Conservation Synergies (CS) is seeking a Project Implementation Manager to be responsible for the day-to-day coordination and implementation of the project \u201cDeveloping evidence- based approaches to improve financial literacy and reduce ranger indebtedness in priority Protected Areas\u201d (PAs). The initiative will explore systemic issues including debt traps, online gambling, scamming, identity theft, and credit accessibility, while developing evidence-based interventions to support rangers in achieving financial stability.<\/p>\n
This is an ambitious project with a tight timeline and CS need a delivery-based manager to test approaches and report on results. This is new and novel work and the role requires a unique blend of project management execution, exceptional interpersonal skills, strong analytical capability, learnability and drive for social impact.
\nKEY RESPONSIBILITIES
\nProject execution:
\n\u2022 Ability to meticulously plan, organise and execute project deliverables.
\n\u2022 Develop and maintain detailed work plans and activity schedules \u2013 translate the agreed project workplan into a concrete delivery schedule aligned with the grant period.
\n\u2022 Monitor project progress and prepare regular status reports.
\n\u2022 Lead the establishment and functioning of an expert group on ranger financial wellbeing, including scheduling, agendas, minutes and follow-up actions.
\n\u2022 Coordinate the design, piloting and documentation of site-level financial literacy and indebtedness interventions in at 2-3 priority PAs, including plans, training schedules and simple monitoring frameworks.\u201d
\n\u2022 Plan and coordinate endline data collection in participating sites, working closely with CS technical staff and site partners.
\nKey deliverables:
\n\u2022 Consolidated implementation workplan with milestones and responsibilities for all Outcomes, refined with CS team and partners, within one month of contract start.
\n\u2022 At least two expert group meetings convened and documented.
\n\u2022 Intervention plans for each agreed site, with stakeholder roles, timelines, and simple M&E indicators.
\n\u2022 Inputs to RRF progress reports and a short internal \u2018implementation learning note\u2019
\ncapturing what is working and what needs adjustment.
\nStakeholder engagement:
\n\u2022 Exceptional\u00a0\u00a0communication\u00a0skills with the ability to coordinate busy people, successfully encouraging them to fulfil their agreed-upon roles. This must be done politely, diplomatically, and collaboratively.
\n\u2022 Facilitate meetings, workshops, and consultation sessions as required.<\/p>\n
Research and writing:
\n\u2022 Conduct research on financial issues affecting rangers, including online gambling, debt mechanisms, credit systems, and financial scams.
\n\u2022 Gather, analyse, and synthesise information from multiple sources.
\n\u2022 Produce well-referenced, evidence-based written outputs including briefing notes, case studies, and reports.
\n\u2022 Identify emerging issues and trends relevant to ranger financial wellness.
\nRelationships and reporting
\n\u2022 Reports to: CS Managing Director with close collaboration with the CS Technical Lead and Grants & Operations Director.
\n\u2022 Works closely with: Site-based PA leadership, HR\/wellness focal points, and financial literacy partners (e.g. local training providers, NGOs, or financial institutions).<\/p>\n
PROFILE AND REQUIREMENTS
\nEducation
\n\u2013 Degree in conservation with a strong interest behavioural sciences\/behavioural economics OR
\n\u2013 Degree in behavioural sciences\/behavioural economics with a strong interest in conservation.
\nEducation
\nExperience
\n\u2013 3-5 years of relevant professional experience
\n\u2013 Proven project management experience: Must have been responsible for implementing and managing a project. Applicants must provide project budget size, direct management responsibility, and referee details for verification.
\n\u2013 Demonstrated research and writing capability: Applicants must submit a writing sample \u2013 a well-referenced research piece that demonstrates analytical thinking and clear communication.
\n\u2013 Experience working in or with conservation organisations, PAs, or allied sectors (e.g. rural development, community conservation, law enforcement) is strongly preferred.
\n\u2013 Experience working with sensitive topics such as indebtedness, staff welfare, or integrity \/ misconduct issues will be an advantage.
\n\u2013 Experience in applying ethical research and data management protocols.<\/p>\n
Knowledge and interests (essential)
\n\u2013 Strong interest in conservation and the wellbeing of people working in conservation.
\n\u2013 Understanding of or genuine interest in financial issues affecting individuals (debt, credit, banking systems).
\n\u2013 Awareness of financial challenges such as debt traps, online gambling, scamming, identity theft, and predatory lending practices.
\n\u2013 Interest in behavioral economics and how financial decisions impact individuals and organisations.
\nCORE COMPETENCIES AND ATTRIBUTES
\nThe successful candidate will be assessed on three key competency areas:
\n1. Project management ability: Planning, organising, and delivering project activities on time and to standard.
\n2. Interpersonal and diplomatic skills: Engaging stakeholders professionally, motivating participation, and managing relationships tactfully when people are busy or facing competing priorities.
\n3. Research and analytical thinking: Gathering information, conducting research, analysing complex issues, and producing well-written, well-referenced outputs.
\nAttributes required include:
\n1. High levels of discretion and integrity \u2013 for dealing with confidential personal financial or integrity-related information.
