Smallholder Community Programme Manager

About Earthworm

Earthworm is a group of people who believes we can solve the big issues affecting people and nature today. We work in global supply chains impacting millions of people and places around the world to make the products we buy. We work on the ground, in forests, fields and factories, helping companies, farmers and communities find practical solutions together. And we know that, ultimately, trust and positive changes comes from people getting to work together, hands in the soil.

Your Role

As Smallholder Community Programme Manager, you will lead innovation across the Southern Central Forest Spine (SCFS) by working closely with farming communities, particularly oil palm smallholders, to strengthen collaboration, enhance resilience to climate and market fluctuations, and identify new market opportunities.

With a strong grasp of sustainability issues in palm oil and other commodities, you will spend at least 80% of your time in the field, primarily in Johor or Pahang, supporting smallholders as entrepreneurs and fostering their participation in environmental stewardships and supply chains.

This role requires a self-starter and innovator who can continuously generate ideas to improve community resilience and promote an entrepreneurial spirit among farmers.

Being the Smallholder Community Programme Manager, you will be focused in supporting the team in:

• Landscape integration: Align smallholder strategy to integrate and drive overall landscape vision and collective outcomes.
• Program leadership: Lead the SCFS smallholder strategy from initial diagnostics through to full-scale implementation.
• Cross-team collaboration and synergy for implementation: Partner with other leads to work across internal teams to coordinate collaboration for landscape programme implementation.
• On the ground impact: Manage farm-level projects in productivity, regenerative agriculture, income growth and industry standard compliance to boost smallholder's resilience.
• Partnership and stakeholder management: Build strong relationships with supply chain actors, NGOs and government bodies in the SCFS landscape while identifying opportunities for impact-driven collaboration.
• Operational rigour and accountability: Own the budget, data tracking, and reporting to ensure we deliver high-quality results for landscape funders.

Your Profile

A passionate individual with minimum 5 years experience and knowledge in agriculture, social science, rural development, forestry and conservation whom loves working in areas of development for rural agricultural communities, to drive transformation across connected supply chains.

Preferably Master's / bachelor's degree or other equivalent higher level training in in agricultural, social science, rural development, forestry, natural resource management, environmental sciences, conservation, social sciences, business or other related field. Someone who is passionate and has good working experience on issues related to sustainability, community development and supply chains. You'll thrive in this role if you bring a genuine passion for sustainability, resilience, community development, and supply chains.

We're looking for someone who is confident in collecting and analyzing data, managing databases, and producing clear reports that track outputs, outcomes, and impacts. Just as importantly, you should have hands-on field experience working with local communities in rural areas, as this role is deeply rooted in building trust and driving change on the ground.

Past exposure from an NGO, government agencies in Malaysia related to conservation, human rights, workers welfare, sustainability and social development. Good written and communication. Along with exceptional people management and leaderships. Has the ability to be flexible, proactive and a proficient user in Microsoft Office.

You'll be primarily based at Earthworm Foundation's field office in the SCFS landscape (Rompin/Pekan), spending about 80% of your time there, with any requests to work outside the landscape determined by your line manager. The role also involves frequent travel to Kuala Lumpur (HQ) and occasional trips to other sites within and outside Malaysia, requiring flexibility to operate effectively in both corporate and field settings.

Workings Conditions

• Education: Preferably Master's / bachelor's degree or other equivalent higher level training in in agricultural, social science, rural development, forestry, natural resource management, environmental sciences, conservation, social sciences, business or other related field
• Experience: 5 years minimum
• Language(s): Bahasa Malaysia & English
• Employment: Full-time/Fixed term
• Location: Malaysia, Rompin/Pekan (80% field based)

Joining Us

If you are in search of having a meaningful impact, with a desire to innovate and act for the environment, this offer is for you! The team you would join is truly committed to and passionate about finding concrete solutions to improve relationship between People and Nature.