Safeguards Manager

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.

The Seed Fund is a strategic fund held and administered by Conservation International. It provides timely, strategic assistance to conserve vital reserves of biodiversity and irrecoverable carbon and kickstart the implementation of ‘Country Packages’ in Host Countries. ‘Country Packages’ bring together governments, the private sector, philanthropy, and multilateral institutions to achieve ambitious forest and climate goals at the national level. So far, seven countries— Peru, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, and Republic of Congo — have launched Country Packages, and more are in development.

The initial Seed Fund partners are Conservation International, the Government of France, the Rob Walton Foundation, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. They are collectively committing EUR 115 million with the goal of raising at least EUR 200 million. The Seed Fund intends to support Country Packages that show a commitment to protecting and conserving a country’s high-biodiversity and high-carbon areas—including forests, mangrove ecosystems, oceans, and peatlands, and the communities living in and near them. Eligible recipients include research and education institutions, development agencies, government bodies, and civil society organizations.

The Seed Fund will, among other things:

• Invest in capacity building and strengthen delivery on the ground, including through NGOs or Indigenous peoples and local communities.
• Design and implement conservation efforts for vital reserves of carbon and biodiversity.
• Advance key scientific and monitoring products and boost scientific cooperation to provide data for Country Package development.
• Support the upscaling of long-term and reliable finance and financial innovation to further increase domestic funding sources and support public and private international support.
• Support feasibility studies for the long-term delivery of larger Country Packages.

This position is an integral part of the Seed Fund Delivery Team.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Kenya, South Africa, or Colombia

The Safeguards Manager will lead the design, implementation, management, and capacity building of the Seed Fund’s Environmental & Social Management System (ESMS). Comprised of policies, standards and procedures, guidance, capacity-building processes, and a grievance redress mechanism, the Seed Fund ESMS is designed to avoid or mitigate adverse environmental and social impacts and enhance positive outcomes.

Reporting to the Managing Director, Seed Fund, this position will provide targeted support to Seed Fund partners and projects, supporting realization of CI’s safeguards, gender, and human rights-based obligations. The Manager will support the development of the ESMS, high-quality safeguard plans and approaches, tools, guidance, and capacity building to assure compliance with CI’s safeguard policies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee Seed Fund safeguard management in accordance with CI’s Environmental & Social Management Framework (via a fit-for-purpose ESMS)
• Provide input, analysis, and support to developing and overseeing the Seed Fund ESMS, including risk identification, procedures for safeguard screening, guidance, tools, and approaches within the Fund and country-level initiatives.
• Ensure the coordination and integration of E&S risk management procedures within the Fund’s internal processes.
• Evaluate safeguard compliance (using due diligence criteria) by reviewing necessary E&S documentation of country packages and with potential site visits
• Provide technical guidance to country package partners on safeguard risk identification, analysis of mitigation measures, implementation & monitoring of efficacy.
• Provide technical guidance and capacity building to country package partners that advance social commitments, including meaningful gender and social inclusion outcomes and full and effective engagement with Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
• Review and provide guidance on country package grantee proposals, plans, and reporting.
• Monitor progress and report on safeguard compliance at the Fund level, periodically collect and analyze data related to safeguard performance indicators for the Fund and country packages.
• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of safeguard and gender capacity building efforts, including the development of training materials and user support of online resources.
• Organize awareness-raising, capacity strengthening, and knowledge exchange activities related to safeguards and gender for Seed Fund staff, partners, and selected stakeholders.
• Provide support to the effective operation of accountability & grievance mechanisms, including design & operation of the Fund-level mechanism.

Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Extended work hours may be required, including non-traditional work hours as needed in a global organization
• Some international travel up to 30% time may be required.
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or a related field, such as international development or social sciences, plus 4 to 6 years of experience working with project and program design, monitoring, and compliance of public or private donor-funded projects in the area of environment, conservation, and/or development, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge and experience in designing, applying, and monitoring environment and social safeguards (with emphasis on social safeguards, including stakeholder engagement, gender mainstreaming, grievance mechanisms, labor & working conditions, community health & safety, etc.)
• Strong understanding of project-driven social and environmental risks and impacts, particularly the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized peoples, gender equality, Indigenous Peoples, benefit-sharing, conflict, and grievance redress.
• Relevant experience with gender-responsive programming, including the design and implementation of practical gender action plans.
• Strong capacity to communicate with government agencies, local communities, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent cross-cultural and people skills, commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at both a programming and institutional level.
• Ability to work independently and /or remotely, to meet deadlines and commitments.
• Strong interpersonal skills and capacity to work in team environments, including building productive partnerships across a diversity of stakeholders.
• Attention to detail and discretion in the discussion of sensitive risk-related issues
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills, including public speaking and designing engaging and informative training for various audiences.
• Fluency in an appropriate second language for the region (French or Spanish, both preferred).

Preferred

• Experience in MS SharePoint design, database creation, and management.
• Experience in producing and disseminating knowledge management products and training materials.
• Experience in conducting M&E, including developing performance indicators, designing surveys, analyzing data, and presenting findings in a user-friendly manner.

To apply for this position, please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: December 7, 2025 (11:49 PM EST)

See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE

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.