Position Overview
This position represents a unique opportunity to develop as a conservation leader while making meaningful contributions to one of the world's most important, complex, and threatened ecosystems. The successful candidate will join a dedicated team working at the intersection of biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development in a landscape of global significance. The person who steps into this position will have an extraordinary opportunity to make a real difference for both biodiversity and the communities that depend on this landscape.The Programme Manager is a strategic leadership development role designed to cultivate the next generation of conservation leaders for one of the world's most complex and critical ecosystems. This position serves as an understudy to senior leadership while gradually assuming greater responsibility for managing a comprehensive conservation programme addressing the interconnected challenges of biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods.
Roles & Responsibilities
We seek a dynamic young professional to join our leadership team as Programme Manager, overseeing conservation efforts in a biodiverse deltaic landscape home to Bengal tigers, Ganges river dolphins, Gharials, and the world's largest contiguous mangrove ecosystem. This role combines hands-on conservation management with strategic leadership development, requiring someone who can understand complex ecosystem interconnections while effectively managing diverse teams and stakeholders.The successful candidate will spend 3-4 years developing comprehensive leadership capabilities through mentorship, gradually assuming responsibility for programme strategy, team management, stakeholder engagement, and resource mobilization, and transitioning into leadership position in the fourth year based on demonstrated readiness for senior role. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape conservation efforts in a landscape where environmental challenges intersect with the livelihoods of rural communities dependent on agriculture, fishing, and aquaculture.
Leadership Development & Strategic Management
- Shadow senior leadership to understand programme strategy, operations, and decision-making processes
- Gradually assume responsibility for strategic planning and programme oversight
- Develop systems thinking approach to understand interconnected ecosystem processes and conservation challenges
- Participate in senior-level meetings with government officials, donors, and partner organizations
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Development
- Build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders including government agencies, local communities, NGOs, research institutions, and private sector partners
- Represent the organization at conferences, workshops, and policy forums
- Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues and collaborative planning processes Navigate complex political and social dynamics with cultural sensitivity
Programme Implementation & Monitoring
- Oversee implementation of integrated conservation strategies addressing species protection, habitat restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods
- Monitor programme outcomes and adaptive management approaches
- Ensure scientific rigour in conservation interventions and evidence-based decision making
- Coordinate research activities and application of findings to conservation practice
- Initiate and lead a thematic area within the Sundarbans Delta Programme
Resource Mobilization & Communication
- Develop funding proposals for philanthropic foundations, government agencies, and impact investors
- Prepare compelling grant applications that articulate the landscape's conservation value and programme impact
- Create communication materials for diverse audiences including technical reports, policy briefs, and public outreach materials
- Represent programme achievements and challenges to external audiences
Team Management & Coordination
- Coordinate activities across multiple specialized project teams addressing distinct conservation challenges
- Sustain collaborative working relationships and knowledge sharing among team members
- Help manage and mentor a diverse team of conservation professionals and field staff
Requirements
Experience
Required:
- 5-10 years of progressive experience in conservation, environmental management, or sustainable development
- Minimum 3 years in programme/project management roles
- Demonstrated experience working in field-based conservation contexts
- Experience engaging with government agencies and local communities
Preferred:
- Experience in coastal/deltaic ecosystems or mangrove conservation
- Track record of successful grant writing and donor management
- Experience working in West Bengal or Eastern India
- Prior work in flagship species conservation (tigers, dolphins, reptiles).
Qualification
Required
- Master's degree in Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Wildlife Management, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Studies, Social Science or related field, and;
- Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Environmental Science, Forestry, Anthropology/Sociology or related discipline.
Preferred
- Ph.D. in relevant field (for candidates with research orientation) will be an added advantage
- Additional qualifications in Project Management, Development Studies, or Public Policy Certifications in relevant areas (GIS, monitoring & evaluation, climate adaptation, etc.)
Skills & Competencies
- Technical Competencies:
- Strong understanding of conservation biology principles and ecosystem management
- Systems thinking and ability to understand complex socio-ecological systems
- Research design and scientific methodology
- Data analysis and evidence-based decision making
- GIS and spatial analysis tools
- Project management methodologies and tools
- Resource Mobilization:
- Proven ability to write compelling funding proposals
- Experience with diverse funding sources (foundations, bilateral donors, government schemes, CSR)
- Budget development and financial management
- Understanding of impact investing and blended finance models
- Communication & Representation:
- Excellent written communication in English (proposal writing, reports, policy briefs)
- Strong verbal communication and presentation skills
- Ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences
- Proficiency in Bengali (highly preferred for stakeholder engagement)
- Public speaking and representation at conferences/forums
- Stakeholder Engagement:
- Demonstrated ability to build partnerships across sectors
- Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder processes
- Cultural sensitivity and community engagement skills
- Negotiation and conflict resolution abilities
- Understanding of local governance structures in West Bengal
- Leadership & Management:
- Team leadership and staff mentorship experience
- Cross-functional team coordination
- Strategic planning and adaptive management
- Decision-making under complexity and uncertainty
Personal Attributes & Competencies
- Learning agility : Demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire new knowledge and skills
- Systems thinker : Ability to see interconnections between ecological, social, and economic systems
- Resilience : Capacity to work in challenging field conditions and navigate complex bureaucratic environments
- Collaborative mindset : Natural team player who builds bridges across disciplines and organizations
- Intellectual curiosity : Genuine passion for understanding ecosystems and conservation challenges
- Cultural sensitivity : Respect for local knowledge and ability to work effectively with rural communities
- Adaptability : Comfortable with ambiguity and able to adjust strategies based on changing circumstances
- Integrity : Strong ethical foundation and commitment to conservation values
Leadership Qualities:
- Strategic thinking with attention to operational details
- Self-motivated and able to work independently
- Humility and willingness to learn from mentors and team members
- Initiative and entrepreneurial mindset
- Diplomatic and politically astute
- Patient and persistent in achieving long-term goals
Additional Requirements
- Willingness to spend significant time in remote field locations in the Sundarbans
- Valid driving license (preferred)
- Ability to travel extensively within West Bengal and occasionally nationally/internationally
- Proficiency in MS Office suite and digital collaboration tools
- No restrictions on travel to field areas
