Career opportunities

Arannayk Foundation (AF) stands at the forefront of environmental conservation in Bangladesh, leveraging two decades of expertise in forest and biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and climate resilience. Established in 2003, through a landmark bilateral agreement between the Governments of Bangladesh and the United States, AF operates as a specialized, and community-centered organization dedicated to fostering collaborative forest governance and nature-based solutions.

With a strong track record of implementing over 100 projects, AF integrates science, policy, and grassroots engagement to address critical forestry and environmental challenges the country is facing today. Backed by a highly qualified multidisciplinary team and robust partnerships with government agencies, academia, and local communities, AF strives to remain a trusted leader in advancing sustainable development of forests and the environment in Bangladesh.

To enhance institutional strength and sustainability, AF is looking to appoint a Program Officer (Forest and Biodiversity) for managing and scaling its core forest and biodiversity conservation portfolio. This pivotal position will support project implementation, innovative programming, and monitoring and evaluation to deepen the Foundation’s grassroots impact and reinforce its legacy as a leader in nature-based solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance from the Executive Director and direct supervision from the Head of Programs and Senior Program Officer of Arannayk Foundation, the Program Officer (Forest and Biodiversity) will be responsible for project implementation, new programming, and other program-related works.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

1)      Project Management

         a) Lead in planning, coordination, and execution of all planned activities of assigned projects

         b) Develop detailed implementation plans, work breakdown structures, and timelines, ensuring effective use of resources and timely delivery of outputs

         c) Oversee field-level ecosystem restoration, community-led forest conservation models, and biodiversity monitoring frameworks.

         d) Engage actively with government and non-government institutions, grass root stakeholders, and forest-dependent communities, to ensure collaborative governance.

         e) Ensure effective use of financial resources as per the approved organizational and project budget.

         f) Monitor project risks and challenges proactively, develop mitigation plans, and ensure adaptive management practices are in place.

         g) Lead in preparing reports, including quarterly progress reports, research reports, annual work plans, and project completion reports etc.

         h) Ensure compliance with donor regulations, organizational policies, and national laws across all program operations.

         i) Represent the project in internal and external meetings, stakeholder engagements, and donor reviews as the key focal point.

         j) Keep administrative and financial records including documents, vouchers, registers, receipts, etc. related to your activities in your safe custody for submission to Arannayk Foundation and to comply with the audit requirements.

         k) Collaborate with program, finance, and administrative staff to ensure systems are following donor and Arannayk Foundation Management Systems.

2)      Program Development

         a) Support in design and development of new concepts, expression of interests and project proposals on nature-based solutions (NbS), habitat restoration,  wildlife conservation, and sustainable forest livelihoods.

         b) Develop logical frameworks, theory of change models, results frameworks, and budget narratives in collaboration with technical and finance teams.

         c) Explore funding opportunities and establish/maintain relationships with donors, strategic partners, and relevant government and non-government actors.

         d) Capture and apply learnings from current and past projects to improve program design and increase organizational competitiveness in fundraising.

3)       Staff Management

         a) Supervise Arannayk Foundation relevant staff and assigned project teams on promoting a culture of performance, accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.

         b) Assign responsibilities, supervise task execution, and conduct regular performance appraisals to ensure individual and team effectiveness.

         c) Facilitate regular team meetings, learning exchanges, and mentoring sessions to promote knowledge sharing and continuous development.

         d) Support recruitment, onboarding, and capacity building of project staff in collaboration with HR.

         e) Build the capacity of staff and partners on monitoring tools, data analysis, digital systems, and results reporting through training and hands-on support.

4)      Other

         a) Ensure institutional compliance with internal policies, donor guidelines, and national statutory laws for implementation of activities.

         b) Ensure a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment aligned with the organization’s values, safeguarding policy, and wellbeing principles.

         c) Update and maintain relevant electronic/hardcopy formats and databases of Arannayk Foundation as required.

         d) Conduct any other tasks as assigned by the Executive Director and the Head of Programs of Arannayk Foundation on a day-to-day basis.

