Preferred by Nature is looking for a Sustainability Specialist to manage and deliver agriculture and forestry certification and verification services in Japan and across East Asia. Covering a broad portfolio of internationally recognised standards including Rainforest Alliance, UEBT, GlobalG.A.P., SRP, RSPO, FSC CoC, FSC FM, PEFC, and SBP, you will conduct audits, manage client relationships, and support sales and market development in the region. This is a client-facing, field-active role with equal weight on agriculture and forestry services, and real opportunity to grow your technical expertise across multiple standards while representing Preferred by Nature as a trusted partner in the Japanese market.
Working with us is never routine, so in your first year you can expect the following areas to be central to your work:
- Conduct agriculture and forestry certification and verification audits for assigned clients in Japan and East Asia, including on-site visits and remote assessments.
- Manage a portfolio of client engagements as task manager, covering audit planning, scheduling, budgeting, and client correspondence.
- Work towards and maintain qualifications as auditor, quality reviewer, and task manager across a range of agriculture and forestry standards.
- Prepare and submit audit reports and certification documentation to the required quality standards and within agreed timeframes.
- Support sales and market development efforts in Japan, including client presentations, service proposals, and follow-up with prospective clients.
- Coordinate with the Asia Pacific team to ensure seamless client service and alignment with PbN's operational and certification protocols.
Your first year with us:
Within three months, you will:
- Complete onboarding and develop a solid understanding of PbN's certification and verification services, internal systems, and the Japan client portfolio.
- Begin conducting audits under supervision and work towards your initial auditor qualifications for assigned standards.
- Build effective working relationships with the Asia Pacific team and key client contacts in Japan.
Within six months, you will:
- Conduct independent audits across agriculture and forestry standards and begin managing your own client portfolio as task manager.
- Handle client correspondence, audit scheduling, and report submission with consistency and quality.
- Actively support sales efforts by preparing service proposals and participating in client presentations in Japan.
Within twelve months, you will:
- Independently manage a consistent portfolio of agriculture and forestry clients across multiple certification standards, with strong quality and client satisfaction.
- Achieve or progress substantially towards quality reviewer qualifications for key standards in your portfolio.
- Contribute actively to market development in Japan, including identifying and following up on new business opportunities.
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
- 20 days of vacation leave per year
Preferred by Nature is a non-profit, mission driven organisation that works for sustainable land management and climate-friendly solutions. With 350+ 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.
