Job Opportunity for Coordinator – Community Engagement (Terai Arc Landscape) at WWF India in Dehdradun

Roles and Responsibilities 

WWF India is one of the largest conservation organizations, engaged in wildlife and nature conservation in the country. A vital component of our conservation work are our partnerships with the people who live closest to wildlife. Our work with the communities has helped us in finding solutions to issues like human- wildlife conflict, forest dependency, habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade. Innovative and scalable models of community based conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and institutional partnerships in our landscapes have enabled community initiatives to contribute significantly in addressing the above issues.

In support of WWF India’s flagship programme – the Wildlife & Habitat Programme, we seek an Coordinator (Communities) who will be responsible for all community based conservation programmes in the Terai Arc Landscape (WITL).

Location: Dehradun

The Job Profile:

Programme Development and Fund-raising

• Develop and oversee implementation of strategies for community-based conservation work in TAL in coordination with the Team Leader, TAL, respective Landscape Coordinators and Lead-Community Engagement.
• Identify conservation issues, develop and share concept notes, work plan and budget to contribute to proposal development for fund-raising to implement the strategies whenever needed.

Programme Implementation and Technical Support

• Strategize objectives and activities for strengthening community engagement in different areas with special reference to managing human wildlife conflict, resource dependencies and securing critical habitats.
• Develop strategic conservation linked livelihood, alternate energy and community engagement plans.
• Assist the team members in carrying out field surveys, data collection, data analysis and report preparation.
• Assist in strengthening community institutions (EDCs & SHGs, etc.) and engaging them in conservation and socio-economic development of local communities.
• Plan and execute interventions to strengthen relationship between local communities and Forest Department.
• Facilitate implementation of project activities, develop monitoring plan, evaluate and monitor the impact of community engagement in conservation.
• Analyze existing Government policies and schemes across different states in TAL; and identify schemes which can be leveraged to further strengthen community engagement in conservation.

Networking, Coordination and Communication

• Liaise and manage partnerships with a range of project partners and networks including civil society organizations, government agencies & corporate sector.
• Be responsible for effective liaison with stakeholders including government department(s), institution(s), NGOs and CBOs for any issues pertaining to strengthening WWF India’s work with communities in the landscape.
• Facilitate information flow from partners/ landscape about conservation and livelihood issues to other team members and WWF Secretariat.
• Undertake report writing and documentation as required as well as assist in developing communication materials.
• Coordinating with the field and secretariat teams to ensure timely publication of reports, peer review papers, fact sheets and stories in WWF India’s website/news articles.

Programme Monitoring, Administration and Financial Management

• Providing written quarterly updates on progress of different projects against a pre-designed work plan to the Team Leader-TAL, Lead-Community Engagement and the Associate Director – Species & Landscapes Programme.
• Assist in project management including project planning, monitoring, reporting, finance management and delivery of agreed targets.

Qualifications, Experience and competencies required:

• Master in Sociology/ Anthropology/ Social Work/ Economics. Desirable Qualifications would be M.Phil./ Ph.D./ PGDSM
• At least 10 years of experience in conservation focused community projects and initiatives after Master.
• Experience on social issues in a conservation landscape.
• Desired Skills and Abilities:Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to manage a team.
• Knowledge of project development and project management.
• Good writing and communication, written and oral; in both English and Hindi.
• High level of interpersonal skills required, especially relationship management and consensus  building skills and the ability to work as part of a high-level international team.