Sustainability & Institutionalization Lead, USAID/India Strengthening Landscape Management & Conservation (SLMC)

The USAID/India Strengthening Landscape Management & Conservation (SLMC) is a 5-year activity that will work in concert with the Government of India (GoI), in particular with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), to enhance the management of ecologically important landscapes for biodiversity conservation, human well-being and climate benefits. The activity will be contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved carbon sequestration, and enhanced environmental benefits for the country. SLMC’s three inter-related objectives across the Central Indian Landscapes and Sundarbans landscape are: Improve management of protected areas, buffer areas and corridors; Enhanced inclusive livelihoods from ecosystem services; and Institutionalized systems and practices that support sustainable landscape conservation. ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: The Sustainability & Institutionalization Lead will lead Objective 3 of the activity, to strengthen the enabling environment for institutionalizing land scape conservation by leveraging technology to develop user-oriented tools for communities and policymakers that improve access to data for data making; by institutionalizing tools and practices within the GoI and academic institutions, and by facilitating knowledge sharing and convening for stakeholders. Design and facilitate communities of practice for stakeholders at multiple levels (landscape based, cross-regional) to share successes and challenges, and identify opportunities to apply scalable models to address landscape management. Strengthen knowledge management and information management for data and information related to landscape management in collaboration with GoI and academic institutions. Assess data needs and facilitate development of knowledge management systems for improved landscape management. Work in collaboration with academic institutions such as Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Forest Survey of India. Design and host series of knowledge sharing and capacity building events for stakeholders. Leverage additional resources from GoI, private sector, and other donors to support SLMC approaches and interventions including from non-timber forest product value chains, eco-tourism, payments for ecosystem services, and carbon markets. Provide related inputs to the writing of quarterly and annual reports and other livelihood materials and deliverables. Participate in field visits to facilitate knowledge sharing. Contribute to learning activities in support of the MEL and Technical teams. QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND: Education: M.Sc. or equivalent university degree in environmental policy, forestry, rural development, environmental or social sciences, or related field. Experience: At least 10 years of environmental policy experience in the Indian context and at least 5 years of experience of working in any forest institution on web-based systems. Extensive knowledge of Indian institutions as it relates to landscape management, biodiversity conservation, forestry, and natural resource management at the national and local levels. Expertise in stakeholder engagement and management. Knowledge of financial models for natural resource management, including non-timber forest product value chains, eco-tourism, payments for ecosystem services, and carbon markets. USAID experience strongly preferred. Skills: Excellent computer software skills in Microsoft Excel and Word. About Winrock International Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law. At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation. Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion and equity across the entire organization. Learn more about our activities: www.winrock.org