Angola Forestry and Woodlands Policy Specialist Job Listing at The Nature Conservancy in Luanda, Luanda (Job ID JR103779)

Description

What We Can Achieve Together:

The Angola Forestry and Woodlands Policy Specialist supports implementation of TNC's Angola Miombo woodlands strategy by advancing policy reform, forest governance, institutional coordination, and integrated forest-water approaches across Angola's priority Miombo woodland landscapes. The role will help strengthen enabling policy and institutional frameworks for sustainable woodlands, peatlands, freshwater systems, community forestry, forest reserves, carbon and sustainable finance, and nature-based development. Working with government, communities, civil society, donors, NGOs, private sector actors, and TNC teams, the position will support nationally relevant dialogue and decision-making across southeastern Angola and forest-water systems linked to the Cubango, Cuito, Cuando, Upper Zambezi, peatlands, headwaters, and wider woodland systems. The position reports to the relevant TNC Angola and Africa Forestry leadership and will be based in Luanda, with regular travel to provincial landscapes and partner sites.

The Angola Forestry and Woodlands Policy Specialist establishes TNC as a trusted conservation and policy partner in Angola's Miombo agenda by supporting policy analysis, advocacy, institutional engagement, and partnership development. The position will connect science, community experience, and governance priorities so that decisions on Miombo woodlands, peatlands, freshwater systems, land and forest tenure, carbon, forest concessions, community-based natural resource management, and sustainable finance are better coordinated and more actionable. The role is not primarily a technical field forestry position; rather, it focuses on translating technical knowledge into policy uptake, institutional alignment, and practical decisions with government and partners.

The Angola Forestry and Woodlands Policy Specialist will be responsible for the following:

• Provides policy analysis, advisory support, and strategic guidance to TNC and partners on Angola's Miombo woodlands, peatlands, freshwater systems, forest governance, land and resource tenure, carbon, biodiversity, climate, and rural development policy landscape.
• Prepares policy briefs, white papers, decision papers, technical notes, and partner-facing materials that translate evidence and field experience into practical recommendations for government, civil society, communities, donors, and private sector actors.
• Supports implementation of the Angola Miombo woodlands strategy, including work planning, budget inputs, partner coordination, and alignment with TNC Africa Forestry, Freshwater, Climate, and Angola program priorities.
• Supports development and improvement of policy and institutional frameworks for forest reserves, community forests, community-based natural resource management, sustainable woodlands, forest concessions, voluntary carbon finance, and nature-based enterprise models.
• Promotes integration of Miombo woodlands, peatlands, freshwater, and headwater systems into national and provincial planning, including forest-water coordination linked to the Cubango, Cuito, Cuando, Upper Zambezi, peatlands, watersheds, and broader woodland systems.
• Facilitates inter-ministerial, provincial, and multi-stakeholder coordination among forestry, environment, water, land-use planning, agriculture, climate, carbon, biodiversity, and rural development institutions.
• Builds and maintains strategic partnerships with national and provincial government agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations, community representatives, donors, research institutions, and private sector actors to advance Angola's Miombo policy and governance agenda.
• Supports community forestry and tenure-related dialogue by helping partners identify enabling policy pathways, governance models, benefit-sharing options, and safeguards that strengthen community rights and participation.
• Contributes to policy uptake of scientific evidence, spatial analysis, freshwater and peatland information, and local knowledge so that technical information informs institutional decisions and practical implementation.
• Supports environmental and social safeguards, monitoring, learning, and adaptive management processes for Angola Miombo work, ensuring they inform policy dialogue, partner accountability, and implementation decisions.
• Coordinates consultants, partner inputs, contracts, knowledge products, and learning processes that advance forest governance, sustainable finance, and integrated Miombo-peatlands-freshwater policy objectives.
• Supports fundraising and donor engagement by developing concept notes, partnership materials, budgets, and evidence-based narratives for Angola's Miombo woodlands, forest-water systems, carbon, and sustainable finance opportunities.
• Travels regularly within Angola, including to provincial landscapes and remote partner sites, while maintaining a primary base in Luanda to support national policy engagement.

What You'll Bring:

• BA/BS degree and at least 7 years' experience in public policy, environmental governance, law, natural resource management, development studies, forestry, conservation, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience supporting policy reform, government engagement, institutional coordination, or natural resource governance processes.
• Experience managing complex or multi-partner initiatives, including work planning, budgets, consultants, deliverables, and deadlines.
• Experience developing partnerships with government agencies, non-profit partners, community groups, donors, research institutions, and/or private sector actors.
• Experience preparing policy briefs, decision papers, technical notes, presentations, or advocacy materials for institutional decision-makers.
• Professional fluency in spoken and written Portuguese and working proficiency in English.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong knowledge of Angola's forestry, land, water, biodiversity, climate, carbon, and rural development policy landscape.
• Master's degree in public policy, environmental governance, law, natural resource management, development studies, forestry, conservation, or a related field and 10 years' relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans.
• Experience working at the nexus of Miombo woodlands, peatlands, freshwater systems, forest-water planning, ecosystem services, voluntary carbon finance, or sustainable finance.
• Ability to translate scientific, legal, institutional, and community-based evidence into clear recommendations for policy and implementation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Portuguese, including the ability to engage government and senior partners professionally.
• Strong written and spoken English preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising. 
• Politically savvy, diplomatic, and able to build trust across government, civil society, community, donor, and private sector relationships.

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with TNC's Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the Auto Safety information page. Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy's mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We're rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it's career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there's many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube   to hear stories from staff or visit  Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant's unique experience. Please apply – we'd love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you'll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world! 

TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We're proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org  with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.