Rights & Communities Manager

About the role

The Rights & Communities Manager will lead the design and delivery of WCS’s Rights and Community Conservation programme in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Working closely with WCS leadership, the Uganda Wildlife Authority, local government, communities and partners, the manager ensures that interventions are rights‑based, inclusive, evidence‑driven and aligned with conservation priorities.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership, guidance and coaching to the Rights & Communities team across Livelihoods, Governance, Behavior Change, Community Engagement and Safeguards.
• Lead development, implementation and periodic review of the Ishasha Rights & Communities Strategy and annual work plans.
• Embed rights‑based approaches, gender and social inclusion, equitable benefit sharing and grievance mechanisms into programme delivery.
• Integrate community conservation with protected‑area management priorities such as human‑wildlife coexistence, fence effectiveness and natural‑resource governance.
• Oversee research, monitoring and adaptive management to continuously improve interventions based on community feedback and social evidence.
• Coordinate with 36 frontline villages to strengthen participation, reduce livelihood costs of living alongside wildlife and build stewardship.

Required profile

• Proven experience in leading community‑based conservation or natural‑resource management programmes.
• Strong understanding of rights‑based approaches, gender equity and environmental and social safeguards.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with government agencies, NGOs, local communities and donors.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and adaptive problem‑solving skills.
• Relevant tertiary education in conservation, natural resources, social sciences or a related field.

Required skills