling and due diligence capabilities.
  • Knowledge of forestry certification and ESG frameworks; carbon standards highly desirable.
  • Excellent relationship building and negotiation skills.
  • Ability to work across cultures and geographies.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

FSC I&P is committed to building an organization and team, supporting leaders, and developing policies that embrace diversity, foster an environment of inclusion, and enhance equity. We believe that differences in backgrounds, in experiences, in perspectives, and in identities lead to stronger organizations, stronger teams, and stronger, more effective solutions for forests and the people that call them home. We value diversity across multiple dimensions, including but not limited to race, color, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious belief, disability status, and age.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when in fact they often do.

Contract

This is a 12-month consulting engagement, renewable based on results and mutual interest. The contract compensation is from $45,000-$60,000 with the opportunity of a bonus upon successful completion of all contract deliverables.

Working Conditions

This consultant will need to regularly be reasonably available as needed to support deliverables across time zones Travel is moderate and as needed to fulfill agreed-upon deliverables. The contractor will need to supply their own equipment, including a computer and internet that will allow virtual calls.

TO APPLY:

To apply, email your resume and please submit 1–2 examples of prior work relevant to this consultancy. Examples may include (but are not limited to): investment memos, project screening assessments, pipeline summaries, financial models (redacted), pitch decks, or written deal summaries. Submissions may be redacted as needed. In addition, review and complete the FSC I&P Forestry Investment Specialist Questionnaire.


The link to apply will bring you to a download of the questionnaire. Please fill that out, and return all materials:

Please send materials to R.Foster@fsc.org. Reference: Forestry Investments Specialist [YOUR NAME]” in the subject line. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until Monday February 9th, 2026

FSC Investments & Partnerships is an equal opportunity employer and will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities during the hiring process.

http://www.fsc.org/donate