Job Posting Land & Stakeholder Engagement Lead

Job Posting Land & Stakeholder Engagement Lead

Location: Gujarat / Rajasthan / Madhya Pradesh Type: Full Time / Retainer + Success Fee

About the Project

We are launching a large-scale biochar and land restoration initiative on degraded, waste, and marginal lands in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. These lands, heavily infested with invasive Prosopis juliflora, will be cleared, processed into biochar, restored with native grasses, and converted into productive grazing land. The project requires close collaboration with Forest Departments, Revenue Departments, and local communities.

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced professional to secure access to suitable land parcels by navigating legal frameworks, building government and community partnerships, and ensuring project compliance from concept to execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Land Identification & Assessment
• Locate large contiguous land blocks (1,000+ hectares) infested with Juliflora.
• Verify land classification, legal ownership, and encumbrances.
• Government Liaison & Negotiation
• Engage with Forest Department, Revenue Department, District Administration, and Tribal Councils.
• Secure necessary permissions, leases, or MoUs for project activities.
• Community Engagement
• Facilitate Gram Sabha approvals and obtain community consent for project operations.
• Build trust and develop benefit-sharing models for local stakeholders.
• Regulatory & Legal Compliance
• Prepare proposals in line with the Forest Rights Act (FRA), Indian Forest Act, Joint Forest Management (JFM), and state land lease policies.
• Ensure compliance with environmental and land use regulations.
• Project Enablement
• Coordinate between government bodies and technical teams to enable site access.
• Support smooth execution during land clearance, biochar production, and restoration phases.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Retired IFS or State Forest Service (SFS) Officer with 1030 years service in the concerened states OR
• Senior NGO Professional with extensive experience in forestry, land restoration, and rural development in the concerned states.
• Proven track record in land acquisition/lease negotiations for eco-restoration, renewable energy, or afforestation projects.
• Deep understanding of forest rules, land revenue codes, and tribal/community rights frameworks.
• Strong existing network with local/state-level forest and revenue authorities.
• Fluency in Hindi and the local language of the state with basic English

Qualifications

• B.Sc./M.Sc. in Forestry, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Rural Development, or Law (specializing in environmental/land laws).
• Hands-on experience in stakeholder engagement, government liaison, and project facilitation in rural or tribal regions.

Engagement & Compensation

Full time/ retainer + milestone-based success incentives for securing land parcels.

• Field travel within the state required; travel expenses reimbursed.

Interested candidates may send their CV, brief project experience summary, and references to: [exim.hitechmica@yahoo.com]

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Contractual / Temporary, Freelance

Pay: ₹50,000.00 - ₹70,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person