Social Safeguards Manager

Overview

The Social Safeguards Manager reports to the Sector Manager, with a dotted line to the Country Director, and will be based in Kihihi town within the Queen Elizabeth Landscape, Uganda. This full-time role involves working at a country level with anticipated travel to remote locations. The Manager will collaborate with multiple teams including CoCo, Biodiversity Management, Law Enforcement, as well as regional and global thematic specialists, to ensure effective implementation and oversight of social safeguards.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement and manage WCS's social safeguards policies and procedures across the Ishasha sector, with focus on Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
• Coordinate annual human rights and safeguards training for law enforcement personnel alongside the regional coordinator.
• Ensure that WCS safeguards align with Uganda’s Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) regulatory framework.
• Support field teams in conducting Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes and meaningful community consultations, ensuring thorough documentation.
• Contribute to developing an Early Warning System tailored to the landscape, working with the CMP Manager and regional coordinator.
• Collaborate to create conflict mitigation strategies within the sector.
• Guide field teams on Institutional Review Board (IRB) compliance and submission of applications when necessary.
• Assist Community Conservation Teams in socioeconomic surveys, ensuring ethical standards in data collection.
• Design indicators to monitor social safeguards' efficacy in collaboration with the Regional Social Safeguards Coordinator.
• Conduct regular social safeguards training for staff and partners, including developing training modules.
• Represent WCS in meetings with government and NGO partners on social safeguards issues.
• Assess environmental and social risks, formulating mitigation measures.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned by the Sector Manager and Country Director.

Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)

The Manager will oversee the GRM within the protected area, a pioneering system in the sub-region for managing community concerns and conflicts related to WCS and UWA activities. Responsibilities include:

• Support initial pilot phases of the GRM with adaptation based on lessons learned and maintain operational oversight during roll-out.
• Coordinate with the Regional Social Safeguards Coordinator to train GRM staff and delegate responsibilities.
• Ensure timely reporting and feedback from pilot phases to sector and country leadership and partners.
• Manage operational aspects including planning, quality control, and reporting for the field implementation team.
• Organize quarterly sessions for reflection and adaptation of GRM systems.
• Document lessons learned and contribute to donor reporting on GRM and safeguards initiatives.
• Monitor community perceptions regarding park activities and incorporate feedback into park development.

Gender Strategy

• Develop and implement a gender strategy incorporating gender-responsive approaches within WCS-Uganda and the Ishasha sector.
• Partner with organizations to enhance capacity for responding to Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases submitted through the GRM.
• Establish internal protocols to address GBV cases, including survivor support and advice.
• Ensure equal participation and benefit access for women and men in project activities and decision-making processes.
• Mainstream gender perspectives throughout activities, including developing indicators for gender-sensitive surveys and conducting gender analyses for funding proposals.
• Provide advice to management on integrating gender-responsive approaches into projects and programs.
• Work closely with field teams to embed gender perspectives into community engagement and research.

Qualifications and Skills

• Postgraduate degree in social sciences such as International Development Studies, Anthropology, Human Rights, Gender Studies, Human Geography, Conflict Mitigation, or Natural Resource Management.
• Minimum of five years’ experience in designing, implementing, and monitoring projects with emphasis on environmental/social safeguards or social protection of marginalized groups.
• Proven competencies in conflict management and working with marginalized and vulnerable communities.
• Fluency in English is mandatory; fluency in local languages (written and spoken) is strongly preferred.
• Ability and willingness to live or travel to remote, multi-cultural settings with basic amenities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and a collaborative, results-oriented work ethic.
• A passion for wildlife conservation and prior experience in protected area operations is advantageous.

Compensation and Equal Opportunity

The offered salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The Wildlife Conservation Society is committed to equal opportunity hiring and fostering an inclusive, diverse work environment.