ESG Business Manager at Smallholder Agroforestry Finance | Utrecht | Rabobank (2024)

Do you want to work in an impact-driven and dynamic environment? Become part of a new team that has just been established? Together with your team members you are building and increasing the impact of Smallholder Agroforestry Finance BV. As ESG & Business Manager you play a pivotal role in this new environment.

Smallholder Agroforestry Finance BV (“SAF”) is an independent purpose-driven enterprise established by Rabobank and Rabo Foundation and supported by renowned development finance institutions. SAF offers innovative financing solutions to organizations (e.g. NGO’s and cooperatives) supporting smallholder farmers in their transition to agroforestry and combat climate change. Through Rabobank Acorn, the smallholder farmers will gain access to the voluntary carbon markets. In doing so, SAF contributes to improving the livelihoods of these small-scale farmers as well as increasing biodiversity and improving food security and soil health. In addition, the trees planted sequester CO2 from the atmosphere.

You and your job

Smallholder Agroforestry Finance is a new entity, and you’ll be its inaugural ESG & Business Manager. In the role of ESG & Business Manager, you are the driving force behind implementing Environmental & Social risk management processes and you’ll monitor progress and ensure alignment with strategic objectives. But that’s not all—this role is also about being a bridge across diverse topicswithin the organization. You’ll lead impact management efforts and communicate results to enhance awareness. Embrace the challenge of shaping this new role from the start—it’s an exciting opportunity to make a difference!

Key responsibilities

• ESG responsibilities include:
  • Ensure that SAF’s Environmental and Social (E&S) risk management system is properly implemented across all projects to mitigate the risk of any unintended consequences for all stakeholders in an agroforestry project;
  • Perform E&S risk assessments for local implementation partners and projects;
  • Liaise with Rabobank Acorn to ensure consistency in E&S policies, procedures and implementation of E&S safeguards;
  • Coordinate and ensure correct and timely monitoring and reporting on SAF’s targets and KPI’s (on impact, environmental and social aspects) to investors and other stakeholders;
• Business Manager responsibilities include:
  • Set up and manage the roadmap that will ensure SAF works on the most important strategic projects and there is sufficient time to work on the key mission;
  • Take the lead and/or provide assistance in action points from the roadmap;
  • Assist the directors on different topics, including preparing and leading meetings;
  • Ad hoc support and analyses/management insights to the SAF board and team;
  • Coordinate, organize, schedule, take minutes, track action points of governance body meetings such as the Credit Committee, Advisory Committee, Shareholder and Supervisory Board meetings;
  • Ensure governance documents, policies and procedures are updated regularly;
  • Liaise with relevant stakeholders including Rabobank business units and investors.
  • Support the communications of SAF (press releases, website updates);

Facts & figures

• 36 hours per week
• Based in the Netherlands (location: Utrecht and Amsterdam)
• Part of a team of 8 colleagues
• Employment contract with Rabobank

Together we achieve more than alone
We believe in the power of making a difference. Bringing together peoples’ differences is what makes us even better. So, we are curious about what you can bring to our team. We work together as one impact-oriented team of 8 colleagues with different specializations that work together.

You and your talent

As an ESG & Business Manager at Smallholder Agroforestry Finance B.V. you take initiative and show ownership enthusiasm, you are inventive, a good listener, can ask critical questions and have strong communication skills. In addition, it’s important that you recognize yourself in the list below:

• Bachelor or Masters degree
• 3-5 years’ experience in Environmental & Social risk management and/or business management, project management and implementation
• Strong interest and affinity with (impact) finance, ESG, farmers and sustainability
• Excellent command of the English language; other languages can be an advantage
• Proactive, pragmatic, culturally sensitive and results-oriented
• Hands-on, well organized and able to keep overview
• Analytical and strategic thinker that gathers input from different stakeholders, structures issues and creates valuable insights for management and the team.
• Comfortable discussing with or presenting to senior management.
• Eager to learn
• Team player, able to set priorities and help colleagues out if and when required
• Working permit in the Netherlands

This is what we offer you

• up to € 6.130,64 gross per month (scale 9);
• a thirteenth month and holiday pay
• an extra budget of 11% of your gross salary to be used at your discretion. Buy extra holiday hours, add more to your pension savings or ask for part of the extra budget to be paid out;
• a personal development budget for training and educational opportunities;

This is a selection of the terms of employment for an ESG & Business Manager, based on a 36-hour working week. You can find all our terms of employment on .

You and the job application process

Reply to the vacancy for ESG & Business Manager before July 5th 2024.

• Any questions about the job content? Contact Ineke Keers, managing director via via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina.
• Any questions about working at SAF/Rabobank and the process? Contact Jessy Cornelissen via via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina.
• We will hold the interviews in person (or initially through a video call).
• You can find the answers to the most frequently asked questions on .
• A security check as well as on integrity is part of the process.
• We respect your privacy.
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