The Botswana Wild Bird Trust (BWBT), as part of the Okavango Eternal Partnership, is seeking an experienced and visionary Community Development Manager to lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of community-based conservation and sustainable development programs. The Manager will play a central role in driving equitable access to conservation benefits, coordinating inclusive livelihood and education initiatives, supporting institutional development, and embedding Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in land use, tourism, and enterprise planning.

Reporting Lines: Managing Director, BWBT

Location: Maun, with regular field visits to Beetsha, and wider Eastern and Western Pan handle

Type: Full-time, permanent

Key Focus Areas:

• Strengthening community governance and land/resource rights
• Incubating local conservation-based enterprises
• Advancing FPIC-aligned TEK documentation and trails
• Supporting education, inclusion, and youth empowerment
• Facilitating knowledge center and mobile hub operations

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Community Engagement

• Lead participatory planning and FPIC processes in new and existing sites ensuring consistent and effective engagement with stakeholders on all levels.
• Facilitate the process towards gaining formal recognition of TEK-based land and fisheries management.
• Guide dialogue with stakeholders at district level, that includes government departments, various district level committees and land authorities, and VDCs, CBOs, traditional leadership at village level and tourism stakeholders to support implementation, outcomes and sustainability of multiple science, community and storytelling initiatives.
• Lead in the identification of new community initiatives which align with or advance the objectives of the project. Draft Concept notes and activity plans to develop those initiatives.

2. Program Implementation

• Oversee rollout of Education, Enterprise, Mapping and Inclusion initiatives.
• Establish and grow community-based businesses via the Nkashi Enterprise Incubator.
• Ensure collaboration and access to capacity-building support, including business bootcamps, financial literacy, and governance mentorship for broader impact and sustainability.
• Supervise and coordinate field teams, local trainers, and interns planning, activities and reporting.

3. Institutional Capacity & Governance Support

• Strengthen local governance by supporting the development and function of relevant structures at district and village level like the Joint Management Committees and resource use groups.
• Build leadership capacity among youth, women, and traditional authorities to ensure equitable participation and representation in conservation and enterprise development.

4. Maintain and grow a skilled local team:

• Invest in continuous capacity building for locally recruited staff, especially in technical roles (e.g. TEK mapping, eco-enterprise development, monitoring and evaluation).
• Develop clear career pathways and structured mentorship opportunities within the BWBT community development team to support growth.
• Work with HR and senior leadership to institutionalize professional development plans for all community development team members.
• Promote a learning culture of mentoring junior colleagues, including interns and volunteers.
• Collaborate with academic institutions and training providers to offer certification-linked programs and create long-term employment opportunities within the Okavango region.

4. Knowledge Centre Program Coordination

• Co-develop and oversee community programs delivered through Nkashi Knowledge Centres and Buses.
• Ensure programmatic integration of storytelling, TEK mapping, and conservation media.
• Support infrastructure upgrades and standards of operations across facilities.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning

• Develop and apply MERL frameworks to track education, livelihoods, inclusion, and conservation metrics.
• Working with our partners, help to develop development tools and systems that will ensure initiatives deliver impact in the long term.
• Regularly produce reports and learning briefs for BWBT and partners.

6. Financial and Human Resource Management

• Prepare and manage program budgets, ensuring alignment with donor requirements.
• Supervise field coordinators, consultants, and trainers; support hiring of technical staff.
• Facilitate training, performance reviews, and team development.

7. External Representation & Partnership Development

• Represent BWBT in community and district level forums, and a variety of stakeholder engagements.
• Build and maintain partnerships with tourism operators, financial institutions, training providers, and government departments.

Qualifications and Experience

Required:

• Master’s degree in Community Development, Development Studies, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive responsibility in rural development, conservation, or natural resource management.
• Demonstrated experience managing community-based programs and engaging traditional authorities.
• Budget oversight and team leadership experience, including multidisciplinary and field-based teams.
• Knowledge of FPIC standards, TEK documentation, and inclusive conservation approaches.
• Fluency in English and Setswana.
• Willingness to work in remote areas with limited infrastructure.

Preferred:

• Familiarity with the Okavango Delta region and Botswana’s CBNRM policies.
• Experience in enterprise incubation or inclusive business development.
• Exposure to monitoring tools such as CERS or other impact dashboards.
• Valid driver’s license.

Key Competencies

• Visionary leadership with strong facilitation and conflict resolution skills
• Analytical thinking and program design experience
• Ability to synthesize community, conservation, and enterprise outcomes
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• High integrity, flexibility, and commitment to inclusive development

Methodology

• Based in Maun with frequent field travel (2–4 trips per quarter).
• Standard office hours, with flexibility for evening/weekend work as needed.
• Reports submitted using agreed templates; weekly check-ins with BWBT senior leadership.
• Collaborates closely with Project Managers and coordinators.

Application Process

Please submit your cover letter, detailed CV, salary expectations and copies of relevant qualifications to: jobs@nkashitrust.org.bw with the email subject "Application – Community Development Manager" on or before 15 August 2025.

Remuneration: Commensurate with experience and qualifications.