Restoration Gender & Safeguards Manager

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Conservation International

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Remote

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Restoration Gender & Safeguards 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 could be based in Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, United Kingdom (Remote), Madagascar, South Africa, or Belgium. Remote possible.

As a core component of its Climate Strategy, Conservation International has set ambitious targets for scaling restoration globally as a climate solution in an approach that is inclusive and supportive of women, IP&LCs, youth, and vulnerable groups. The Restoration Gender & Safeguards Manager primarily supports the global component (through the Global Coordination Unit, or GCU) of an innovative Ecosystem Restoration Program and may work with other restoration projects across Conservation International to support implementation of a gender & safeguards approach. This position will be a key part of the Global Coordination Project of the GEF 8 Ecosystem Restoration Integrated program, an innovation initiative to support and scale ecosystem restoration in 20 countries. The position will manage, facilitate, and coordinate all gender & safeguards-related activities within the Global Coordination Project (GCP) of the Ecosystem Restoration Program. This work will position CI as a thought leader and partner of choice in nuanced, data-driven, tailored, cost-effective restoration and contribute key knowledge to the global ecosystem restoration community derived from CI’s restoration portfolio

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Restoration Partnerships Director and working as part of CI’s Global Coordination Unit (GCU) for a global Ecosystem Restoration Program, this position will provide targeted technical support to the global project and support child projects to meet CI-GEF Agency Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), including safeguards, gender, inclusion, and human rights-based obligations. The position will be a blended role with a focus on both gender, social inclusion, social safeguards (GESI/SG), stakeholder engagement, and grievance mechanisms. The Manager will support the final design and implementation of
high-quality safeguard plans and project documents, ensuring that the program complies with CI-GEF Agency’s ESMF requirements. The position will facilitate global coordination on these themes among country child projects, support the development and delivery of outreach and training materials, conduct online and in-person GESI & safeguard training, and collect, analyze, and present performance data.

  • Oversee all gender, social inclusion, and safeguard elements of the global project, including finalizing and overseeing the implementation of gender & safeguard plans: Stakeholder Engagement Plan, Accountability & Grievance Mechanism, and Gender Mainstreaming Plan.
  • Facilitate coordination and learning across the Program (GCP + child projects) that focuses on shared challenges, lessons learned, successes, monitoring, and communication about the importance of GESI/SG in realizing effective restoration. This will include frequent exchanges among child projects in different forms (e.g., virtual working group)
  • Provide GESI/SG technical guidance to the design of all GCP capacity-building programs and training materials, including specific GESI/SG modules focused on restoration financing, ecosystem restoration, restoration planning, etc. This will include gathering and assessing feedback from a range of stakeholders about their capacity, needs, and interests for GESI/SG in restoration contexts.
  • Operate the global coordination project’s Accountability & Grievance Mechanism, including intake and coordinated response to any feedback or eligible grievances.
  • Work with country projects and partners to integrate GESI/SG considerations into the Program’s Restoration Diagnostic Tool.
  • Coordinate and facilitate the communication of key GESI/SG messages and needs into other programmatic working groups.
  • Support child projects and/or lead production of key knowledge products related to GESI/SG and restoration, including publications/blogs, webinars, guidance documents, etc.
  • Provide guidance to GCU about creating inclusive and supportive governing bodies (e.g., Restoration Advisory Council).
  • Provide support to child projects on how to gather relevant information to inform GESI/SG indicators.
  • Design & deliver awareness-raising, capacity strengthening, and knowledge exchange activities related to GESI/SG and restoration for CI staff, project teams, implementing partners, and selective stakeholders.
  • Participate in relevant safeguard subject area networks and stay updated on safeguards standards pertinent to conservation.
  • Provide support, organize and help facilitate the program safeguards working group with other safeguards specialists.
  • Perform related duties as assigned.

Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Extended work hours may be required, including non-traditional work hours as needed in a global organization.
  • Some international travel up to 30% time may be required.
  • Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.
  • For Europe or UK: “Candidates should be EU or UK nationals or have a valid work permit for Belgium or in the UK”.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or a related field, such as international development or social sciences.
  • 4 to 6 years of experience working with project and program design, monitoring, and compliance of public or private donor-funded projects in the area of environment, conservation, and/or development or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Knowledge and demonstrated a minimum of two years of experience in designing, applying, and monitoring environment and social safeguards (stakeholder engagement, gender/GESI mainstreaming, grievance mechanism).
  • Strong understanding of the social risks and impacts, particularly the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized peoples, gender equality, indigenous peoples, benefit-sharing, conflict, and grievance redress in the context of restoration.
  • Relevant experience with gender-responsive programming, including the design and implementation of gender action plans.
  • Experience in producing and disseminating high-quality knowledge management products and training materials.
  • Experience in conducting M&E, including developing performance indicators, designing surveys, analyzing data, and presenting findings in a user-friendly manner.
  • Strong capacity to communicate with government agencies, local communities, civil society organizations, indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders.
  • Excellent cross-cultural and people skills, commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at both a project and institutional level.
  • Ability to work independently and /or remotely, to meet deadlines and commitments.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and capacity to work in team environments, including building productive partnerships across a diversity of stakeholders.
  • Attention to detail and discretion in the discussion of sensitive risk-related issues.
  • Excellent English oral and written communication skills, including public speaking and training.

Preferred

  • Fluency in Spanish, Portuguese, or French.
  • Experience with GEF projects and ESS policies and requirements.
  • Familiarity with the principles of FPIC.
  • Experience delivering environment and social safeguards training.
  • Experience delivering training on gender.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

Conservation International is an equal opportunity, affirmative action, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility-committed employer. We are proud to have a diverse, global workforce where employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, position requirements, business needs, market conditions, merit, and other legitimate nondiscriminatory factors.

As a science-based organization, CI follows CDC recommendations for COVID-19 and other vaccines. Accordingly, for the health and safety of our employees, their families, and our community, subject to applicable local law, all Conservation International staff are expected to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, vaccination is no longer a mandate or condition of employment and employees are not required to provide proof of vaccination. This means we will not require an individual to be vaccinated to enter a CI office, attend CI events or travel on CI-related trips. This applies for our community partners as well. This vaccine expectation applies to all team members working remotely, in a hybrid work arrangement, and on-site. Job applicants are NOT required to state their COVID-19 vaccine status in their application.