Smallholder Community Program Manager - Malaysia

Earthworm Foundation Asia

Long-term contract
Localisation Malaysia
No remote
From 5 yrs of exp.
Posted on 07-10-2026

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About the role

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 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.

Your mission

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

  • Ensure timely, high-quality delivery of outputs and administrative tasks within budget.
  • Lead and manage the Smallholder & Community programme in the SCFS landscape, integrating EF’s Smallholder approach, and overseeing diagnostics, transformation planning, and implementation of activities.
  • Drive initiatives on income diversification, regenerative agriculture, and farm productivity, ensuring alignment with project work plans and budgets while fostering resilience.
  • Maintain accurate databases of project outputs, outcomes, impacts, and stakeholders, and deliver required reports to funders, partners, and EF leadership.
  • Build and manage collaborations with stakeholders such as businesses, NGOs, and government agencies, while supporting business development and fundraising opportunities.
  • Collaborate with internal communications teams to enhance visibility and outreach of the Smallholder & Landscape programme to target audiences

Profile

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.

Earthworm Foundation Asia

Finding solutions to environmental and social challenges within value chains and transform the way everyday products are produced with sustainable solutions that benefit the planet.

More information
  • Website
  • Unknown
  • Between 50 and 250 employees
  • Others
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