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.
The “Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands” Project, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), will 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 across Ngamiland, Kgalagadi and Bobirwa to improve management of 4.6 million hectares of rangelands.
POSITION SUMMARY: This position is based in Gaborone, Botswana. The Commodity Based Trade (CBT) Manager will lead the development, operationalization, and scaling of Commodity Based Trade systems in Botswana's beef sector, with a particular focus on communal rangelands and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)-affected areas. The role facilitates safe market access for cattle producers through internationally acceptable risk-based trade systems that satisfy animal health, public health, traceability, and market requirements without reliance on geographic disease zoning. Working closely with government, producers, processors, traders, veterinary authorities, and development partners, the CBT Manager will drive the establishment of practical compliance systems across the beef value chain while ensuring alignment with Botswana's livestock development, biodiversity conservation, and rural livelihoods objectives.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- CBT Strategy, Policy and Institutional Development: Support DVS and relevant authorities in developing, refining, and implementing CBT policies, protocols, and operating standards; facilitate alignment between veterinary disease control, public health, and market access standards; provide technical guidance to national and regional CBT platforms; serve as the project's primary technical advisor on CBT matters.
- Beef Value Chain Compliance and Risk Management: Lead identification and implementation of critical compliance controls from farm to market; establish systems for livestock identification, traceability, movement control, and record management; support disease surveillance, risk mitigation, auditing and verification.
- Stakeholder Coordination and Public-Private Partnerships: Convene government agencies, farmers, processors, exporters, and development partners; strengthen coordination platforms including the CBT Forum; build consensus on operational requirements.
- Monitoring, Learning and Adaptive Management: Develop and oversee CBT performance monitoring systems; monitor compliance, adoption, and market access indicators; produce technical reports and evidence.
- Resource Mobilization and Technical Support: Provide technical input into donor proposals, concept notes and implementation plans; represent the project with donors, government, and industry stakeholders.
WORKING CONDITIONS: Normal office environment hosted in the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture; work outside normal working hours; frequent travel to remote areas within the Project Area; high adaptability to difficult conditions. Fixed-term assignment.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required: Degree in Veterinary Science or related livestock health discipline; 4 to 6 years of experience in livestock production, veterinary services, animal health programmes, beef value-chain development, or livestock market systems; experience working with government regulatory systems and livestock producers; knowledge of FMD control systems, traceability, animal health compliance, and beef export requirements; experience managing multi-stakeholder programmes and multi-disciplinary teams with proven supervisory experience; experience with CBT implementation or livestock export systems; experience in communal livestock production systems; team, project and programme management experience.
Preferred: Master’s degree in a relevant field; work experience and existing networks in agriculture, NGOs, community development, local authorities or government at cluster level; proven ability to manage extension teams.
Closing date: 2026-08-31
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter via the Conservation International careers portal (Apply Now: https://phh.tbe.taleo.net/phh04/ats/careers/v2/applyRequisition?org=CONSERVATION&cws=39&rid=2773). Application Deadline: August 31, 2026 (11:49 PM EST).