Social Safeguards Manager

Job Summary

WCS is hiring a Social Safeguards Manager based in Kihihi Town / Queen Elizabeth Protected Area, Uganda. Requiring a postgraduate social science degree and 5+ years of experience in social safeguards and conflict management, this role oversees the site-based Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), FPIC processes, annual human rights training for rangers, and gender mainstreaming. Applications close August 5th, 2026.

Key Roles & Operational Responsibilities

1. Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Leadership

• Operational Oversight: Lead the pilot phases, adaptation, field rollout, and ongoing management of the site-based Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) in Ishasha to resolve community concerns regarding co-management activities.
• Capacity & Staff Training: Train site-based and community focal points on GRM procedures, delegating field tasks and maintaining quality control over grievance intake and resolution.
• Continuous Improvement: Hold quarterly Pause & Reflect sessions with field teams and regional advisors to refine GRM processes, tracking how community feedback informs park management strategies.

2. Social Safeguards, FPIC & Human Rights Compliance

• IPLC Protection: Implement WCS Social Safeguards policies across field teams, ensuring full alignment with Uganda’s Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) regulatory framework.
• FPIC Management: Guide field teams through Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes and structured community consultations, ensuring thorough documentation.
• Law Enforcement Training: Deliver mandatory annual human rights and safeguards training to law enforcement and ranger personnel in the Ishasha sector in coordination with regional specialists.
• Socioeconomic Research: Assist Community Conservation teams with ethical data collection and socioeconomic surveys, ensuring compliance with Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols.

3. Gender Mainstreaming & GBV Response Strategy

• Gender Strategy Design: Develop gender-responsive strategies for WCS-Uganda to ensure equal access to project benefits, decision-making bodies, and GRM access for both women and men.
• GBV Response Frameworks: Establish internal protocols to handle Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases reported via the GRM, building referral links with local, national, and international support organizations.

Foundational Capabilities & Prerequisites

Required Academic Background & Experience

• Educational Baseline: Postgraduate Qualification (Master's Degree) in Social Sciences (International Development Studies, Anthropology, Human Rights, Gender Studies, Human Geography, Conflict Mitigation, or Natural Resource Management).
• Workplace Track Record: Minimum of 5 years of direct experience designing, implementing, and monitoring social and environmental safeguards projects, with a focus on protecting marginalized or vulnerable groups.
• Conflict & Community Expertise: Proven capability in conflict management, community-based negotiations, and stakeholder engagement within complex socio-political landscapes.

Key Skills & Location Requirements

• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English (written and oral) is required. Fluency in local languages spoken around Queen Elizabeth National Park/Kihihi is highly preferred.
• Duty Station Readiness: Willingness to reside full-time in Kihihi town and travel to remote field locations in the Ishasha sector with basic amenities.
• Conservation Affinity: Strong passion for wildlife conservation, biodiversity protection, and protected area operations is a distinct advantage.

Why Join WCS Uganda?

• Pioneering Safeguards Infrastructure: Lead the implementation of a first-of-its-kind Grievance Redress Mechanism for protected areas in the sub-region.
• High-Impact Rights Integration: Directly ensure that conservation initiatives uphold human rights, gender equality, and community ownership.
• Global Network: Collaborate with regional and global thematic experts (including WCS Rights+ Communities specialists) while stationed on the frontlines of the Queen Elizabeth Landscape.

Skills Required:

• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development