Programme Manager - Socio Economic Development

SUMMARY:
Socio Economic Development Programme Manager

POSITION INFO:

Our client is a well known nature conservation organisation operating in various countries in Africa such as Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Job Role Summary

The Programme Manager: Socio-Economic Development (SED) will design and support implementation of programmes that deliver social and economic benefits at scale to local communities around managed protected areas. The selected programmes will address relevant local needs, and capitalise on income-generating opportunities that are aligned to conservation. Projects will be developed with a view to long-term viability and sustainability driven by community ownership and participation.

The Programme Manager: Socio-economic Development is responsible for:

• Supporting parks in defining custom park plans that are aligned to company strategy and local needs (Engagement, Education, Economy, Plus);
• Building team capacity to improve execution of activities in park plans (e.g. project management, participatory processes);
• Designing and supporting implementation of income-generating activities (IGAs), and financially-viable projects to commercialise non-timber forest products (NTFPs);
• Codifying best practice for existing development activities and IGAs, to support scaling up and roll out to other locations (e.g. transhumant pastoralism, aquaculture);
• Supporting the integration of development programmes in grant proposals to secure funding and technical partners.
• Managing socio-economic studies to build understanding of communities, and to establish baselines for monitoring.

Minimum qualifications & experience requirements

• Post-graduate qualification in Social Sciences/International Development/Conservation/ Development Economics or a related field.
• Must have experience in corporate environment or managing a commercial business venture.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience, including execution of income-generating activities with rural communities in Africa. Experience with cooperative management or social enterprise development is a plus.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English. French and/or Portuguese fluency is a plus.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with ability to work across cultures and to foster collaboration.
• Affinity with conservation and social development in Africa.
• Willingness to travel to remote rural settings.

To apply, please email your CV and cover letter to before 20 June 2025