Job Title: Executive Director
Organization: Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation
Duty Station: Beijing, P.R.China
Recruitment Open to: Member economies of APFNet
Type of Contract: Fixed-term of three years starting 19 September 2025 (renewable for one term)
Deadline: 31 March 2025 (17:00, GMT+8, Beijing time)
Duties and Responsibilities
As stipulated in the APFNet Operational Framework, adopted in 2015, the Executive Director is responsible for the overall management of APFNet, including the pursuit of objectives, implementation of programs and completion of activities.
1.Develop annual operational work plans and budgets and review progress on a regular basis, with assistance from the Secretariat;
2.Supervise activities of the Secretariat and ensure efficient and effective programming and implementation of activities;
3.Recruit and provide leadership to Secretariat staff;
4.Raise funds from various resources for the development of APFNet;
5.Keep the Board of Directors and the Council apprised of APFNet matters of consequence; and
6.Perform such other functions as the Board of Directors may assign.
The Executive Director is the legal representative of APFNet and is authorized to sign all deeds, contracts, agreements and other formal documents which are necessary to APFNet operations. Contracts and agreements which affect the governance, objectives, location, expansion or dissolution of APFNet; involve major financial commitments; or could significantly affect relations with the host economy are subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
Required Qualifications
1.Professional experience
Must have held a position at least at the level of Director-General, Additional Director-General or Deputy Director-General, or an equivalent role, and must have at least 15 years of work experience in the forest or related sector(s).
2.Education
At least a master’s degree in forestry or related fields, such as natural resource management, conservation or environmental economics.
3.Language
Good command of oral and written English and preferably a working knowledge of Chinese.
4.Geographical reference
Candidates from member economies of APFNet are welcome, upon government approval or recommendation (if necessary).
5.Age limit
For Chinese applicants, not exceeding 64 years as of 19th September 2025; for non-Chinese applicants, not exceeding 54 years as of 19th September 2025 in general situation, health condition suitable for travel and fast pace environment.
Competencies
1.Proven ability and experience in planning, developing and implementing strategies and annual workplans for an organization.
2.Demonstrated leadership in efficiently managing an organization to achieve its mission and vision.
3.Excellent skills and experience in motivating and managing a team.
4.Commitment to high standards and to complying with the rules and regulations of an organization.
5.Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
6.Experience in raising funds and pooling resources.
7.Considerable experience in working with government agencies and international/regional organizations.
8.Ability to establish networks with/among stakeholders and partners.
9.Demonstrated experience in sustainable forest management and the rehabilitation of degraded forests.
10.Experience in working with APFNet, or good knowledge of APFNet projects, is desirable.
11.Ability to deal with global and regional threats posed by climate change.
12.Develop measures and strategies to adapt and mitigate climate change effects and threats related to diseases, pests, global food security and food safety.
Salary and Benefits
The salary will be determined in accordance with the APFNet Salary and Subsidy Scheme. The starting gross annual salary is RMB 620,400 (about USD 92,604), before tax.
Application
All applications must be sent to APFNet Secretariat with following materials (all the submitted materials must be written in English):
1.A cover letter highlighting your suitability and potential contribution to the position (Annex 1-Sample Cover Letter Template).
* Your vision for the development of APFNet should be included/highlighted in the cover letter.
2.A completed Personal History Profile Form (Annex 2-APFNet Personal History Profile Form).
3.A curriculum vitae (Annex 3-Sample CV Template).
4.Certified true copies of educational certificates.
* The highest educational degree must be certified by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad, or by the embassy or consulate of the country where the applicant’s certificate was issued, or by China's academic degree certification bodies. If the nationality of the applicant is a contracting state of the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents only need to obtain an Apostille issued by their countries’ competent authorities.
5.A certificate of good health signed by a recognized medical facility.
* Recognized medical facilities: the list of overseas health and medical institutions approved by Chinese inspection and quarantine institutions can be found on the website of local embassies and consulates abroad. The date of issue for the document must be within the past six months.
6.A Notary Certificate of No Criminal Convictions.
* For non-Chinese applicants, the document should be issued by the police department, security department, court, or other departments of the applicant’s country of nationality or habitual residence, and certified by a Chinese embassy or consulate, or that country's embassy or consulate in China. Habitual residence refers to the country or region where the applicant has lived for at least one consecutive year after leaving the country of his/her nationality, excluding China. The date of issue for the document must be within the past six months. If the nationality of the applicant is a contracting state of the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents only needs to obtain an Apostille issued by their countries’ competent authorities.
7.A recent photo.
8.Two reference letters from the three referees being listed in the completed Personal History Form.
9.Any other relevant supporting documents satisfying job qualifications such as recommendation letter, commendations etc.
10.The consent form for use of personal data (Annex 4-APFNet Consent Form)
The documents should be received by the APFNet Secretariat by 31 March 2025 17:00 (GMT+8, Beijing time).
If short-listed, candidates will be invited for video conference interviews to present their vision of the APFNet in front of and answer questions raised by the Selection Committee.
Submission of Application Documents
Application documents should be submitted by e-mail or fax to the APFNet Secretariat (E-mail: recruitment@apfnet.cn, Fax No.: +86-10-84216958). Please indicate on the subject heading “Application for Executive Director, APFNet Secretariat”.
Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation
6th Floor Building A, Baoneng Center, 12 Futong Dongdajie, Chaoyang,
Beijing 100102, P.R. China
Tel: +86-10-8471 1381
Fax: +86-10-8421 6958
Annex:
Annex-1-Cover letter template final
Annex-2-Personal history profile final
