Apply via the Compassionate Carbon / Eden jobsite: Stakeholder Engagement Manager
Reports to: Program Director
Department: Programs
Position classification: Full-time
Location: Lumuma, Kilosa District / Mbuga, Mpwapwa District (Rubeho Mountains Project Area)
Employment type: LOCAL NATIONALS ONLY employment is through Compassionate Carbon Tanzania (Tanzanian-registered affiliate of Eden: People+Planet)
Company Information
Compassionate Carbon Tanzania Ltd is a mission-driven organization launched by Compassionate Carbon LLC and Eden: People+Planet (Eden). Specializing in developing and implementing landscape-scale forest carbon projects through Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), we collaborate with local communities to restore landscapes, create jobs, protect ecosystems, and mitigate climate change.
Our projects integrate nature-based solutions to help meet global emissions targets while ensuring community ownership and long-term sustainability. The Rubeho Mountains Carbon Project, a significant initiative in Tanzania, focuses on native forest restoration and community-based conservation efforts.
Position Summary
The Stakeholder Engagement Manager leads engagement and social safeguard processes for the Rubeho Carbon Project. This role is responsible for foundational project set-up, securing land and resource rights, upholding Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes, and establishing community governance systems to support project validation and early implementation. Serving as a bridge between local priorities, national policies, and global carbon standards, the manager fosters trust, ensures compliance, and drives long-term impact through strategic partnerships and community-led solutions.
Essential Responsibilities
- Foundational Planning + Land Tenure Systems
- Lead participatory development of Land Use Plans (LUPs) and Forest Management Plans (FMPs), including management and oversight of related partner contract / relationship.
- Oversee systematic land registration and land tenure due diligence, including management and oversight of related partner contract/relationship.
- Facilitate boundary mapping, rights holder identification, and tenure validation.
- Ensure land and resource rights documentation aligns with carbon standards and safeguards.
- Support establishment of landowners’ associations for individual landowners participating in reforestation.
- Stakeholder Engagement + FPIC
- Serve as primary liaison between the project and key government institutions (PO-RALG, District Authorities, VPO, and NCMC), ensure effective communication, coordination, and alignment across national and sub-national levels.
- Lead and support consultative partnership processes with Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), facilitating ongoing dialogue, joint planning, and coordination to ensure alignment with project objectives.
- Design and implement the stakeholder engagement and FPIC rollout strategy and workplan; lead Carbon 101 Awareness contextualization and safeguards sensitization.
- Facilitate community validation of project frameworks, including ToC, baselines, monitoring plans, and carbon models.
- Support consultative and partnership processes with donors, investors, and partner entities.
- Community Governance, Agreements + Benefits Sharing
- Establish and strengthen village governance structures to manage project implementation at community level.
- Support formation and capacity building of committees such as: Natural Resource / Carbon Committees, Financial / Benefit Sharing committees; and Grievance Redress Mechanisms.
- Lead development and contracting of benefit sharing agreements and rights transfer agreements.
- Ensure transparent, inclusive, and well-governed community decision-making systems.
- Documentation, Compliance + Field Oversight
- Oversee stakeholder documentation for validation and verification.
- Maintain records of FPIC, tenure, governance structures, and agreements.
- Supervise Community Engagement team, including Carbon Champions.
- Provide oversight on early implementation activities including reforestation and protection initiatives.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and support to team members, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and fostering a collaborative and productive work environment. This includes overseeing performance management, problem-solving, addressing challenges proactively, and promoting open communication within the team, and may include hiring and employment-related decision-making.
- Other duties as assigned
Education + Work Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, environmental science, community development, social sciences, or related field (Masters degree preferred).
- Minimum of 5 years (preferably more) experience in stakeholder engagement, community development, or environmental project management, preferably in rural or community-based projects).
- Demonstrated experience leading participatory processes such as FPIC, land tenure initiatives, or community governance projects.
- Proven track record of working collaboratively with government agencies, local communities, and partner organizations.
- Experience in project coordination with government agencies, local communities, and partner organizations.
- Experience in project coordination or management in a conservation, forestry, or rural development context is a strong plus.
Skills + Abilities
- Models the Ethos in all professional interactions, demonstrating a commitment to the organization’s values, vision, and conduct standards.
- Communication + Interpersonal: Skilled in written and verbal communication with diverse stakeholders, including communities, officials, and NGOs. Experienced in negotiation and conflict resolution.
- Project Management: Skilled in organizing, managing multiple projects, and meeting deadlines with strong attention to detail in planning, documentation, and follow-up.
- Leadership: Demonstrated leadership and team management skills, including the ability to mentor staff and coordinate cross-functional teams. Capable of working independently and making informed decisions in the field.
- Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with participatory development approaches and social safeguard principles (e.g. FPIC, gender inclusion, grievance redress mechanisms). Basic understanding of carbon projects or climate change mitigation an advantage.
- Analytical Skills: Analytical and problem-solving mindset, able to assess community needs, interpret project data, and adapt strategies accordingly.
- Technology: Proficiency in standard office software (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Experience with stakeholder databases or GIS/mapping tools for land use planning a plus.
- Language: Fluency in Kiswahili and English is required; knowledge of local languages spoken in the Kilosa/Mpwapwa Districts is an asset.
Work Conditions
- Work Environment: The role combines office and field tasks in rural villages and agricultural areas. Fieldwork involves exposure to varied weather conditions, interactions with local communities, and traversing uneven terrain for assessments. Office facilities include a desk, computer, and internet, while field amenities are basic.
- Work Schedule: The standard workweek is 40 hours, aligned with local office hours. Flexibility is necessary for community activities, which may include early mornings, evenings, or weekends. Schedules are adjusted as needed to meet project demands and agricultural cycles.
- Physical Requirements: The role requires moderate fitness for frequent fieldwork, including walking long distances on rough terrain, standing for extended periods, demonstrating farming techniques, marking plots, and carrying equipment or materials weighing 10-20 kg. Must tolerate various climates. Office tasks require standard abilities such as computer work and attending meetings. These requirements will be met with or without reasonable accommodation, CCTZ is committed to providing necessary support to enable all individuals to perform the essential functions of the job.
- Travel: Significant domestic travel to rural project sites, often requiring challenging logistics and occasional overnight field stays. May require infrequent international travel for meetings or workshops.
- Safety + Special Conditions: Adherence to all applicable safety protocols and alignment of activities with established environmental and social safeguards. Candidates must have legal authorization to live and work in Tanzania; Compassionate Carbon is unable to sponsor work visas for this position.
Compassionate Carbon Tanzania is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.
Disclaimer: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with it. Responsibilities may evolve and change over time based on organizational needs, programmatic priorities, and/or reasonable accommodation.
Safeguarding: Compassionate Carbon Tanzania holds strict safeguarding principles and does not tolerate behaviors that harm others, including sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment, and other injustices. Employees are expected to abide by Compassionate Carbon’s Safeguarding and compliance policies. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection, and hiring criteria, subject to a thorough background, police clearance, and reference check process.
Compensation: Compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. Compassionate Carbon provides a competitive benefits package including annual leave, health insurance, and contributions to statutory funds.
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