Partnerships for Forests 2 Component 3, Project Officer (DRC)
About Palladium
Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 50 countries and have a workforce of more than 2,000 talented and motivated staff around the world.
Palladium is part of GISI’s global family of companies, which aims to create solutions for the world’s most complex challenges. With annual revenues of $14 billion, GISI’s approximately 15,000 employees are engaged in projects across 100 countries worldwide providing construction, program/project management, and engineering consulting services.
Background to the Project
The Partnerships for Forests (P4F) programme, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), supports the development of capacity and market systems to enable rural communities and national economies to benefit from a sustainable forest and land-use economy. The programme operates in Cameroon, DRC, Republic of Congo, and Gabon.
P4F works closely with local organisations and communities to enable them benefit from investment in sustainable land-use sectors. The programme delivers support to strengthen the capacity of public bodies, financial institutions, companies, business associations, and other actors to support people to benefit from sustainable land-use activities, including community-based forest management.
Purpose of Position
The Project Officer will support the Central Project Management team from DRC in identifying, developing and managing investable projects and partnerships in sustainable land use. The role combines strategic project origination with operational and administrative support to ensure effective implementation and reporting. This role requires fluency in French and English.
Primary Responsibilities
Project Origination & Technical Support
Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 50 countries and have a workforce of more than 2,000 talented and motivated staff around the world.
Palladium is part of GISI’s global family of companies, which aims to create solutions for the world’s most complex challenges. With annual revenues of $14 billion, GISI’s approximately 15,000 employees are engaged in projects across 100 countries worldwide providing construction, program/project management, and engineering consulting services.
Background to the Project
The Partnerships for Forests (P4F) programme, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), supports the development of capacity and market systems to enable rural communities and national economies to benefit from a sustainable forest and land-use economy. The programme operates in Cameroon, DRC, Republic of Congo, and Gabon.
P4F works closely with local organisations and communities to enable them benefit from investment in sustainable land-use sectors. The programme delivers support to strengthen the capacity of public bodies, financial institutions, companies, business associations, and other actors to support people to benefit from sustainable land-use activities, including community-based forest management.
Purpose of Position
The Project Officer will support the Central Project Management team from DRC in identifying, developing and managing investable projects and partnerships in sustainable land use. The role combines strategic project origination with operational and administrative support to ensure effective implementation and reporting. This role requires fluency in French and English.
Primary Responsibilities
Project Origination & Technical Support
- Identify and assess high-potential forest partnership business models aligned with programme strategy. Support business plan development and capacity building for investees.
- Identify the need for and manage the delivery of technical assistance to pilot and scale sustainable land-use businesses.
- Prepare investment pitches and concept notes for internal and client approval.
- Conduct financial and technical analysis of value chains and business models.
- Track project milestones and ensure timely delivery of outputs.
- Maintain communication with stakeholders including donors, partners, and beneficiaries.
- Support MEL, communications, and cross-cutting workstreams.
- Conduct regular monitoring visits to project sites.
- Manage programme payments, procurement, and contracting processes.
- Support budget tracking and financial reporting.
- Liaise with Palladium corporate functions (Finance, Compliance, HR).
- Maintain documentation and records on SharePoint.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and team coordination.
- Monitor payroll and leave trackers.
- Manage project data systems and portals for idea submission.
- Draft reports, presentations, and meeting documentation.
- Demonstrable experience in projects/programme development or management
- Relevant experience in sustainability or markets/supply chains for agricultural forest commodities associated with deforestation, such as palm oil, soya, timber products etc
- Proven track record in working on projects or programmes involving local or regional stakeholder engagements and PPPs
- Experience in working with a broad range of stakeholders facilitating and mainstreaming complex processes amongst civil society, private sector and governments
- Demonstrated experience in outreach, networking and partnership building across a range of stakeholders, particularly in regard to the development of new innovative initiatives involving the private sector
- Ability to work effectively with multi-disciplinary team members and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and cultures
- Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, and planning skills, demonstrated in professional and high-risk settings.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, and ability to research information and present it concisely to a variety of stakeholders. Both French and English required.