Rights and Communities Manager

Position: Rights and Communities Manager

Reports to: MaMaBay Landscape and Seascape Director

Location: Maroantsetra

Country Program/Sector: WCS Madagascar

Capacity: Site

Position Type: Full-time

MAIN FUNCTION

Finalize and implement strategies to reduce biodiversity threats through an integrated, rights-based approach.

Manage the MaMaBay on-site rights and communities’ team.SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The Rights & Communities Manager will work closely with the MaMaBay Landscape & Seascape Director to implement MaMaBay’s community conservation strategy and social safeguards. S/he will ensure a human rights-based approach to the reduction of biodiversity threats in the overarching landscape.

Leadership and team management

Build and manage an inclusive and diverse team of capable staff through motivational and performance-based personnel management.

Ensure a community-oriented, collaborative, and mission-led work ethic amongst all Rights+Community team members.

Encourage a culture of participatory learning and adaptive problem-solving so that team members reflect and design effective field interventions that deliver biodiversity outcomes.

As a member of the MaMaBay Management Unit, implement R+C activities in close coordination with other departments.Project planning and implementation

Ensure implementation of the Rights+Community program and associated commitments to donors within budget and on time.

Ensure project activities build positive relationships with communities, prevent, and resolve conflict, and address gender and indigenous peoples’ issues.

Work with the MaMaBay Landscape & Seascape Director to ensure that Rights+Community department work plans are developed with full input from team members.

Ensure accountable, evidence-based, and impactful project implementation.

Ensure a rights-based community approach to conservation, including adherence to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent principles.

Coordinate closely with logistics personnel on procurement and fieldwork planning.

Ensure timely and accurate budget planning to support activity implementation in coordination with finance personnel.

Iteratively update the MaMaBay community conservation strategy with inputs from communities, team members, and partner organizations, as required.Socio-economic research and monitoring

Manage the design and implementation of socio-economic and anthropological research activities.

Collaborate with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to support the development and implementation of an integrated MEL system.

Collaborate with the MaMaBay Science Manager to ensure all data are integrated into the MaMaBay Biodiversity and Socio-economic database, analyzed, and used to inform adaptive management of the MaMaBay program.External relationships

Directly engage with and spend time in local communities and authorities to facilitate project implementation, build relationships, and communicate conservation messages.

Work with the MaMaBay Landscape & Seascape Director to liaise with partners to enhance WCS’s approaches with local communities and ensure these are linked to biodiversity outcomes.

Work with the MaMaBay Landscape & Seascape Director to liaise with partners on community development activities to harmonize approaches and avoid duplication of effort.

Represent the MaMaBay Rights+Community team to donors and government stakeholders, as requested.Reporting and communications

Provide substantive inputs to regular donor progress reports.

Contribute to fundraising proposals for the Rights+Community portfolio.

Produce technical outputs such as natural resource management plans, and issue-specific analyses of best practices and lessons learned.

Collaborate with the Communications Department to generate high-quality visual and written material to support public communications.Other

Maintain strong collaborative working relationships with the national and MaMaBay teams.

Conduct any other responsibilities as requested by the MaMaBay Landscape & Seascape Director.

Date Posted

24-Oct-2023

Opportunity Type

Full-Time

Department

GLOBAL CONSERVATION

Qualification Requirements

QuMinimum Requirements and Job Skills (Required)

A minimum of a Master’s degree in social or environmental sciences, PhD preferred.

With 5 to 10 years of field experience with international organizations in Africa working on community-based conservation and natural resource management, Madagascar's experience will be a distinct advantage.

Experience in managing the delivery of activities funded by large bilateral and multilateral donors.

Proven ability to manage, motivate, and strengthen the capacity of field personnel.

Proven ability at developing work plans and budgets, implementing MEAL systems, and producing project progress reports.

Proven ability to design and deliver socio-economic research in international development contexts.

Proven ability to work sensitively with diverse groups of people such as those of different cultures, nationalities and backgrounds.

Knowledge and understanding of logistics and financial management for projects in complex environments.

Excellent written and spoken communication skills in French and English; Malagasy is a distinct advantage.

Strong commitment to wildlife conservation.

Innovative, proactive, resilient, team-oriented, and ambitious.

Willingness to live in a remote field site with basic amenities in a multi-cultural environment.

How to apply

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills, and experience, should apply through the application tab by May 24th, 2024.

Please send a detailed application/cover letter and a detailed CV Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.

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Salary Range

Competitive salary commensurate with experience