Manager Sustainable Land Management

The Manager Sustainable Land Management will lead planning, resource mobilization, project proposal development, implementation, coordination, monitoring & evaluation, and reporting for projects related to biodiversity, land restoration, forestry, and wildlife conservation. The role involves engagement with government and stakeholders to meet project goals and support sustainable development in India.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to the Project Management Unit and Government Stakeholders on implementation of projects such as LDN and others in biodiversity, land restoration, forestry and wildlife conservation.
• Coordinate with National and State level project management units for preparation, finalization and implementation of Annual Work Plans.
• Lead development and implementation of national and regional LDN strategies and action plans.
• Assist in development of technical project plans including timelines, resources, and budget.
• Support establishment and validation of LDN baseline and assessment of trends at national and subnational levels.
• Develop mitigation plans/management strategies for drivers of LND, especially fire.
• Oversee technical implementation of project activities ensuring alignment with project goals and UNDP CPD outcomes.
• Prepare documentation and presentations for UNDP Management ensuring accuracy and accessibility.
• Establish linkages with similar existing projects and coordinate with other UN initiatives.
• Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Supervise and support landscape-based project teams in planning, implementation, and monitoring restoration activities.
• Align LDN efforts with national priorities and global conventions such as CBD, UNFCCC, UNFCCD and SDGs.
• Support capacity building of state-level agencies and local stakeholders.
• Monitor project activities and ensure accurate and timely reporting as per donor/UNDP guidelines.
• Lead and facilitate audits and comply with audit recommendations.
• Supervise regular reporting and support public outreach via media, events, and other means.
• Oversee project procurement and ensure timely contract management and payments.
• Prepare and submit progress reports to National Project Steering Committee, UNDP, and GEF.
• Contribute to Mid-term review and Terminal Evaluation of the project.
• Conduct field visits to track progress and take corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with UNDP and GEF Social and Environmental Standards and carry out safeguards monitoring missions.
• Facilitate preparation, implementation and monitoring of Gender Action Plan and Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
• Lead coordination and reporting between Ministry, UNDP and other stakeholders.
• Develop strategic partnerships and contribute to resource mobilization.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with implementing partners, government officials, NGOs, businesses and other stakeholders.
• Support project communications and visibility efforts and recommend scale-up activities.
• Provide technical support to implementing partners and act as liaison between UNDP and partners.
• Support resource mobilization and project development.
• Support communication and outreach to synthesize success stories, best practices and develop knowledge products.
• Support development of knowledge management platforms and dissemination of knowledge products.
• Create visibility of projects through events and social media.
• Facilitate sharing of knowledge within project teams and across other teams.
• Work on project outreach plan and execution to ensure maximum outreach.
• Manage remote and decentralized teams and multi-stakeholder coordination.
• Perform other duties as necessary for efficient functioning of the Office and Organization.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master´s degree or equivalent) in Forestry / Agriculture / Ecology / Environmental Science or related fields is required, or a first-level university degree (bachelor´s degree) in Forestry / Agriculture / Ecology / Environmental Science or related fields in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of advanced university degree.
• Minimum 5 years (with Master´s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience working on programmes and projects related to biodiversity conservation, land restoration, climate adaptation, natural resource management, or related fields.
• Must have served as a project manager or technical expert in at least two projects on climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, land restoration, natural resource management, or related fields, and have experience managing a team.
• Demonstrated experience in mobilizing resources for conservation and restoration projects, including co-financing through public-private partnerships, along with strong writing, communication, and stakeholder-engagement skills—such as proposal development and reporting—and the ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Experience with central/state government departments and UN agencies (e.g., World Bank, UNDP, UNEP, FAO), strong knowledge of gender issues and gender-mainstreaming, familiarity with UN/GEF project management policies and procedures, and the ability to liaise with government, donors, and private-sector partners.
• Proficiency in MS Office, especially PowerPoint, Excel and Word; Advanced knowledge of spreadsheets, database management and research skills.
• Experience working with local communities and villagers.
• Fluency in Hindi and English is required.

Skills

• Sustainable Land Management
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Land Restoration
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Natural Resource Management
• Project Management
• Team Management
• Resource Mobilization
• Public Private Partnerships
• Proposal Development
• Project Reporting
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Gender Mainstreaming
• UN Project Management
• Government Liaison
• Donor Coordination
• Private Sector Engagement
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Power Point
• Excel
• Word
• Database Management
• Research Skills
• Community Engagement

Languages

Hindi, English