Livestock and Grazing Officer

A LITTLE ABOUT US

Founded in 1951, the Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters, and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably, and helping make cities more sustainable. One of our core values is our commitment to diversity. Therefore, we strive for a globally diverse and culturally competent workforce. Working in 72 countries including all 50 United States, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.orq or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

The Nature Conservancy Africa program follows a holistic approach to protect vital lands and waters, transform the way natural resources are used and managed, and inspire to equip others to contribute to the shared vision of a healthy and sustainable future for Africa’s lands, waters, wildlife and people. We use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.orq or follow @nature press on Twitter.

YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

The Livestock and Grazing Officer will be responsible for assisting the Livestock Marketing and Grazing Manager in designing, execution, and monitoring of a project that protects and improves communal rangelands and introduces an innovative livestock to market strategy that ties livestock markets to conservation benefits. This position will also support programs in support of invasive plant species control and WMAs while managing costs and administering budgets. The Officer will work closely with private and public partners. Reporting to the Livestock and Grazing Manager, the position will be based at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) office in Arusha, Tanzania with frequent field visits in remote locations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Livestock and Grazing Officer will work closely with private and public partners to assist the Livestock Marketing and Grazing Manager to develop key partnerships with communities, private enterprises and public institutions in order to identify and resolve technical issues and to widely communicate solutions and best practices, develop innovative scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to address livestock market and conservation-based rangeland management needs. They will support and engage local communities with tools and best practices of implementing community-based sustainable rangeland management initiatives such as livestock marketing, grassland management and invasive plant species control that leads to strong conservation efforts and support rapid testing of grazing alternatives and revenues from livestock and grassland based-enterprises. They will negotiate complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, private enterprises, and local communities to conserve and protect natural rangelands and develop and implement innovative livestock marketing strategies that tie livestock markets to conservation benefits.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE

• Designs, implements, and monitors a conservation performance-based livestock business plan with communities and other key stakeholders’ input. 
• Supports training and coaching of selected pastoralist communities and WMAs to implement and manage improved rangeland management plans. 
• Supports the design and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation plan to track environmental, social, and economic benefits of the livestock to market and rangeland management program. 
nafasi za kazi
• Establishes and maintains optimal performance standards within the approved budget.
• Supports coordination among numerous stakeholders, partners, and participants for the project.
• Plans and implement climate change adaptation and mitigation measures with communities in the northern Tanzania landscape including designing and implementation of invasive species control approaches, and other relevant climate change measures.
• Supports Wildlife Management Areas to achieve financial, ecological, and social sustainability within the next 5 years.
• Coordinates partners within the scope of WMA support work and strengthen partner relationships including those with relevant government authorities.
• Support development of grant agreements with WMAs, monitor grant implementation, and ensure the highest quality of deliverables for WMAs.
• Frequently travels domestically and/or internationally, willing to work evening and weekend hours.                 
• Works in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.
• Supports communities in implementing suitable community-based livestock business models and linkages with buyers to ensure that revenues are not resulting in more cattle for community-based conservation.
• Ensures linkages between livestock associations and grassland management programme and adherence to grazing plans for all communities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS degree and 5 years’ experience in livestock, rangeland management and Ecology or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 3 years’ experience with livestock to markets businesses, rangeland management and/or invasive plant species control in Tanzania 
• Experience designing and managing a complex project, including managing finances and coordinating the work of other professionals and partners.  
• Demonstrated experience in business development. 
• Experience in partnership development with business enterprises, non-profit partners, community groups and/or   government agencies.                                        
• Strong communication skills, both interpersonal and written, to fulfill the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the contract.
• Comfortable with operating in a non-hierarchical and collegial manner.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 5-7 years’ experience in livestock and rangeland management practice including invasive species control or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of the livestock, conservation and invasive species control sectors in Tanzania is highly desired.
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing livestock and rangeland management policies and plans.
• Field experience in implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in relation to rangeland improvement and management
• Field experience in developing and implementation of invasive species control work
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and regions.
• Knowledge of methods and standards of livestock and rangeland management information systems and initiatives or related field.
• Experience working with communities on designing and implementation of invasive species control work
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and Kiswahili desirable.