Technical Lead, Guinean Forests Integrated Program.
Application deadline: Thursday, 03 April 2025– 23:45
Location: Dakar, Senegal
Full time: 40 hours per week
Contract: 2 years fixed term

Salary: EURO 3,500 – 4,000 per month
Date when the job expected to start: May 2025
BirdLife International is the world’s largest nature conservation partnership. Through our unique local-to-global approach, we deliver high impact and long-term conservation for the benefit of nature and people.
We are looking for a dedicated and visionary Technical Lead, Guinean Forests Integrated Program (GFIP) to be responsible for the overall program management, including coordination with partners and participating countries.
Details about the Guinean Forests Integrated Program (GFIP) can be accessed here.
In this role you will contribute to BirdLife’s work by ensuring that regional and program-level activities foster knowledge-sharing and facilitate effective collaboration among stakeholders within the Guinean Forests Biome.


How you will do this
• Overseeing technical delivery in key areas such as learning, knowledge management, capacity building, governance, and financing solutions.
• Ensuring all activities are gender-sensitive and socially inclusive.
• Working closely with the Finance, Administrative, and Grants Manager on strategic financial, operational, and procurement decisions.
• Coordinating with Conservation International and various stakeholders to enhance national capacity development in line with GFIP objectives.
• Leading day-to-day programme coordination with Conservation International, ensuring compliance with technical and fiduciary standards.
• Overseeing the implementation of project work plans, budgets, and administrative tasks while managing sub-grantees, staff, partners, and consultants.
• Developing and coordinating outreach activities, training workshops, and seminars, delivering presentations on key topics.
• Leading and participating in field missions, providing guidance to consultants, government officials, and stakeholders.
• Driving policy development by analysing trends, reviewing issues, and preparing evaluations.
• Preparing detailed progress reports, Implementing a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system to track performance.
• Supporting learning and knowledge sharing among Guinean Forests country projects, and other conservation initiatives, while integrating regional and global best practices.
• Leveraging GFIP’s convening power to influence the agenda of African states and the African Union on forest restoration and conservation.
• Monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of knowledge tools, gathering participant feedback for continuous improvement.
• Creating a robust, user-friendly platform to enhance knowledge exchange and collaboration among stakeholders.
• Organizing regional and national roundtables within the Guinean Forests Regional Forum to foster collaboration among donors and private sector partners.


Ideally you will have:
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Sustainable Development, Natural Resources Management, Biodiversity Conservation, Ecology, Environmental Studies, or a related field, or a BSc with relevant experience.
• At least eight years managing large, complex, multi-partner projects.
• Expertise in biodiversity conservation, conservation planning, and landscape/water management, particularly in West Africa.
• Experience with GEF projects, international/regional policy frameworks, and stakeholder engagement.
• Proven leadership in supervision, technical assistance, and capacity building on forestry, biodiversity, and climate change.
• Experience in impact monitoring, applied biodiversity conservation, and report writing.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and French (Portuguese is an advantage).
• Strong representation and networking skills, including advocacy for climate change and biodiversity conservation.
• Experience contributing to scientific papers and storytelling through creative presentations.
• Self-motivation with creative problem solving skills.
• Strong cultural sensitivity, teamwork, and the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% of the time.

See the full job description here.


Salary & benefits
Commensurate with experience and qualifications and in accordance with BirdLife International, Africa Division terms and conditions.
BirdLife values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Find out more about our Diversity statement.

We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture, a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We aim to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity.
We will consider putting into place appropriate reasonable adjustments for candidates who may have a disability.