POSITION SPECIFICATION – Program Officer (Forest and Biodiversity)

Qualifications & Experience required for the position

Formal/Academic Education

• Master’s degree Forestry, Zoology, Wildlife Biology, Environmental Science, and Natural Resource Management or a closely related discipline.

Working experience

General Experience

• Six (06) years of progressive professional experience in the development sector, specifically working experience in biodiversity monitoring, forest and/or biodiversity conservation, or community-based natural resource management projects in Bangladesh.
• Hands-on experience working in high-priority landscapes such hill forests, coastal forests, the Sundarbans, or in the deciduous forests.
• Proven track record of supporting proposal development, fundraising, or program design that resulted in new project funding.
• Experience in establishing new networks or expanding nascent program portfolios within an NGO or INGO context is highly desirable.

Technical Competencies

• Program Design & M&E: Strong hands-on experience in project implementation, drafting logical frameworks (LogFrames), and designing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) tools.
• Thematic Knowledge: Deep understanding of Bangladesh’s Forest Act and policy, Wildlife Act, protected areas, National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan, REDD+ Strategy, and international frameworks like CBD.
• Donor Knowledge: Familiarity with the compliance, reporting, and proposal formats of major donors.

Soft Skills & Attributes

• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Highly proactive with the ability to work independently to build a portfolio from its early stages.

Networking & Representation

• Excellent interpersonal skills to build partnerships with government agencies, academia, and local communities.

Language skills (Necessary to perform the job)

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in both English and Bangla, with a demonstrated ability to write high-quality project reports and concept notes.

Appointment type

• Full time

Additional Requirements

• A good team player with strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Task prioritization and ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines.
• Gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory mindset with safeguarding compliance.
• Commitment to child protection, disability inclusion, and safeguarding policies.
• Creativity, innovation mindset, and attention to detail in design and communication.
• This position is open only to Bangladeshi nationals. 
• The position requires frequent travel to remote field sites and the ability to undertake physically demanding fieldwork, including walking/climbing on uneven and hilly terrain.  

Salary

• BDT 124,728 – 140,147, including all benefits.

Workstation

• Arannayk Foundation Head Office in Dhaka, with frequent travel to project sites.

Vacancy

•  One (01)

Contract Tenure

• 16 November 2026 - 31 November 2027, initially for one year with the possibility of extension depending on performance and organizational requirements.

Application Template

A cover letter summarizing skills and experiences relevant to this position, with motivation to work with the Arannayk Foundation, along with the CV in a single document.

A precise CV with a passport-sized photograph, following the template provided below:

• Name, present address including email and mobile number.
• Academic Qualification (last in the first order, preferably in a table).
• Training received (only relevant training will be considered).
• Job Experience (last job in first sequences)
• Additional qualification if any.
• Name and contact details of two professional referees, preferably recent and previous line managers or HR representatives with whom the candidate has worked.

Apply Instruction

We welcome passionate and qualified individuals to apply for this exciting opportunity. If you believe your skills and experience align with the role, please submit your updated CV along with a cover letter in a single document, highlighting your relevant experience and motivation.

Please apply online at https://career.arannayk.org by Friday, 30 October 2026.

We do not accept hard copies or applications submitted through other channels. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next steps in the recruitment process. However, Arannayk Foundation reserves the right to reject any application and to modify or cancel the entire recruitment process at any point in time without any clarification.

Arannayk Foundation has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, discrimination, and other forms of misconduct. We are committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all. All individuals engaged with, working for, or representing Arannayk Foundation are expected to uphold the Foundation’s Safeguarding Policies, Code of Conduct, and related standards. Only candidates who demonstrate a commitment to these principles will be considered for employment. Recruitment and selection are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate safeguarding screening, where applicable.