Rubber Commodity Lead

Rubber Commodity Lead Are you a rubber sector expert with a passion for driving sustainable change at scale? Do you thrive in high-visibility roles where deep technical knowledge meets strategic advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and global impact? If so, this might be exactly the role for you! What you can expect: Preferred by Nature is looking for a Rubber Commodity Lead to serve as the organisation’s central expert and external voice on natural rubber. Based in Thailand, Malaysia, or China, you will drive our commodity strategy, represent us at key industry events, and build networks across NGOs, business, government, and trade bodies. You will bring technical depth to advisory work, champion sustainable rubber practices, and help position Preferred by Nature as a trusted and influential player in one of Asia’s most critical agricultural sectors. Working with us is never routine, so in your first year you can expect the following areas to be central to your work. Lead internal and external advocacy for the rubber commodity, serving as Preferred by Nature’s primary expert and representative to the sector. Develop and implement a commodity strategy that reflects global market realities and advances Preferred by Nature’s sustainability mission. Build and maintain high-quality networks with NGOs, industry bodies, donors, trade groups, and regulatory bodies across your region. Represent Preferred by Nature at key events and in international media, positioning us as a credible and influential voice in natural rubber. Track global and regional trends in rubber production, supply chains, sustainability standards, and competitor activity to inform strategy. Contribute to billable advisory projects (around 30% of your time), bringing technical expertise to client-facing work within Sustainability Advisory. Collaborate across divisions to ensure the rubber commodity is well-embedded in organisational plans, budgets, and communications. Your first year with us: Within three months, you will: Build a strong understanding of Preferred by Nature’s mission, structure, and strategy, with a focus on the rubber commodity and Asia Pacific positioning. Conduct a first-pass stakeholder mapping across Thailand, Malaysia, and China, identifying key actors in the rubber sector. Establish productive working relationships with internal colleagues across Sustainability Advisory, Communications, and Regional Engagement. Within six months, you will: Represent Preferred by Nature at one or more rubber-sector events, ideally as a speaker or panellist. Develop and present an initial commodity strategy or position paper for internal review and alignment. Begin contributing to billable advisory work, bringing technical expertise to client engagements in the rubber sector. Within twelve months, you will: Lead the full implementation of the rubber commodity strategy, with monitoring systems and regular reporting in place. Serve as Preferred by Nature’s primary public representative for rubber at international events, conferences, and in media. Deliver a reflective year-end review of key milestones, stakeholder outcomes, and a proposed personal development focus going forward. Important that you: Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in agriculture, sciences, economics, international trade, or a related field. Bring at least 7 years of technical experience in rubber plantations, supply chains, or agriculture or forestry-related industries. Have strong knowledge of natural rubber production processes, supply chain dynamics, and sustainability standards. Possess excellent verbal and written English skills, with the ability to engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels, including senior management. Have established networks within the rubber sector and strong relationship-building instincts. Demonstrate strategic planning and innovative thinking skills, with the ability to identify and act on new opportunities. Are a proactive self-starter who takes initiative and can move processes forward independently. Show genuine passion and enthusiasm for the rubber sector and Preferred by Nature’s vision, mission, and values. Would also be great, but not necessary, if you: Are familiar with sustainability certification standards relevant to rubber, agriculture, or natural resource supply chains. Have experience in public-facing or advocacy roles, including media engagement, event speaking, or public representation. Bring existing relationships with key organisations or stakeholders in the rubber sector across Southeast Asia or China. Are proficient in Thai, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, or other regional languages. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you! What Sets Us Apart: Global work culture High degree of flexibility, remote work, work from home. An in-depth onboarding and professional training that prepares you with the right skills and knowledge to thrive in this role. Excellent opportunities for growth and professional development Potential future international travel opportunities A friendly, international team of colleagues, with a pleasant work environment Start with 20 days of vacation leave per year Preferred by Nature Preferred by Nature is a non-profit, mission driven organisation that works for sustainable land management and climate-friendly solutions. With 300+ employees and a network of local experts, we develop practical solutions to drive positive impacts in production landscapes and supply chains in 100+ countries. We focus on forest and climate impact commodities and related sectors. How to apply: If you feel you meet the requirements of the role, please submit your application, including salary expectations via the application form below. Application pre-screening will be conducted during the application period. Preferred by Nature wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background. Department Regional Engagement and Communication (REC) Role Regional Development (RDE) Locations Thailand, Malaysia, China Remote status Hybrid About Preferred by Nature Preferred by Nature is a non-profit organisation that works for sustainable land use and climate-friendly solutions. With 300+ staff around the world, our projects build capacity, raise awareness, conserve nature and streamline sustainability through innovation. Founded in 1994 Co-workers 350+