Why this role exists

What you’ll actually do

Project Leadership and Coordination 

• Serve as the primary point of contact between Taking Root, the funder, and all project stakeholders 
• Lead coordination meetings with the funder's project manager and participate in project steering committee sessions 
• Coordinate the work needed from the Taking Root team and local implementation partners to meet project goals, centralizing the flow of information between Taking Root and funders or partners  
• Develop and maintain work plans and progress reports in alignment with the project framework 
• Oversee the backstopping model, distinguishing clearly between expert tasks and administrative support 
• Ensure financial and contractual compliance across all project activities and subcontractors 

Technical Oversight and Delivery

• Guide the preparation of technical studies, including identification and prioritization of water recharge zones, multi-temporal land use change analysis, and agroforestry intervention design
• Maximize integration of gender, indigenous rights, and social inclusion into all technical activities as local realities permit

Capacity Building and Community Engagement 

• Coordinate local teams to deliver training programs for producers, community organizations, and government officials on reforestation, sustainable forest management, and watershed conservation
• Coordinate local teams to ensure the participation of women, youth, and indigenous peoples in all capacity-building activities

Systematization and Knowledge Management 

• Lead the systematization phase, including final reporting sessions, communication of results, and lessons learned documentation 
• Ensure knowledge products are published and shared with relevant stakeholders 
• Collaborate with external evaluators for mid-term and final evaluations
• Prepare implementation and final reports to funder standards

What success looks like

• Funders and delegation partners experience clear, timely communication and a well-managed partnership — work plans are approved on schedule and implemented as committed 
• Reports are accurate, insightful, and submitted within contractual deadlines; expert contributions and backstopping functions run smoothly 
• Subcontractors and short-term experts are selected transparently and perform to standard 
• Strong working relationships are established with local implementation and operating partners, and on-the-ground activities align with Taking Root's proven model 
• Restoration targets are met to quality standards and on time 
• Capacity-building activities reach women, youth, and indigenous communities, with participation tracked and documented 
• Knowledge products and lessons learned are captured on an ongoing basis, accessible, and reach their intended audiences 
• Reporting to funders is consistently approved without significant revision requests

Who this role is for

Experience

• University degree in environmental sciences, forestry engineering, or a closely related field
• Postgraduate qualification (Master’s or PhD) in engineering, geology, water resources, environmental or forestry sciences, sustainable natural resource management, or equivalent — or 5 additional years of directly relevant professional experience
• Fluent written and spoken Spanish and professional working proficiency in English.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in project coordination and/or applied research in sustainable development, environment, conservation, or international cooperation, including at least 3 years in Latin America
• Minimum 5 years coordinating the design and implementation of EU-funded or equivalent international cooperation projects, managing multidisciplinary teams across government, NGO, and community sectors
• Minimum 6 years of cumulative experience across two or more of the following: integrated natural resource management, protected areas, forestry, biodiversity, or climate change; applied research in these fields with government and private sector actors; administrative management and reporting under EU services contracts or comparable donor frameworks; institutional strengthening and capacity development

Strongly Valued

• Demonstrated knowledge of Nicaragua’s legal and institutional framework for natural resources and water governance
• Experience managing procurement and subcontracting processes under EU or comparable donor guidelines, including drafting Terms of Reference
• Prior professional experience on projects implemented in Nicaragua
• Familiarity with voluntary carbon markets, carbon monitoring methodologies, and nature-based solutions

Technical Depth and Ways of Working

• Leads the full project cycle from startup through systematization, keeping the funding delegation informed and engaged at every stage 
• Manages expert teams, subcontractors, and community partners across a complex, multi-actor environment
• Brings deep applied knowledge of agroforestry, reforestation, and watershed management to guide credible, effective interventions
• Translates technical requirements into practical plans that work for smallholder farmers in Nicaragua
• Builds trusted relationships with the funding delegation, government counterparts, indigenous communities, and producer organizations
• Communicates clearly and respectfully across diverse audiences in Spanish and English
• Communicates progress, blockers, and risks in a timely way to Taking Root 
• Produces semi-annual and final reports that meet donor quality and format standards
• Manages presence certificates, budgets, and subcontract documentation with accuracy and transparency

Hands-on, Low Ego, and Mission-Driven

• Has worked in a small to mid-sized, fast-moving organization where everyone contributes to execution
• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to bring clarity to complex, multi-stakeholder situations
• Low ego, high trust, and genuinely energized by the mission
• Motivated by work that connects technical and coordination outcomes to real environmental and social impact

About Us

How to Apply

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