About us
Plant-for-the-Planet Ghana is a registered Ghanaian non-profit organisation and the national affiliate of the global Plant-for-the-Planet network. We restore degraded forest landscapes and build community livelihoods through forest restoration and agroforestry.
Plant-for-the-Planet is a global network working to restore and protect forests and fight for climate justice. We empower children and young people, restore forest ecosystems, conduct research, and provide free tools and advice to restoration organizations around the world.
About the role
The COO manages the operations of Plant-for-the-Planet Ghana, including managing all staff on the ground, ensuring our restoration and agroforestry sites deliver results that are well run, safe and fully documented.
The COO is one of two executives for Plant-for-the-Planet Ghana, together with the Executive Director. Both report directly to the Board with shared responsibility for the organisation’s success.
A core part of the role is trust: donors and partners must be able to rely on our numbers. The COO owns the quality and timeliness of all operational and impact reporting from Ghana.
Location
The COO is expected to be a hands-on manager of the two restoration sites managed by Plant-for-the-Planet Ghana, which are in Tebeso (Bosome Freho District) and Bamboi (Bole District). Some tasks can be done remotely, but the most important part of the role is directly managing teams on the ground and building relationships with the local communities. As such, we expect the COO to spend at least half of their work time at these restoration sites. We can support regular travel to/from Kumasi or another location that is a reasonable distance from both sites.
Key responsibilities
Leadership and governance
- Lead day-to-day operations of the 15 person team of Plant-for-the-Planet Ghana.
- Support the Executive Director to set the overall budget and own the spending of the agreed budget, making sure money is used well, tracked against goals, and spent as agreed with donors.
- Manage procurement, petty cash and assets, including motorbikes, quadbikes, tricycles, bicycles, equipment and nursery infrastructure, under clear financial controls.
- Support the Executive Director on external relations with local government bodies (such as the Forestry Commission and District Assemblies) and traditional authorities.
- Ensure the organization is ready for internal and external operational audits and donor reviews, and that each grant complies with its specific donor rules.
Field operations
- Oversee all restoration work at the two sites managed by Plant-for-the-Planet Ghana, from site preparation and nurseries to planting, maintenance and monitoring.
- Make sure work follows good restoration practice and the Plant-for-the-Planet standards.
- Plan seasonal work around rainfall, labour, seedling supply and logistics.
- Coordinate dry-season fire prevention and response, including firebreaks, community fire volunteers and coordination with district authorities.
- Visit both sites as needed to check quality, solve problems and support field teams.
- Make sure daily field reports are completed and digitised.
- Manage health and safety for staff and workers, including travel and field safety.
- Manage all livelihood projects across both sites
People and team management
- Set clear roles, goals and performance reviews for each team member.
- Build a positive, safe and fair work culture, in line with Ghanaian labour law.
- Manage contractors, casual workers and service providers.
- Prevent child labour in all field, nursery and agroforestry work, including work carried out by contractors and casual workers.
- Implement the organisation’s policy on the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, and ensure all staff and contractors are trained on it.
Community and partner relations
- Build strong, respectful relations with landowners, farmers, traditional authorities and community groups at both sites.
- Ensure the fair participation of women and youth in employment, decision making and the benefits of the work.
- Handle grievances in a fair and timely way.
- Support fundraising with field data, reports and donor site visits.
Required qualifications and experience
- Degree in restoration, forestry, agriculture, natural resource management, environmental science, or a related field.
- At least 10 years of work experience, with at least 5 years in a senior management and/or operations role.
- Hands-on experience in restoration, forestry, agroforestry or agriculture, ideally in Ghana or West Africa.
- Proven record of leading field teams and managing staff across more than one site.
- Strong experience with budgets, financial controls and donor-funded projects.
- Track record of accurate, on-time reporting to donors or funders.
- Experience working with communities, traditional authorities and government bodies in Ghana.
- Fluent in English and working proficiency in Twi.
- Excellent ability to use digital tools, including Microsoft Office and Google Suite
- Able and willing to travel often to Bamboi and Tebeso, including on rural roads and for multi-day stays.
- Valid driver’s licence.
Desirable qualifications
- Experience with forest landscape restoration, the Modified Taungya System (MTS) or cocoa agroforestry.
- Knowledge of Ghana’s forest policy and the work of the Forestry Commission.
- Experience with monitoring tools, GIS or digital data collection.
- Experience reporting to international donors or corporate partners.
- Experience working with an international organisation and remote teams.
Personal qualities
- Honest, with high standards for accuracy and openness.
- Calm and practical under pressure, and good at solving problems.
- A clear communicator who listens and builds trust.
- Committed to forests, climate and the communities we work with.
- Able to multitask and oversee a wide range of parallel agendas.
- Self-managed and independent in setting up own work agenda and priorities.
What we offer and how to apply
- A senior role with real impact on forests and communities in Ghana.
- Competitive salary and benefits (rent allowance, internet data allowance, health insurance)
- A vehicle for site travel and reimbursement of travel expenses.
- Support from an international team and a strong global network.
- Full-time position on permanent contract, with a 6 months probation period. Expected start date: February 2027
To apply, send your CV and a cover letter (max. 2 pages) to [email protected] by 4th December 2026. Please tell us about one restoration or agriculture project you led, who was on your team, and what outcomes you were able to demonstrate. We welcome applications from all qualified people. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
