Job Description

Senior Manager, Green Economy and LearningConservation 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.Conservation South Africa is an independent affiliate of Conservation International that seeks to secure key reservoirs of nature across South Africa for the benefit of all, drawing on best practice from our global affiliate. Our Vision is a South Africa where growth and development are catalyzed through the sustainable stewardship of nature. We do this through working closely with government, local communities, NGOs and the private sector to create scalable green economic demonstrations underpinned by climate science within the Namakwa District Municipality (Northern Cape), Alfred Nzo District Municipality (Eastern Cape), and the Greater Kruger Landscape (Mpumalanga and Limpopo). We deliver benefits for people and nature through four integrated portfolios Jobs 4 Nature, Healthy African Rangelands, Climate Positive Planning & Finance, and Ocean Conservation at Scale.POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Johannesburg, South AfricaThe Senior Manager Green Economy and Learning will lead the strategic design, administration, and implementation of green learning initiatives, with a strong focus on youth, women, and marginalised groups' employment programs. This role will oversee impactful programs such as the YES for Youth Programme, Jobs for Nature, ProNature Enterprise Development Programme, and the Social Employment Fund (SEF) Program, ensuring Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) impact across multiple landscapes.The incumbent will report to the Senior Director: Green Economies. The ideal candidate has strong project management skills, experience working with rural communities, and a passion for sustainability education.RESPONSIBILITIESProgram Development & Implementation

• Design and project manage the administration, strategic support, skills development, and implementation of the YES for Youth Programme and any other programmes related to Jobs for Nature (for example, Scouts programme, Aquaponics, Eco Ranger, Pro Nature Programme, AKO & ECOWYL, Social Employment Fund Projects; Stewardship Farmers, Connection for Nature, impacting youth, women and marginalised groups across multiple landscapes.
• Lead conservations with landscape managers and collaborate with local partners to provide meaningful green employment opportunities for YES Youth graduates.
• Ensure reinvestment of incentives into youth program enhancements, strengthening implementation and sustainability.
• Manage the Climate Risk and Response Plans (CRRP) Development initiative, collaborating with other SIPS and SEF partners to develop five pathways and a national collaboration platform for achieving climate and biodiversity policy targets.

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Building

• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with CSA NGO Networks, corporate sponsors, host organizations, and green learning institutions to support green exit strategies.
• Coordinate community engagement efforts, ensuring active participation of youth, women, and marginalised community members in climate response planning and governance.
• Collaborate with CSA Directors, landscape teams, and external partners to integrate sustainability education into employment initiatives and funding proposal development where appropriate.

Administration, Compliance & Supervision

• Ensure smooth administration and compliance for the YES Programme, SEF Program, and other green learning initiatives across three landscapes.
• Supervise and train the YES and Jobs For Nature Administrative Assistants/ Coordinators and Supervisors, overseeing effective program implementation and compliance.
• Work closely with IT teams working with programme systems such as Kwantu system (for SEF ) and Gnowbe (for YES), and other systems to ensure accurate data management and reporting.
• Monitor and evaluate program impact, ensuring alignment with CSAs green learning strategy and national sustainability goals.

Green Learning Content & Communications

• Develop and manage green learning materials (both digital and physical) for the YES and Jobs For Nature Programmes across three landscapes.
• Track the implementation of green learning initiatives within CSA and partner organizations to build a comprehensive resource repository.
• Work closely with the communication internal team and lead green learning communications, managing content across social media platforms, the CSA website, and partner networks.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of green learning communications and program outreach efforts.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• 10% or more travel (local/international) required.
• Ability to work in remote locations as needed.
• The incumbent must be legally able to work in South Africa.
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.
• This role will be a fixed-term assignment, anticipated to begin in June 2025 to November 2026.

QUALIFICATIONSRequired

• Bachelors degree in Environmental Science, Education, Sustainable Development, or a related field.
• 5 to 7 years of experience in development and rural-focused projects and up to 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Experience or interest in working with rural communities and managing NGO networks.
• Strong background in green learning and development programs with a rural focus
• Familiarity with data management systems and analytical tools.
• Strong project management skills and ability to oversee multiple initiatives.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, particularly with rural communities and external partners.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and structured work approach.
• Proficiency in social media and digital communication for sustainability education.
• Ability to work independently and within a team in diverse environments.

Preferred

• Masters degree

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.Application Deadline: May 15, 2025 (11:49 PM EST)See all Conservation International Career OpportunitiesConservation International is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We believe in hiring based on merit and qualifications, ensuring a fair and inclusive hiring process for everyone.

Conservation International