Project Manager, Heart of Conservation Initiative (Brazil/Kenya/Cambodia)

About the role

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is hiring a Project Manager for the Heart of Conservation Initiative (HCI), a 5-year global project that strengthens Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' ability to access sustainable finance for territorial stewardship. The role leads the Global Coordination Unit (GCU) and supervises staff, reporting to the Senior Directors of Conservation Areas and Inclusive Conservation. It is based in Brazil, Kenya or Cambodia.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate delivery of the project's five components, including approving Component 1 partners' annual work plans and budgets, implementing a collective capacity-strengthening program, and running the Youth Policy Leaders program.
• Manage day-to-day project operations: monitor and evaluate results against the CERDoc, grant agreement and annual work plan, run the Indigenous Global Steering Committee workflow, and prepare the Annual Work Plan and Budget.
• Provide high-level oversight of procurement and expenditure, review progress with the MEL Officer, and maintain a project risk register.
• Organize key workshops, manage the project website and communications strategy, and support learning visits, reviews and evaluations.
• Supervise GCU staff (including MEL, FO, safeguards, GESI, CKM officers and administrative assistant), prepare TORs for consultants, and ensure quality assurance of partner reports and sub-grants.
• Prepare semi-annual and quarterly reports, co-finance reports, and the project close report; coordinate with co-financed projects and attract additional partners.
• Represent the project at conferences and meetings, and integrate gender and social inclusion into stakeholder engagement.

Required profile

• 10 years of technical experience, including at least 5 years of project management.
• Bachelor's degree; post-graduate degree in a relevant field preferred.
• At least 5 years of experience working in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and local community organizations, with a track record of culturally sensitive collaboration.
• Experience with the Convention on Biological Diversity or other multilateral biodiversity agreements, and with technical and financial reporting to donors on large projects.
• Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder, multi-country projects and leading teams across time zones and cultures.
• Fluency in English; advanced Spanish, French or Portuguese highly preferred.
• Nationals legally authorized to work in the country of the position; no visa sponsorship for Brazil or Kenya.

Required skills

• Knowledge of the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation or WWF project and program management standards preferred.
• Experience with GEF projects is an advantage.