Youth Environmental Education and Girls Club Program Officer

Tanzania People & Wildlife Fund (TPW) is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and important natural habitats through a community-driven approach. TPW helps rural communities develop their skills and abilities to protect natural resources in a manner that maximizes their benefits from these landscapes while also preserving ecological integrity. Emphasizing the critical importance of community-led initiatives, the organization provides information, training, and service level support to its rural constituencies to strengthen local institutions and community-driven actions for natural resource management and wildlife conservation.

TPW operates from the Noloholo Environmental Center on the Maasai Steppe in northern Tanzania. Sharing a boundary with Tarangire National Park, this center acts as TPW’s regional headquarters as well as an educational center where rural community members improve their understanding of the environment and develop hands-on skills in natural resource management. From this center, TPW operates programs in four major programmatic areas: 1) wildlife conservation and human-wildlife conflict prevention, (2) youth environmental education and adult capacity building & training, (3) natural resource conservation and rangeland management, and (4) environmentally-sustainable conservation enterprise and development.

Position Description

The Youth Environmental Education and Girls Club Program Officer plays an important role in our programs aimed at empowering girls in Tanzania. By overseeing Girls Clubs in primary and secondary schools, the officer fosters an environment where young minds thrive and learn essential life skills. Through the development and execution of wildlife and outdoor education activities, the officer also ignites conservation passion and knowledge. The role extends to mentoring girls, nurturing leadership competencies, instilling confidence, and facilitating career development as they embark on secondary and higher studies. Collaboration with local educators, communication with relevant authorities, and timely reporting of project progress are crucial parts of this position. We seek an individual with a track record in community-based conservation education as the officer will actively contribute to curriculum enhancement, devising training opportunities, and partnering on education projects with the TPW team.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Girl’s Clubs at all participating primary and secondary schools
• Develop and implement wildlife and outdoor education (camping) activities
• Support the girls in partner communities with strong mentorship, leadership skills, confidence, and career development as they head towards potential secondary school and/or higher studies
• Collaborate with local schoolteachers in the implementation of wildlife/girl’s club activities, and collection and evaluation of feedback from teachers and students
• Inform TPW staff on a regular basis regarding program development and writing regular and timely reports on the project efforts
• Communicate with the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities regarding project activities
• Develop and implement new environmental education materials, training opportunities, and field studies for youth while cooperating with other TPW staff on educational initiatives
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• The Youth Environmental Education and Girls Club Program Officer will have a Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, community development, gender studies, sociology, or a closely related field plus two years of experience in a conservation field (preferably with youth).
• Experience with managing youth (girls) programs, outdoor education, and report writing are required.
• Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience in community-based conservation initiatives and related ventures in the social sciences or natural resource fields.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, community development, gender studies, sociology, or a closely related field plus two years of experience in conservation filed
• Experience coordinating and implementing community-based conservation education program activities including Youth (Girls) clubs
• Capable of building out the girl’s club component
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring girls in leadership and career development
• Should be a team player committed to the overall mission of the organization
• Proficiency with use of technology in the workplace
• Excellent organizational skills
• High level of attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills, including respect for other cultures
• Willingness and ability to live in a remote setting and travel to remote areas
• Excellent spoken and written English skills
• Passionate concern for big cats, local communities, and TPW’s mission

Preferred:

• Professional fluency in both Swahili and English

Reports to: TPW Chief Program Officer

Salary & Benefits: Full-time position based on experience and qualifications; salary commensurate with experience. Contract is grant dependent.

To Apply: Tanzania People & Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer.

Interested candidates should send the following to: [email protected] with Youth Environmental Education and Girls Club Program Officer in the subject line by January 14th, 2024:

1. Resume
2. Contact information
3. Three references
4. Cover letter outlining interest in applying for the post, along with relevant experience, qualifications, and skills