Job Opportunities at Conservation International

• The objective of this role is to document, manage and disseminate lessons learned from the implementation of Herding for Health to a diverse target audience in a variety of formats suitable for communication. The Knowledge and Communications Manager will work closely with rangeland’s science and communications team, as well as contracted consultants, to support the production and dissemination of communication materials that will raise awareness and promote the Pro-Nature Enterprise project and the Herding for Health programme. Duties are performed under general supervision.
• The Knowledge and Communications Manager will lead and coordinate Component 4 of the Pro-Nature Enterprise project, titled “Learning, documentation, dissemination, and policy influencing”. This component aims to document and disseminate lessons learned from implementing an incentive-based conservation model in the target project sites. Additionally, it aims to influence local public policies on community-based natural resource management models. The successful candidate will form part of the Africa Rangelands Program team and closely work with CI’s broader communications team to provide leadership and support to achieve Component 4 goals, for which progress has already been made.

Within Component 4, there are three study topics, each with their own research lead. The topics are:

• Economic drivers for behavior change and adoption of sustainable rangelands management;
• Non-economic (social) drivers for sustainable rangelands management;
• How to accentuate CBNRM using conservation agreements.

In addition to supporting the Pro-Nature Enterprise team, the Knowledge & Communications Manager will contribute to the ongoing science endeavors within the broader Herding for Health Programme by coordinating the research activities across the three topics and by helping to facilitate learning across sites. The successful candidate will be responsible for integrating, and disseminating, the knowledge gained through the Pro-Nature Enterprise research into relevant organizational scientific work and will be responsible for keeping up-to-date with the broader science goals within the organization, working closely with the rangelands science portfolio to ensure that research goals remain aligned.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead Pro-Nature Enterprise’s Component 4

• Take overall leadership of Pro-Nature Enterprise Component 4 activities. This involves setting the agenda and coordinating all on-going topics of study.
• Directly and actively support the three study topics, including coordinating data collection and partner engagement. This will be done in close collaboration with the thematic topic leads.
• Play a central role in the preparation and hosting of the learning network meetings.
• Take a lead in the general knowledge management functions of the Pro-Nature project including:
  • Preparation of quarterly newsletters.
  • Documentation of case studies and lessons learned from project sites.
  • Updating of project communication materials (factsheets, online tracker, reports, photos, etc.).
  • Compilation and design of all project materials.
  • Archival and organization of project materials in Sharepoint.
  • Ensure project partners have updated their monitoring matrices and ensure the overall project monitoring matrix is updated.
  • Support in organizing project meetings, including steering committee meetings, stakeholders meetings, and trainings.
  • Providing content, with consultation from the project team, for communication requests from the donor.
• Assist the Pro-nature Enterprises project manager with general coordination tasks.

Herding for Health Communications

• Together with the broader Herding for Health communications teams, develop a draft communications strategy and enable a broad uptake and understanding of the strategy across the regional programme.
• Regularly conduct collaborative assessments of target audiences and key messages for each audience.
• Develop supporting templates, presentations, case studies, and other relevant materials (e.g. factsheets, videos, etc.) to support the communication strategy and key scientific outputs.
• Procure the services of any designers, writers, etc. for the development of materials as needed.
• Disseminate materials on appropriate public and online platforms in line with the communications strategy.
• Manage and execute a content calendar for social media, blog posts, and other external communications and clarify key messages and target audiences in line with the communications strategy.
• Oversee social media outputs by various staff, interns, and consultants across the regional programme.
• Working with Herding for Health partners, co-develop content for an updated Herding for Health website.
• Feed relevant scientific findings and key knowledge to help create rangeland-related newsworthy pieces.

Additional Responsibilities

• Assist with logistical support, as and when needed, especially for science-related field work.
• Provide communications support for workshops, meetings, and other special events for both internal and external participants.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Typical office environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel on a regular basis to field sites within southern, and east Africa and when needed other countries in the rest of Africa where CI is supporting H4H implementation.
• Flexibility to work extended hours to meet deadlines.
•  This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Undergraduate degree in Communications and/or Marketing.
• 4 to 6 years of related work experience in knowledge management and/or sharing of science-related communications.
• Experience in, or demonstrated knowledge of the principles of, rangelands management, rangelands ecology, agriculture, rangelands economics or other relevant field, is an advantage.
• Experience in hosting and facilitating knowledge-sharing events and platforms.
• Experience with a variety of communications media and software is an advantage, e.g. Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premier Pro, or similar.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Basic administration and coordination skills are essential.
• Highly familiar with etiquette, protocol, and employing cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Proven team player.
• Self-driven with strong leadership and performance management.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a dynamic environment.

