VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
WWF Uganda Country Office
Project Manager FRECAR
Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime.
All around the world, people are waking up to the deepening crisis of nature loss. A growing realization that nature is our life-support system. And that nobody will be spared from the impacts of its loss. Here at WWF, we are helping to tackle this enormous global challenge. Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from HR and finance to advocacy and conservation science. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us create a better future for people and wildlife.
What we do
We are an independent conservation organization, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. From individuals and communities to business and government, we are part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. Together, we seek to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way we produce and consume sustainable.
We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and highly qualified person to fill the position of Project Manager, Forest Restoration for Enhanced Carbon absorption in Albertine Rift (FRECAR).
| Position: | Project Manager FRECAR |
| Reports to: | Landscape Coordinator |
| Location: | Kagadi |
| Supervises: | Project Officers (03), Support Staff (04) and Interns (02) |
Job Summary
WWF is a global conservation organization operating in over 100 countries. In Uganda, WWF has programs focusing on forests, freshwater, wildlife, energy and climate. With funding from the VELUX A/S through WWF Denmark, WWF Uganda, in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment, is implementing a 20-year project aimed at halting the degradation of natural forests in the Kagombe – Bugoma Landscape through a mix of approaches that benefit Community Climate and Biodiversity (CCB), while ensuring participation and ownership by all stakeholders — Government (the Ministry and Districts), communities and the private sector — as well as strict adherence to the VCS/CCB standards throughout implementation.
The project outcomes include:
- Establish a system of harmonized carbon accounting
- Regenerated and expanded forest cover in and out of CFRs
- Better Resilience of Communities to Climate Change
- Threats to Wildlife Reduced
Reporting to the Landscape Coordinator, the Project Manager FRECAR holds overall accountability for the technical direction, and the financial and human resource management, of the project, translating WWF Uganda’s landscape strategy into effective day-to-day delivery. The role carries delegated authority over a multi-year, multi-million-dollar project budget and direct line management of project staff and requires sound independent judgement to ensure the degradation of natural forests in the Kagombe – Bugoma Landscape is halted and reversed, while the livelihoods of adjacent communities are improved and made resilient to climate change.
Main duties:
- Lead WWF Uganda’s engagement with relevant national and sub-national structures on carbon emissions programmes and REDD+, representing the project’s interests and technical positions.
- In collaboration with government entities and other WWF Uganda’s departments, lead the development and roll-out of a mechanism for registering and monitoring projects that contribute to Uganda’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) fulfilment.
- Support the Ministry of Water and Environment to develop and implement landscape-level management plans for the Bugoma, Kagombe, Kitechura, Ibambaro and Matiri forest reserves, and other associated reserves.
- Lead the implementation of afforestation, reforestation and natural regeneration initiatives in degraded forests within the Bugoma-Kagombe landscape.
- Build the capacity of WWF staff and all implementing stakeholders on the CCB and VCS carbon standards, and drive adherence to them.
- Oversee data collection to regularly update the project’s carbon models, working closely with the Ministry of Water and Environment and external carbon consultants.
- Strengthen collaborative forest management groups to conserve the forests and reduce dependence on them by adopting economically viable nature-based enterprises.
- Support the establishment of commercial plantations in communities adjacent to Bugoma and Kagombe to reduce future pressure on the forest reserves.
- Strengthen the management of privately owned natural forests within the landscape.
- Develop viable business cases for the nature-based enterprises established (including plantations) and link them to value-chain players such as the private sector.
- Engage youth and women in adopting climate adaptation interventions that improve their resilience, incomes and food security.
- Lead the technical, institutional and financial capacity-building support provided to partners including the Ministry of Water and Environment, Districts and civil society organizations to ensure the sustainability of carbon accounting systems.
- Provide day-to-day supervision, coaching and performance management of project staff — Project Officers, support staff and interns — building a high-performing, motivated project team.
- Hold overall accountability for planning, managing and monitoring the project budget, ensuring the efficient, effective and compliant delivery of outputs and value for money at all times.
- Ensure timely, high-quality technical and financial reporting to WWF Denmark, the VELUX A/S and other stakeholders, in line with donor and WWF requirements.
- Mainstream pro-people conservation approaches in line with WWF’s SD4C/ESSF policies on conservation and livelihoods, including human rights-based approaches, gender and conflict resolution, among others.
- Enhance the visibility of the organization and the programme through high-quality documentation, documentaries and branding, and through participation in relevant partner events, acting with integrity at all times.
- Perform any other duties as requested by supervisors at WWF from time to time.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in forestry, Environmental Studies, Wildlife Management, or a related discipline.
- A master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred.
Required Experience
- 7+ years of professional experience in forestry management, natural resource management (NRM), or conservation management of which at least 3 should have been at Managerial level, including demonstrated experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and project budgets. Experience in forest carbon projects and the CCB/VCS standard is an added advantage.
- Expertise in CSO governance, mentoring, group management and dynamics, and/or training.
- Track record of developing and delivering community-based natural resource management projects.
- Demonstrable experience engaging with government, the private sector and civil society at all levels.
- Experience working with international organizations, central and local government as well as local communities.
- Familiarity with the working and operations of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) is desired.
- Experience with the NDC process in Uganda is an advantage.
- English fluency required; conversational-level ability to speak one or more local languages in the landscape is preferred.
Required Skills
- Strong project management skills, with experience in project planning, financial management, reporting and evaluation, for projects above USD 2 million.
- Strong financial management skills and a good working knowledge of Excel and spreadsheet
- Strong report-writing skills.
- Proven people-management skills, including team leadership, coaching and performance management.
- Ability to think laterally and creatively.
- Strong communication and advocacy skills (written and verbal), with the ability to present, persuade, influence and negotiate at all levels.
- Ability to convey the work of WWF with confidence and credibility.
- Good team player with the ability to also work well under own initiative.
- Ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.
- Ability to work independently and with minimum supervision.
How to apply?
Email an application cover letter, Curriculum Vitae and contact details of three (3) referees, plus copies of academic qualifications (sent as one PDF document), clearly indicating “the job title” in the subject line to: [email protected].
Application submission deadline: Monday 5th October 2026.
Kindly note that due to the large volumes of applications only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
WWF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to having a diverse workforce.