\n2. Self-discipline and excellent communication skills \u2013 to work independently in a virtual and multi-country context, with proactive communication and self-management.
\n3. Learnability \u2013 to be able to absorb new skills and ways of working and start working with them immediately.
\n4. Emotional awareness and empathy \u2013 to be able to connect with and understand field
\nrangers\u2019 situations without imposing external values and judgements.
\nDURATION AND LEVEL OF EFFORT
\n\u2013 Six month fixed term contract requiring 20 hours per week.
\n\u2013 A deliverables-based contract and fee will be agreed with the successful consultant.
\n\u2013 The role is primarily home-based but will likely require short field trips within Southern Africa to at least one or two project sites.
\n\u2013 The CS team works remotely so you will need to be self-motivated and able to work from home and deliver timeously. We regularly meet virtually and in-person whenever possible.
\nHOW TO APPLY (SINGLE PDF, MAX 5 MB)
\nClosing date: 27 March 2026, 17h00 CAT . Please email your application to undefined with ONE PDF file (max 5 MB) containing ALL of the following components:
\nCover letter (max 1.5 pages)
\nYour cover letter must address the following:
\n\u2022 Motivation: Explain why you want to work on ranger wellbeing, indebtedness support and financial resilience within conservation organisations.
\n\u2022 Concrete project example: Describe ONE specific project where you were directly responsible for implementation (even if small-scale). Include:
\n\u2013 Brief context: organisation, location, project focus, and your exact role.
\n\u2013 Budget size and which parts you directly managed.
\n\u2013 Key challenges you faced (e.g., stakeholder coordination, time constraints, sensitive issues) and the actions you took to address them.
\n\u2013 At least one trade-off or difficult decision you made (e.g., budget reallocation, timeline adjustment, stakeholder prioritisation) and why.
\n\u2013 One thing that went wrong or proved harder than expected, and how you adjusted your approach.
\n\u2022 Interest in financial issues: Briefly describe your interest in financial issues affecting individuals (such as debt traps, online gambling, scams, identity theft, and access to credit) and why this matters in a conservation context.
\nCV (max 3 pages)
\n\u2022 Focus on relevant experience in project implementation, coordination and stakeholder engagement.
\n\u2022 Highlight any work in conservation, protected areas, ranger support, financial wellbeing, behavioural economics, or organisational\/social science.
\n\u2022 Clearly list your research, analysis and writing experience (including any short research reports, policy briefs or similar outputs), and note any specific tools or methods you are comfortable using.
\nReferees
\nProvide details for two referees who can comment on your project management ability, reliability and interpersonal skills:
\n\u2022 Name, position, organisation, email and phone number.
\n\u2022 At least one referee must be able to confirm your responsibility for implementing a specific project and managing its budget.<\/p>\n
Note: We will contact referees during the short-listing stage, not only at the end of the process.
\nWriting task: Analytical piece (500 words maximum)
\nTo help us identify genuinely experienced candidates and minimise generic or AI-generated applications, submit a short analytical piece on the following prompt:
\n\u201cIn max 500 words, outline how online gambling and debt traps could undermine ranger integrity in a priority protected area, and propose two practical interventions for one site.\u201d
\nYour piece must demonstrate:
\n\u2022 Well-structured argument or analysis.
\n\u2022 Use of at least two credible references, with preference for sources grounded in African or Southern African contexts (e.g., reports, laws, NGO work, academic research).
\n\u2022 Clear, professional writing style.
\n\u2022 Ability to identify and explore complex, real-world issues.
\nNote: We are looking for evidence of your own thinking and understanding of how rangers, protected areas, HR systems, and financial issues actually work in practice, not generic or theoretical responses.
\nSELECTION PROCESS
\nApplications will be reviewed in three stages:
\nStage 1: Document review
\nWe will assess your application materials for completeness, relevance of experience, quality of the analytical piece, and clarity of the concrete project example.
\nStage 2: Short-listed candidates (live exercise + verification)
\nShort-listed candidates will be invited to participate in:
\n1. A 30\u201345 minute live exercise via Zoom\/Teams where you will be asked to:
\n\u2022 Organise a set of project activities into a realistic 6-month workplan with dependencies and milestones.
\n\u2022 Identify likely risks and suggest mitigation approaches.
\n\u2022 The scenario will be shared at the start of the call; you will have 10\u201315 minutes to think, then walk us through your approach.
\n2. Verification of project management claims: We will contact at least one of your referees to confirm the budget size, your exact role, and the challenges you managed in the project you described.
\nStage 3: Final interview
\nFinal candidates will participate in a 45\u201360 minute behavioural interview focusing on:
\n\u2022 Your approach to managing this specific project given current delays and sensitivities.
\n\u2022 Your experience dealing with sensitive topics (indebtedness, staff welfare, integrity issues).
\n\u2022 Your ability to coordinate busy stakeholders diplomatically and persistently.
\nIMPORTANT NOTES
\n\u2022 Verification: CS will verify all project management claims with the organisations and referees provided. Misrepresentation of responsibilities, outputs, or experience will result in disqualification from this and future opportunities.
\n\u2022 Confidentiality: All application materials will be treated confidentially.
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