Senior Manager, Nature Markets Project Development

Conservation International; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Conservation International is seeking a Senior Manager, Nature Markets Project Development, based in Cape Town or Johannesburg, South Africa and Nairobi, Kenya. The role provides technical support from scoping through implementation of high-integrity nature market projects across Africa.

The position oversees multidisciplinary teams, field visits, and knowledge sharing to ensure alignment with CI's conservation objectives and strong project governance. Fluency in English is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in natural resource management or related field.
• Five+ years of relevant biodiversity conservation or conservation finance experience.
• Experience developing or implementing nature market projects.
• Experience with scoping, due diligence, design and implementation.
• Strong understanding of ecological, safeguards, social, governance, legal, and financial considerations.
• Project management experience with workplans, budgets, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience working with governments, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, donors.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a portfolio of nature market projects across Africa.
• Lead scoping, technical assessments, due diligence, and selection of market mechanisms.
• Prepare and review technical studies and project deliverables.
• Apply safeguards, governance frameworks, and integrity requirements.
• Develop workplans, schedules, budgets, risks, and reporting requirements.
• Manage technical consultants and service providers.
• Identify challenges and develop practical solutions with project teams.
• Conduct field visits to monitor progress and provide technical input.
• Prepare updates and progress reports for stakeholders.
• Promote knowledge sharing and best practices across projects.

Skills

Analytical ability

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills (English)

Education

Bachelor's degree in natural resource management or related field

Advanced degree in natural resource management or related field

Job description

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 is based in Cape town or Johannesburg, South Africa and Nairobi, Kenya

The Senior Manager, Nature Markets Project Development, will provide technical support for the development of a portfolio of high-integrity nature market projects across Africa. Reporting to the Managing Director, Nature Markets, the role will support the technical assessment, design, and development of nature market opportunities, supporting projects from initial scoping through implementation. Working closely with country programs, project partners, technical consultants, and cross-functional teams, the position will coordinate technical assessments and other project development activities to ensure projects are technically robust and aligned with CI's conservation objectives and principles of high integrity.

The role will also provide project management oversight throughout the project development lifecycle, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, consultants, workplans, budgets, risks, and project reporting to ensure projects are delivered in accordance with agreed objectives, timelines, and quality standards. The Senior Manager will contribute to the continuous improvement of CI's nature market project development approaches, tools, and technical capacity while supporting the successful delivery of projects under the Keystone Protected Area Financing initiative, the Nature Markets Accelerator, and other Nature Markets initiatives.

Responsibilities

Nature Market Project Development

• Support the development and implementation of a portfolio of nature market projects across Africa, ensuring projects are delivered in accordance with agreed workplans, budgets, timelines, and project objectives.
• Lead the development of nature market projects, including project scoping, technical assessments, due diligence, and the selection and application of appropriate nature market mechanisms.
• Lead the preparation and review of technical studies, project documentation, and other project deliverables required to support project development and implementation.
• Support the application of safeguards, governance frameworks, benefit-sharing approaches, and other project integrity requirements throughout project development and implementation.
• Develop and manage project workplans, schedules, budgets, risks, and reporting requirements to ensure projects progress effectively through the project development lifecycle.
• Manage technical consultants and other service providers, including development of Terms of Reference, review of technical deliverables, and monitoring consultant performance.
• Identify technical and implementation challenges and work with project teams, partners, and technical specialists to develop practical solutions.
• Conduct field visits to monitor project progress, assess implementation challenges, support project partners, and provide technical input during project development.
• Prepare project updates and progress reports for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring reporting requirements are met accurately and on time.
• Promote knowledge sharing, lessons learned, and good practices across projects to improve quality and consistency of project development

Project Integrity and Governance

• Collaborate with Finance, Grants and Contracts, Legal, and other support teams to ensure projects comply with CI policies, donor agreements, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Support the review of project financial and grant reports to ensure resources are managed in accordance with approved budgets and project agreements.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of project management systems, operational processes, and project development approaches across the Nature Markets portfolio.

People And Resource Management Responsibilities

• Does not have direct supervisory authority.
• Act as a technical or subject matter expert to peers and other staff.
• Will be responsible for managing project-related budgets, consultants, and vendors but decisions that bind or commit CI are approved by the immediate supervisor.
• May lead project teams.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Normal office environment.
• This is a full-time position.
• Frequent travel (~30%) within the Africa region will be required, often this will entail travel to remote locations with rustic conditions.
• Flexibility in work schedule is required to accommodate collaboration across multiple time zones with global, regional, and country teams
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in natural resource management, ecology, environmental science, conservation biology, forestry, rangeland management, or a related field.
• Five or more years of relevant professional experience in biodiversity conservation, conservation finance, natural capital, payments for ecosystem services (PES), biodiversity credits, or related fields, including experience developing or implementing nature market projects.
• Demonstrated experience supporting the technical development and implementation of nature market, carbon or conservation finance projects, including project scoping, technical due diligence, project design, technical studies, and project implementation.
• Strong understanding of the ecological, safeguards, social, governance, legal, and financial considerations required to develop high-integrity nature or carbon market projects.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including developing workplans, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, managing consultants and technical service providers, and delivering projects against agreed objectives, timelines, and budgets.
• Experience working with governments, NGOs, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, private sector organizations, donors, and other stakeholders to develop and implement conservation initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex technical information, identify project risks and implementation challenges, and provide practical recommendations to support project development.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Proven ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and deliver high-quality outputs in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• Advanced degree in natural resource management, ecology, environmental science, conservation biology, forestry, rangeland management, or a related field.
• Experience developing nature market projects from concept through implementation, including securing project approvals, coordinating technical studies, and managing project delivery.
• Experience designing or implementing biodiversity monitoring, ecological assessments, or natural resource monitoring to support conservation or nature market projects.
• Field experience in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, protected area management, or landscape conservation, including experience working across multiple African countries.
• Experience working with protected area authorities, community conservancies, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Conservation 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.