Manager, Peace and Conflict Sensitivity

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 Bolivia, Brazil (remote), Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Suriname, Peru, Botswana, Liberia, Madagascar, or South Africa

The Peace and Conflict Sensitivity Manager reports to the Senior Director of Justice, Rights, and Equity Program and works with colleagues in the Global Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Center (GILPC) to advance CI’s conflict sensitivity and environmental peacebuilding goals including the process of becoming a conflict-sensitive organization. This body of work will require deep knowledge of how CI plans and implements conservation programs, the Center’s mission to integrate human well-being into CI’s conservation efforts, and all CI business processes (including Branding and Communications, HR, and Development.) The Manager also promotes CI’s environmental peacebuilding program success in global forums such as conferences on conservation and development, webinars, and other strategic engagements.

Working collaboratively and managing day-to-day environmental peacebuilding program initiatives, this Manager provides strategic guidance to plan and implement new and existing conflict sensitivity and environmental peacebuilding efforts within CI, delivers technical assistance on the same topics within CI and beyond, and delivers the training needed for CI staff in Arlington and field programs to better address conflict in their work. The Manager works to ensure project results meet project standards and project deliverables are completed on time and within budget. The Manager also identifies and works to develop funding proposals within the Program and develops quality external partnerships with relevant organizations to keep CI engaged in conversations on environmental peacebuilding, conflict sensitivity, and relevant gender and governance. The position is not responsible for directly supervising others but leads small ad-hoc teams and acts as a technical resource to other CI staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Environmental Peacebuilding Initiative and outreach to CI Staff and Partners (with consideration of DEI in programming).
• Provide technical and strategic input to the development and delivery of training materials for CI’s internal capacity-building on peace and conflict-sensitive conservation.
• Manage awareness-raising and outreach meetings across CI divisions and with key peacebuilding actors, in collaboration with GIPLC staff.
• Represent CI and GIPLC at conferences, workshops, meetings, and within professional groups that advocate for integrated programming, such as the Alliance for Peacebuilding, the Environmental Peacebuilding Association, and the Wilson Center Environmental Change and Security Program.
• Serve as fundraising manager on 2-3 multi-year, multi-country donor proposals to support GIPLC and Justice, Rights, and Equity program goals in collaboration with CI Field Programs and external partners.
• Deliver technical and research guidance/support on issues linked to social inclusion and peace.
• Ensure the Program Operational Goals are managed effectively (including in relation to DEI in operations).
• Design and deliver high-profile communications products on internal and external platforms and provide a conflict sensitivity/DE&I lens to internal and external messaging.
• Function as a key project information source and advisor. Represent CI and ensure effective communications and information sharing between all partners and stakeholders.
• Oversee the overall implementation of assigned project(s).
• Monitor project progress and provide technical advice on the project’s management.
• Identify trends and corrective actions to resolve problems and ensure future project efficiencies. Help identify tools, resources, and training that will facilitate project success.
• Manage the preparation of reporting summaries and project narratives. Collaborate with CI-wide Program finance and operations staff on project financial reporting.
• Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor.

Additional Responsibilities

• Collaborate and contribute to the design and implementation of fundraising strategy and donor development for the environmental peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity portfolio in the GIPLC Center.
• Represent CI in key donor relationships and reporting for stakeholder engagement and core GIPLC Center program funding as appropriate.
• Provide guidance to interns, temporary employees, contractors, or volunteers on programmatic research and analysis tasks

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Periodic travel to the project site and other office locations.
• Comfortable working out of doors for extended periods.
• Ability to work outside the normal work schedule to meet project 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

• Bachelor’s Degree or up to four years of college-level work.
• 4 – 6 years of related work experience, preferably in peacebuilding, international development, stakeholder engagement, and/or social and environmental safeguards issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven capacity-building and facilitation skills including training design, development, and delivery on topics related to conflict sensitivity and environmental peacebuilding, rights-based approaches, and DEI.
• Demonstrated work experience in project management, including planning and budgeting.
• Strong organization and time management skills.
• Team player and able to work effectively with diverse work groups in a multicultural environment.
• Solid written and verbal communication skills. Proficient in written and spoken English.
• Ability to work well under pressure, multitask, set priorities, and deliver quality results.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and under general supervision.
• Proficiency in English is required.

Preferred

• Understanding of the economic and environmental issues facing developing countries and the local communities is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to work effectively with others from a variety of disciplines, cultures, and backgrounds.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office package (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web researching skills.
• An additional language proficiency is preferred, such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.

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.