Preferred

• Postgraduate degree.
• Experience with implementing a communications and marketing strategy will be an advantage.
• Good academic credentials and a good portfolio of communication products.
• Ability to bring a sense of fun and aliveness/flow to the team is an advantage.

go to method of application »

• The Herding for Health (H4H) Technical Manager provides technical leadership, oversight, and support through providing advice and actively testing ideas on site-based rangelands projects within Conservation International’s Africa Field Division, with a specific focus on Herding for Health (H4H) implementation in dryland ecosystems. The technical manager will ensure rangeland projects are adhering to the best regenerative agriculture and rangeland management practices and will directly coordinate with site-based technical staff to provide guidance and support as needed, for example in grazing area management and community engagement. They will ensure a certain level of standardization across the H4H sites and will play a key role in updating technical learning materials based on research and experience from demonstration sites. They will also coordinate closely with training partners to ensure implementers receive the necessary skills and training to implement H4H and other rangeland restoration activities.
• In addition to providing site-specific technical input, the H4H Technical Manager will form part of the core Rangelands Team, and will provide input to strategic planning, and fundraising proposals where appropriate.
• The H4H Technical Manager will also be responsible for coordinating across other technical divisions within Conservation International, for example, with the restoration, technology, Conservation Stewardship, and GIS leads. In close collaboration with the Conservation Stewardship Program, the H4H Technical Manager will play a key role in helping site-based teams with community engagement, design, and implementation of Stewardship Agreements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide rangelands technical input, both from an ecological and regenerative agricultural perspective across all Herding for Health sites:

• Manage site-based technical leads to ensure projects are adhering to best practices with regards to regenerative agriculture, especially regenerative livestock management and rangelands management, with a specific emphasis on dryland ecosystems.
• Guide and mentor implementation teams.
• Share up-to-date rangeland management best practices with all implementation teams.
• Identify implementation risks early, and address as appropriate to ensure targets are met.
• Support research and knowledge generation interventions and testing of innovations in field sites.
• Provide H4H technical inputs to CI rangelands conservation policy papers and communication materials as well as influencing processes when needed.

Play a leading role in the development of rangeland management training materials:

• Provide technical input to training manuals, fact sheets, toolkits, online courses and other learning-related materials.
• Work closely with training partners (e.g. Southern Africa Wildlife College, Herding Academy, Afrivet) to ensure training is relevant and incorporates H4H-specific material.
• Where needed, conduct H4H training to identified groups and stakeholders in support of implementation of CI and partner projects.

Inspire a positive, inclusive, curious team culture:

• Build camaraderie and team spirit among implementation teams.
• Create a sense of team unity across all implementation sites.
• Create opportunities for learning across sites.

Other duties as assigned by the supervisor:

• Work closely with all members of the Africa Rangeland Program (ARP) Team.
• Support communication team with information and media presence of the ARP portfolio.
• Assist with logistical support as and when needed.
• Coordinate virtual and in person workshops, meetings and other special events for both internal and external participants.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Up to 50% travel within southern and east Africa.
• Expected to start immediately.
• Must be legally able to work in South Africa.
• This position follows a hybrid work structure, working some days from the office and some remotely. Guidance will be shared during the interview process.
• This is a fixed-term assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree with 4 to 6 years of relevant work experience.

Preferred

• Master’s degree or PhD in rangelands management, rangelands ecology, agriculture, rangelands economics, or other relevant field.
• Experience in working on similar or higher technical positions in a busy, extensive livestock system, preferably in drylands and one which has a wildlife component on it.
• Deep understanding of the technical elements of H4H or similar regenerative farming techniques and its potential for improving livelihoods and incomes of traditional pastoralist communities and other types of livestock owners.  
• Strong community engagement skills. Knowledge of Stewardship Agreement model or other incentive-based models in rangelands context will be an added advantage.
• Strong communication and presentation skills including the ability to effectively convey complex details or technical information.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Basic administration and coordination skills are essential.
• Highly familiar with etiquette, protocol, and employing cultural awareness and sensitivity. 
• Proven team player.
• Self-driven with strong leadership and performance management.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to speak one or more local languages, French, or Portuguese is an added advantage.