Jobs for Nature Senior Manager
Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.
POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Gaborone, Botswana
The “Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands” Project funded by GCF aims to utilize collective management of livestock and ecosystems to restore Botswana’s communal rangelands, increasing the climate resilience of vulnerable populations and reducing GHG emissions. Over 8 years, the project will undertake activities in 104 villages in Ngamiland, Kgalagadi, and Bobirwa landscape areas covering six administrative districts of Botswana. In these three areas, the Project is targeting improved management of 4.6 million hectares of rangelands
Based in Gaborone, Botswana, the Jobs for Nature Senior Manager will be responsible for coordinating, supervising, and ensuring the effective implementation of the nature-based employment Program under the project. This includes overseeing restoration workers and ecorangers recruited through the government Ipelegeng program, ensuring that activities align with land restoration, sustainable grazing, and community livelihoods.
The Jobs 4 Nature portfolio stimulates nature-positive employment for marginalized rural communities living within Botswana’s communal rangelands designed to catalyse the creation of green jobs. This is a senior position that provides leadership in nature-based solutions and environmental stewardship by leading rangeland management associates and engagement with communities participating in the project, working in collaboration with Landscape Area Managers and the Herding 4 Health Senior Technical Manager.
The Senior Manager will work with the project team to ensure an integrated vision among different component managers and stakeholders and will provide a focus on achieving the results defined in the multiple partnerships within the respective project landscapes. This position identifies issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner, and suggests appropriate adjustments aligned to the ecological and socio-cultural dynamics of the project landscapes. This position serves as the main point of contact for government relations, donor relations and private sector outreach, and all other counterparts and implementing partners. This position requires significant coordination skills, broad general and technical knowledge, experience in developing area-level skills to ensure coherence and consistency within program deadlines. This position will work with Area Managers to prepare and present proposed implementation plans and reports, as well as any other duties required that may arise during the course of the project.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Leads and manages the green economy or nature-based actions and Jobs 4 Nature responsibilities by providing leadership, guidance, coordination, resource management, and supervision required to accomplish strategic goals and objectives and to deliver superior quality products.
- Works with Government GCF project focal point to request and enroll eco-rangers annually and on a need basis as guided by the targets specified on the Program
- Serves as the primary liaison between the project, government, and community grazing structures and works closely with government Ipelegeng coordinator to ensure smooth recruitment and management of workers.
- In-Liaison with Area Managers co-ordinates Program implementation across all Botswana-GCF landscape teams, ensuring integration and alignment between field Teams, rangeland stewards, eco-rangers, and government extension teams.
- Provides leadership in capacity building of landscape rangelands stewards and community managers through continuous mentoring and technical guidance.
- Identify challenges in workforce management and develop strategies to improve efficiency.
- Ensure workplace safety measures for restoration workers and eco-rangers and adherence to standard operation procedures
- Oversees the compilation of all operational requirements for rangeland management teams
- Participates in determining the technical requirements for effective implementation and coordination of area-level results, developing targeted solutions to keep deliverables on track, and motivate landscape-level staff, eco-rangers, and partners to deliver.
- Serves as the lead GCF project liaison with all level green jobs/community workers administrative nodes in government at the district level.
- Provides guidance in building strategic partnerships with other Jobs 4 Nature Programs or partners.
- Participates in the preparation of the annual work plans, budgets, and quarterly/annual progress reports, including specific monitoring and reporting on co-financing commitments, submitting timely, accurate, and professional reports that meet all donor requirements.
- Provides supervision on enrollment and overall management of eco-rangers and restoration workers by maintaining an accurate enrollment and upkeep profile with clear conditions of service in line with the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Establishes and maintains effective jobs for nature reporting portfolio system with appropriate evaluation measures for the portfolio and communication systems.
- Guarantees the efficient and effective use of the resources to reach the desired results of the project, monitoring the work plans, budgets, and finances, including the tracking and validation of co-finance contributions, in accordance with the procedures of CI
- Perform other duties as required.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Normal office environment with occasional travel, meetings/workshops, and field site visits
- Availability to deal with pressing business, emergencies, and unanticipated crises or opportunities that may arise related to CI’s institutional needs or management, including outside of normal office hours
- Ability to work extended hours to meet deadlines
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor’s degree (Masters degree will be an added advantage) in a relevant discipline or field related to the objectives of the project, with a preference for Social Sciences, Economics, Rural Development or Entrepreneurship, or a related field.
- 5 to 7 years of progressively responsible international work experience implementing multi-sector programs with demonstrated strong community and management skills.
- Up to 2 years of management experience, including direct supervision of professional and support staff and assembling teams working on multi-faceted international development programs.
- Proven leadership in the administration of similar activities with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, and budgeting.
- Strong experience in workforce supervision, especially in large-scale labor-based programs.
- Experience and knowledge of relevant donor regulations, policies, and procedures with demonstrated success managing international projects of similar scope and scale.
- Proven ability to engage and collaborate effectively and establish strong working relationships with senior representatives of national and local government, the private sector, and civil society
- Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work in remote, field-based settings.
- Demonstrated ability to implement projects with rigorous timelines and deliverables and to track program quality through donor-approved monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Demonstrated technical and analytical skills.
- Superior interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with written and oral English fluency required.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Preferred
- Familiarity with key policy instruments and mechanisms, such as Ipelegeng job creation program.
- Experience in managing and mentoring a diverse team of policy professionals.
- Previous Senior Project Director/Manager or equivalent experience.
To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.
Application Deadline: April 27, 2025 (11:49 PM EST)
See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE
Conservation International is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We believe in hiring based on merit and qualifications, ensuring a fair and inclusive hiring process for everyone.
