Conservation + Governance Manager (TZ Nationals Only)
APPLY VIA EDEN's WEBSITE: https://eden-projects.rippling-ats.com/job/1019112/conservation-governance-manager
REPORTS TO: Program Director
DEPARTMENT: Programs
POSITION CLASSIFICATION: Full-time
LOCATION: Lumuma, Kilosa District / Mbuga, Mpwapwa District (Rubeho Mountains Project Area)
Employment is through Compassionate Carbon Tanzania (Tanzanian-registered affiliate of Eden: People+Planet).
LOCAL NATIONALS ONLY - visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
COMPANY INFORMATION
Compassionate Carbon Tanzania Ltd is a mission-driven organization launched by Compassionate Carbon LLC and Eden: People+Planet (Eden). Specializing in developing and implementing landscape-scale forest carbon projects through Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), we collaborate with local communities to restore landscapes, create jobs, protect ecosystems, and mitigate climate change.
Our projects integrate nature-based solutions to help meet global emissions targets while ensuring community ownership and long-term sustainability. The Rubeho Mountains Carbon Project, a significant initiative in Tanzania, focuses on native forest restoration and community-based conservation efforts.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Conservation & Governance Manager leads community-centered forest conservation and governance activities for the Rubeho Carbon Project. This role provides technical support and coordination to ensure effective, community-led forest conservation across project villages and local forest reserves. Working closely with Village Land Authorities – including Village Councils, Village General Assemblies, and Village Natural Resource Committees (VNRCs) – as well as Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) and local government, the Manager strengthens the systems, skills, and structures required to protect village forest lands and adjoining government forest reserves.
Through technical guidance, capacity building, and the coordination of systems (e.g. patrol planning, fire management, data collection), the Conservation & Governance Manager ensures that local conservation efforts align with national forestry frameworks and carbon project requirements. Acting as a vital bridge between community institutions, government stakeholders, and project technical teams, this role builds trust, cultivates strategic partnerships, and ensures that conservation activities are well-coordinated, compliant with project standards, and sustainable in the long term.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical support for Conservation Systems
- Provide technical guidance on forest protection approaches, including patrol systems, fire prevention, and incident response.
- Support the strengthening of community-led patrol systems through improved planning approaches, coverage, and consistency.
- Advise on fire preparedness and response strategies, including practical approaches to managing fire incidents.
- Support identification and appropriate use of forest protection equipment.
Capacity Building + Training Coordination
- Collaboratively design Patrol trainings with VNRC and Training institutions.
- Coordinate and support delivery of training for VNRCs, patrol teams, and village institutions on:
- Forest monitoring and protection
- Fire prevention, preparedness, and response
- Safety procedures and reporting protocols
- Facilitate access to technical expertise and promote cross-village learning and knowledge exchange.
Data Systems + MRV Alignment
- Coordinating conservation data collection systems for patrols, fire incidents, and conservation activities.
- Ensure data generated at village and forest levels aligns with project Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) requirements.
- Work closely with technical teams to translate field data into project insights and reporting outputs.
Governance + Institutional Coordination
- Facilitate coordination between Village Land Authorities and TFS to support coherent conservation implementation across the landscape.
- Support alignment of conservation activities with Village Land Use Plans (VLUPs), forest management plans, and Joint Forest Management (JFM) frameworks.
- Provide technical input into participatory land use and forest management planning processes.
- Strengthen communication and collaboration between community institutions and project stakeholders.
Planning + Project Integration
- Support development of annual conservation work plans and budgets with Village Land Authorities in relation to the Rubeho Carbon Project.
- Ensure alignment of local plans with project objectives, carbon standards, and national policies.
- Identify implementation gaps and provide practical, context-appropriate recommendations for improvement.
Stakeholder Engagement + FPIC Support
- Maintain regular engagement with village leaders, VNRCs, and TFS on conservation-related matters.
- Provide technical input during community consultations, including Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes.
- Support alignment between community agreements and conservation implementation.
Provide leadership, guidance, and support to team members, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and fostering a collaborative and productive work environment. This includes overseeing performance management, problem-solving, addressing challenges proactively, and promoting open communication within the team, and may include hiring and employment-related decision-making.
Other duties as assigned
EDUCATION + WORK EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or a related field.
- Minimum 5–7 years of experience in conservation or community-based forest management.
- Demonstrated experience working with community governance structures and government institutions.
- Familiarity with carbon projects and MRV systems is an advantage.
SKILLS + ABILITIES
- Models the Ethos in all professional interactions, demonstrating a commitment to the organization's values, vision, and conduct standards.
- Technical knowledge of forest protection systems, fire management, and participatory land-use planning.
- Skilled in written and verbal communication with diverse stakeholders, including communities, officials, and NGOs. Experienced in facilitation, negotiation., and conflict resolution.
- Skilled in organizing, managing multiple projects, and meeting deadlines with strong attention to detail, documentation and follow-up.
- Demonstrated leadership and team management skills, including the ability to mentor staff and coordinate cross-functional teams. Capable of working independently and making informed decisions in the field.
- Analytical and problem-solving mindset, able to assess community needs, interpret project data, and adapt strategies accordingly.
- Proficiency in standard office software (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Experience with stakeholder databases or GIS/mapping tools for land use planning a plus.
- Basic understanding of carbon projects or climate change mitigation an advantage.
- Fluency in Kiswahili and English is required; knowledge of local languages spoken in the Kilosa/Mpwapwa Districts is an asset.
WORK CONDITIONS
Work Environment: The role combines office and field tasks in rural villages and agricultural areas. Fieldwork involves exposure to varied weather conditions, interactions with local communities, and traversing uneven terrain for assessments. Office facilities include a desk, computer, and internet, while field amenities are basic.
Work Schedule: The standard workweek is 40 hours, aligned with local office hours. Flexibility is necessary for community activities, which may include early mornings, evenings, or weekends. Schedules are adjusted as needed to meet project demands and agricultural cycles.
Physical Requirements: The role requires moderate fitness for frequent fieldwork, including walking long distances on rough terrain, standing for extended periods, demonstrating farming techniques, marking plots, and carrying equipment or materials weighing 10-20 kg. Must tolerate various climates. Office tasks require standard abilities such as computer work and attending meetings. These requirements will be met with or without reasonable accommodation, CCTZ is committed to providing necessary support to enable all individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.
Travel: Significant domestic travel to rural project sites, often requiring challenging logistics and occasional overnight field stays. May require infrequent international travel for meetings or workshops.
Safety + Special Conditions: Adherence to all applicable safety protocols and alignment of activities with established environmental and social safeguards. Candidates must have legal authorization to live and work in Tanzania; Compassionate Carbon is unable to sponsor work visas for this position.
Compassionate Carbon Tanzania is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.
DISCLAIMER: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with it. Responsibilities may evolve and change over time based on organizational needs, programmatic priorities, and/or reasonable accommodation.
SAFEGUARDING: Compassionate Carbon Tanzania holds strict safeguarding principles and does not tolerate behaviors that harm others, including sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and other injustices. Employees are expected to abide by Compassionate Carbon’s Safeguarding and compliance policies. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection, and hiring criteria, subject to a thorough background, police clearance, and reference check process.
COMPENSATION: Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Compassionate Carbon provides a competitive benefits package including annual leave, health insurance, and contributions to statutory funds.