Project Manager - HCI
World Wildlife Fund · Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
**Company Description** Founded in 1961, WWF works to help people and nature thrive. As a global conservation organization, WWF operates in more than 100 countries, partnering with communities, companies, and governments to protect wildlife, conserve vital habitats, and advance sustainable solutions. Grounded in science and driven by collaboration, WWF works to help nature by conserving biodiversity, supporting resilient communities, and addressing climate change. Nearly 1 million people in the United States and more than 5 million globally are WWF members. **Project Description** The **Heart of Conservation Initiative** ( **HCI** ) is a **5\-year** **global project** designed to address systemic barriers that limit Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ ability to steward their lands, territories, waters, and biodiversity\-rich ecosystems. Despite strong evidence that Indigenous Peoples and local communities manage or influence at least 37% of remaining natural lands globally, they receive less than 1% of international climate and biodiversity finance, face complex donor procedures, limited direct access to funding, and insufficient recognition in decision\-making arenas. Building on the achievements of the GEF\-7 Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI), HCI’s objective is to increase Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ organizational capacities and ability to access sustainable finance at scale for territorial stewardship to deliver social, economic, cultural, and Global Environmental Benefits. The project is transformative in that it targets structural change in biodiversity finance systems—shifting from centralized, intermediary\-driven models toward more inclusive, Indigenous Peoples and local community\-led financing and governance mechanisms. This will be achieved through four integrated components: (i) organizational and technical self\-strengthening of Indigenous Peoples and local community funds and organizations and implementation of self\-determined Indigenous Peoples\- and local community\-led sub\-projects across Latin America, Africa, and Asia; (ii) collective self\-strengthening of Indigenous Peoples and local community\-led funds and organizations’ institutional, fiduciary, and technical capacities; (iii) enhancing Indigenous Peoples' and local communities’ representation and influence in global biodiversity and biodiversity finance processes; (iv) advancing knowledge, learning, and evidence on rights\-based, inclusive conservation; and (v) monitoring and evaluation. **Job Description** ***LOCATION: This position will be based in Brazil, Kenya, or Cambodia.*** **Major Function** The Project Manager will lead the GCU’s support for the HCI partners and ensure successful delivery of all components. They will supervise staff in a Global Coordination Unit (GCU), provide day\-to\-day management of the project and, with support from the Partner Liaison, coordinate with ten (10\) Component 1 Partners, and partners and specialists in Components 2 through 5\. **This is a unique role managing and representing a global, Indigenous\-led project that should respond both to Indigenous Peoples and local community partners’ priorities as well as meet GEF requirements.** The Project Manager will report to the Senior Director, Conservation Areas, and Senior Director, Inclusive Conservation (Project Co\-Leads) **Key Responsibilities** * Technical Delivery of Project Components: * Component 1: Work with Component 1 partners to review and approve their annual work plans and budgets, provide technical inputs to their on\-the\-ground work, as needed, and support their self\-strengthening plans. * Component 2: Lead and coordinate delivery of Component 2 with GCU staff support; Work with Component 1 partners to identify common capacity\-strengthening needs and develop and implement a collective strengthening program. * Component 3: Lead and coordinate delivery of Component 3 with GCU staff support; Design and implement the Youth Policy Leaders program and work with Component 1 and 2 partners to identify policy processes and to enable effective, HCI\-supported engagement therein. * Support GCU staff to ensure successful delivery of Components 4 and 5\. * Project Management: * Day\-to\-day management, monitoring, and evaluation of project activities and results as outlined in the CERDoc, Grant Agreement, and Annual Work Plan and Budget to achieve the project objective and targets in the Results Framework. Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to: * Ensure that the GCU holds regular virtual meetings with Component 1 (C1\) partners and as required with additional partners involved in the other components, * Manage the workflow for the Indigenous Global Steering Committee (IGSC), in collaboration with the Project Co\-Leads. * In collaboration with all project sub\-grantees and partners, develop the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) for the global HCI for each project year, for no\-objection from t