Project Manager – Satpura-Melghat Landscape

Iora Ecological Solutions; Madhya Pradesh; On-site; INR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Iora Ecological Solutions is hiring a Project Manager for the Satpura-Melghat Landscape. The role involves overseeing agroforestry projects, ensuring community engagement, and managing field operations.

The candidate should have at least 4 years of experience in natural resource management and a postgraduate degree in a relevant field. Strong skills in field management, coordination, and fluency in both English and Hindi are essential.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in managing community-based NRM, forestry, and conservation projects.
• Experience working with local communities and stakeholders in Madhya Pradesh is preferred.
• Fluency in English and Hindi.

Responsibilities

• Lead on-ground implementation of agroforestry interventions.
• Coordinate with various stakeholders for project alignment.
• Ensure MRV activities are accurately carried out.
• Prepare periodic progress reports for tracking.

Skills

Field management

Agroforestry understanding

Community engagement

Quantitative research

MS Office proficiency

Education

Postgraduate in Forestry, Agriculture, Agroforestry, or related discipline

Tools

GIS-based platforms

Job description

Job Title: Project Manager – Satpura-Melghat Landscape

Job Type: Full time

Location: Field-based role in Madhya Pradesh

Number of Positions: 1

Remuneration: Competitive

Role Summary

IORA Ecological Solutions is looking for a passionate individual for the position of the Project Manager in one its flagship landscapes, Satpura-Melghat. The Project Manager will be responsible for end-to-end planning, coordination, and on-ground implementation of an agroforestry-based carbon project. The role will lead field execution, community engagement, and coordination with local institutions to ensure timely delivery of plantation, maintenance, and monitoring activities in line with approved project design and livelihood objectives.

The position requires strong experience in rural project implementation, agroforestry or natural resource management, and the ability to manage multi-stakeholder field programmes at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning and Implementation

• Lead on-ground implementation of agroforestry interventions in accordance with the approved project design, annual work plans, and budgets.
• Lead plantation planning, coordination, sapling procurement, site preparation, planting, and post-plantation maintenance activities.
• Ensure alignment of field activities with carbon project requirements, including additionality, permanence, and leakage considerations in coordination with Carbon team.
• Facilitate organisation of workshops and capacity building trainings as required.
• Work closely with different stakeholders (government and non-government) for convergence.
• Manage and supervise field teams, including field coordinators and community mobilisers.
• Set targets, review performance, and provide regular guidance and troubleshooting support to field staff.
• Coordinate with external vendors, nurseries, and service providers to ensure quality and timely delivery.
• Contribute to project proposals and presentations and other project collaterals as required.

Community Engagement and Institutional Coordination

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with farmers, community institutions, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Forest Department, Agriculture and Horticulture departments, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Facilitate farmer mobilisation, enrolment, and capacity-building programmes related to agroforestry practices and long-term tree management.
• Ensure participatory decision-making processes with adequate representation of women and marginalised groups.

Carbon MRV and Compliance

• Support Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) activities, including field data collection, survival assessments, geo-tagging, and documentation.
• Ensure accurate and timely maintenance of project records required for carbon validation and verification.
• Coordinate with technical teams and third‑party auditors during site visits and verifications.

Reporting and Budget Oversight

• Prepare periodic progress reports covering physical, financial, and social indicators.
• Track field-level expenditures against approved budgets and flag deviations or risks in a timely manner.
• Provide inputs for donor, client, and internal management reporting.

Risk Management and Adaptive Implementation

• Identify operational, social, and environmental risks and propose mitigation measures.
• Adapt implementation strategies based on ground realities, climatic conditions, and community feedback while maintaining project integrity.

Qualifications and Experience

• Postgraduate in Forestry, Agriculture, Agroforestry, Rural Management, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resource Management, or a related discipline.
• 4+ years of experience in managing and implementing community‑based NRM, forestry and conservation, agroforestry, or similar projects.
• Demonstrated experience working with local communities, government and other stakeholders in Madhya Pradesh or similar central Indian landscapes is strongly preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong field management and coordination skills with the ability to operate in remote, multi‑district landscapes.
• Practical understanding of agroforestry systems, plantation operations, and farmer‑centric livelihood models.
• Working knowledge of carbon project concepts, MRV processes, and documentation requirements.
• Qualitative and quantitative research skills are an advantage.
• Understanding of community dynamics, cultural contexts, and the challenges faced by rural communities in Central India.
• Commitment to work for community development and sustainable natural resources management.
• Knowledge of the major policies and issues impacting the conservation and management of the forest landscapes in India.
• Proficiency in MS Office; comfort with digital data collection tools and GIS‑based platforms.
• Fluency in English and Hindi (spoken and written).