Senior Manager, Combating Illegal Deforestation

Organizational Background

Amazon Conservation Association (also known as Amazon Conservation) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, USA, with partners across the Amazon Basin. Amazon Conservation’s mission is to unite science, innovation, and people to protect the Amazon—the greatest wild forest on Earth. As conservation pioneers since 1999, our holistic approach focuses on three approaches: protecting wild places, empowering people, and putting science and technology to work.

Our on-the-ground work, carried out through our sister organizations, Conservación Amazónica-ACCA in Peru and Conservación Amazónica-ACEAA in Bolivia, is geographically focused in the headwaters of the Amazon. From this base, we incubate solutions that we take to scale through partnerships across the region, including in Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Suriname, and Venezuela. Here, we have been strengthening coverage of our real-time monitoring efforts to combat illegal deforestation through our flagship Monitoring of the Andes Amazon Program (MAAP).

To date, our most significant efforts include:

• Helped establish and support the protection and management of more than 10.5 million acres of protected areas in Peru and Bolivia.
• Supported local people to build a forest-based bioeconomy in the southwest Amazon through sustainable production of açaí, Brazil nuts, and other products.
• Supported indigenous groups, communities, governments, and local NGOs to combat illegal deforestation through real-time monitoring and defense strategies using the latest technology.
• Provided cutting-edge analyses on deforestation, fires, and climate change across 100% of the Amazon through MAAP.
• Carried out science that backs our conservation efforts and the world’s understanding of the Amazon, both inside and outside our premier biological research stations.

Through these conservation efforts and by building strong partnerships, we are widening and deepening our work to apply nature-based solutions that strengthen climate resiliency for people and nature. For more information, please visit www.amazonconservation.org.

Illegal deforestation in the Amazon has become one of the major threats to the future of its forests and the communities who are trying to protect and sustainably use the standing forest and its resources. For this reason, combating illegal deforestation has grown as one of Amazon Conservation’s priorities as part of our 2020-2030 Strategy. Funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is providing a major boost to our efforts as we continue to strengthen this work over the coming years.

Position Overview

The Senior Manager, Combating Illegal Deforestation will be a central figure in these efforts, leading and managing all aspects of a two-year, grant-funded initiative aimed at combating gold mining across the Amazon, a project supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. This pivotal role involves overseeing the strategic direction, implementation, and technical execution of the project, ensuring alignment with donor objectives and organizational priorities.

Importantly, this position will work closely with multiple teams within Amazon Conservation to optimize coordination with other ongoing initiatives from different public and foundation funders, maximizing the project’s impact. The Senior Manager will be the primary liaison with the Moore Foundation on this project, managing subgrants, coordinating in-country partnerships, and leading a multi-disciplinary team to achieve the project’s goals across multiple Amazon countries.

Reporting to the Programs Director and working closely with the President and Director of Strategy and Policy, the Senior Manager will focus on enhancing real-time deforestation monitoring, strengthening policy frameworks, and building capacity among local stakeholders to address the environmental and social impacts of gold mining. This includes active participation in technical oversight, communication, and advocacy efforts, while steering the project to foster collaboration with government officials, civil society organizations, and community groups.

This role requires strong leadership, project management expertise, and a deep understanding of the Amazon region’s unique dynamics, with professional fluency in English, Spanish, and/or Portuguese.

Key Responsibilities

Project Management and Coordination (50%)

• Provide overall operational and administrative management of the project, ensuring that all components are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Coordinate with the Programs and Development Teams as a point of contact with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, providing regular updates, reports, and financial statements.
• Coordinate in-country meetings of the MAAP Partnership Network and project staff to ensure seamless implementation of project activities.
• Oversee the implementation of all project objectives with the MAAP team, alongside the Director of Strategy and Policy and the Research Assistant.

Technical Oversight and Partner Engagement (20%)

• Collaborate with the Technical Leads and partners to ensure high-quality technical outputs, including real-time monitoring and data analysis, that contribute to project objectives.
• Integrate technology solutions in conservation or natural resource management efforts within the project.
• Support and guide relationships with in-country partners, ensuring effective project implementation.
• Facilitate capacity-building initiatives for local partners and stakeholders, including training sessions and workshops.

Communications and Reporting (20%)

• Prepare high-quality reports, policy briefs, and other communication materials for diverse audiences, in coordination with the Communications Team, the Director of Policy and Strategy, and local partners.
• Represent the project in national and international forums, advocating for policy changes and sharing project successes and lessons learned.

Strategic Leadership (10%)

• Set the strategic direction of the project in alignment with donor objectives and organizational priorities.
• Engage multiple stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, and community groups, to foster collaboration and achieve project goals.
• Lead the development and execution of the project’s policy and advocacy strategy, working closely with the Director of Policy and Strategy to influence policy changes at various levels.

Required Qualifications

Project Management

• 6-10 years of relevant experience in managing and coordinating programs or projects, particularly in complex and multi-stakeholder environments.
• Strong background in natural resources management, conservation, environmental policy, or a related field, with a focus on the Amazon region.

Communication and Advocacy

• Proven experience in policy development, advocacy, and engagement with government officials and international forums.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to make effective presentations to diverse audiences.

Other Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, geography, public policy, or a related field.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence and self-awareness, with the ability to manage relationships effectively, navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, and foster a positive team environment.
• Professional fluency in English and Spanish and/or Portuguese is required to facilitate communication with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven ability to lead activities independently with limited supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

Technical Expertise

• Master’s degree in environmental science, geography, public policy, or a related field.
• Extensive experience with real-time monitoring technologies, GIS, and data analysis in conservation or natural resource management projects.

Regional and Sectoral Experience

• Hands-on experience in the Amazon region, with a deep understanding of its environmental, social, and political dynamics.
• Experience in initiatives aimed at combating illegal deforestation, nature crimes, and promoting sustainable land use practices.

Position Details

The location for this position is flexible. Ideally, it will be based in a key Amazonian country (such as Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, or Peru) or Amazon Conservation’s Washington, DC office, though other remote arrangements may be considered. If not based in Washington, DC, periodic travel to this location may be required. International travel within Latin America will also be required on an as-needed basis.

Amazon Conservation offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and pension contributions, as well as generous vacation and sick days.

DEI Commitment

Amazon Conservation commits to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment where all members feel safe, supported, and valued. A diversity of experience and perspective is essential to our mission of protecting the Amazon Rainforest. We uphold a harassment-free environment and are guided by our Social Justice Taskforce in achieving DEI goals, including in hiring and employee engagement practices.

Amazon Conservation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Application Guidelines

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume, cover letter, and a list of three references to [email protected] with the subject line “Senior Manager Application.” Applications without all required materials will not be reviewed. Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.