The Nature Conservancy is Hiring an Engagement Manager: Remote Conservation Opportunity Across Africa
The Nature Conservancy is hiring an Engagement Manager for its Nature for Water Facility. Explore this full-time remote opportunity across South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Angola, Gabon and Tanzania.
The Nature Conservancy Opens Applications for Engagement Manager Role
Professionals with experience in project management, finance, strategic consulting, conservation and sustainable development have an opportunity to apply for an Engagement Manager position with The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
The full-time position is remote and can be based in several African countries where TNC has established offices and is legally registered, including South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Angola, Gabon and Tanzania. The position carries a two-year, term-limited contract, with the possibility of extension depending on performance and available funding.
The application deadline is 7 September 2026. However, TNC uses a rolling recruitment process and may remove the vacancy once a strong pool of candidates has been identified, making early applications advisable.
About the Engagement Manager Position
The Engagement Manager will work within TNC’s Resilient Watersheds Strategy, specifically supporting the Nature for Water Facility (N4W).
The Nature for Water Facility is a technical assistance platform designed to support local champions developing watershed investment programmes. Its work brings together conservation, finance, economics, science and stakeholder engagement to help create sustainable solutions for water security.
N4W has an ambitious goal of enabling more than 50 “lighthouse landscapes” by 2030 through a combination of pro-bono and fee-for-service partnerships.
The successful Engagement Manager will play a central role in helping these projects move from analysis and planning toward practical implementation.
Key Responsibilities
The Engagement Manager will work closely with a Science Manager to jointly oversee the success of place-based N4W projects.
A major part of the role will involve determining project scope and developing workplans that clearly define objectives, deliverables and timelines. The successful candidate will also mobilise and coordinate multidisciplinary teams made up of internal and external experts.
Stakeholder engagement will be another important responsibility. The Engagement Manager will identify key actors, establish relationships and ensure that different stakeholder perspectives are incorporated into project development.
The role also involves developing financial and economic appraisals, including financial modelling, and communicating findings to different audiences, including clients and funding partners.
Watershed Investment and Nature-Based Solutions
The position is particularly relevant to professionals interested in the intersection of conservation and finance.
The Engagement Manager will contribute to assessments of ecosystem-service benefits and help determine the costs associated with watershed investment programmes that use Nature-based Solutions to improve water security.
Projects may require the successful candidate to combine technical, environmental, social, institutional, financial and economic information into clear recommendations.
This means the role requires more than conventional project management. It calls for someone who can understand complex multidisciplinary information and translate it into practical strategies that can support investment and conservation outcomes.
Research, Reporting and Thought Leadership
The successful candidate will also be responsible for synthesising research and analysis and presenting project outputs to stakeholders and clients.
These presentations may take place during stakeholder meetings, client engagements, conferences and other professional forums.
The Engagement Manager will additionally collaborate with N4W knowledge-management staff to develop thought leadership publications. This provides an opportunity to contribute to broader discussions around watershed investment, conservation finance and sustainable development.
Mentorship and Team Leadership
Leadership is another important component of the position.
The Engagement Manager will provide mentorship, guidance and advisory support to project team members and direct reports. Candidates therefore need experience motivating teams, establishing objectives and managing performance.
The successful applicant should be comfortable working with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams and should be able to operate effectively in a remote environment.
The position is expected to involve approximately 15% domestic and international travel.
Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must generally have a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, political science, international development or a related field, together with at least six years of professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Candidates should have demonstrated experience leading complex projects or strategic initiatives, particularly in environments where the path forward may not always be clearly defined.
Experience with commercial evaluation of business models or project structuring is also important, as is the ability to undertake financial modelling.
Supervisory experience is required, including the ability to motivate teams, establish objectives and manage performance.
Professional competency in English, both written and spoken, is essential.
Preferred Qualifications
TNC lists several additional qualifications that could strengthen an application.
Candidates with seven or more years of experience in project finance, capital markets or management consulting would be particularly well aligned with the position.
A graduate degree in business, environmental or natural resource economics, engineering, environmental management or another relevant discipline is also desirable.
Additional language skills could provide an advantage, particularly Swahili, French or Portuguese.
Experience designing or implementing Nature-based Solutions projects would also be valuable.
Because the position is remote and highly collaborative, applicants should be self-motivated, capable of working independently and comfortable delivering high-quality work with appropriate supervision.
Why This Opportunity Stands Out
The Engagement Manager position offers professionals an opportunity to apply commercial, analytical and leadership expertise to environmental challenges.
Instead of focusing exclusively on traditional conservation activities, the role combines project finance, economic analysis, environmental management, stakeholder engagement and Nature-based Solutions.
This makes it potentially attractive to professionals from several career backgrounds, including consulting, finance, international development, sustainability and environmental management.
About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit whose mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.
Founded in the United States in 1951, the organisation has grown into a major conservation organisation working across countries and territories around the world. Its work is supported by scientists, members, partners and staff working across diverse conservation programmes.
TNC also highlights its commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where employees from different backgrounds and cultures can contribute to its conservation mission.
The organisation provides country-specific benefits packages, which may include healthcare, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage and employee assistance programmes.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications through The Nature Conservancy’s Workday Jobs Hub.
The official closing date is 7 September 2026, but applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible because recruitment is conducted on a rolling basis. The vacancy may be closed before the stated deadline if a strong candidate pool has already been established.
Applicants should carefully review the qualifications and responsibilities before submitting their applications and ensure that their CV and supporting information clearly demonstrate relevant experience in project leadership, financial analysis, stakeholder engagement, conservation, sustainability or related fields.
The Nature Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals who require assistance during the recruitment process.
APPLY VIA THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Get the latest jobs, internships, bursaries, and remote opportunities delivered instantly.
Follow our channels and never miss an update.
Join WhatsApp Channel
