Restoration Workshop Leader

Position: Restoration Workshop Leader (full-time contractor position)

Reports to: Restoration Program Director

Location: Remote, plus international travel (see below).

Hours: Full-time (generally 40 hrs/week)

About Mangrove Action Project (MAP)

Our mission is to partner with communities and organizations worldwide to conserve, manage, and restore mangrove forests. Through science, training, and environmental education, we provide nature-based solutions for people and our planet. MAP is a global non-profit that engages with communities, NGOs, scientists, and policymakers to implement sustainable restoration strategies and capacity-building programs. Learn more about MAP and our 30+ year history, here.

For a welcome message from our Executive Director and the Restoration Program Director, click here.

The Opportunity

MAP is seeking a Restoration Workshop Leader to support and eventually lead Community- Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) training workshops, contribute to global program expansion, and engage in outreach activities. This is an exciting opportunity for an individual passionate about environmental restoration and education. The role involves international travel, sometimes at short notice.

Key Responsibilities

Restoration Workshops:

Conducting Workshops

• Support and eventually lead CBEMR training workshops (in-person and online).
• Establish partnerships and engage stakeholders to organise workshops.
• Collaborate with the MAP team to refine workshop content and ensure continuous improvement.
• Support the MAP team in coordinating and overseeing key logistical components for training programs, including contracts, budgets, risk assessments, visa arrangements, travel bookings, insurance, and background research.

Outreach & Program Expansion

• Conduct proactive outreach to potential stakeholders, encouraging participation in workshops.
• Identify organizations in need of capacity building for mangrove restoration across various regions.
• Represent MAP at conferences and events to promote the NGO, CBEMR and the use of mangrove restoration best practices.
• Contribute to workshop reports for MAP and its partners.

Workshop Follow-up and Field Activities:

• Conduct follow-up and preliminary visits to training sites to provide guidance, monitor progress, and assess restoration outcomes.
• Perform site evaluations and outreach visits to key areas of interest.

Program Development & Funding:

• Support grant and proposal writing for CBEMR programs.
• Engage with potential funders through various channels (calls, emails, conferences).
• Assist in designing global CBEMR program strategies.
• Collaborate with MAP staff on program implementation, outreach, and education initiatives.

Communications & General Outreach

• Contribute to MAP’s communication strategies and outreach campaigns.
• Support awareness initiatives to expand MAP’s impact globally.

Qualifications

Essential background

Community-based restoration requires strong intercultural sensitivity and respect across cultural boundaries. The ideal applicant understands historical and structural inequalities,including the legacies of colonization, and approaches international work with humility, thoughtfulness, and a commitment to equitable collaboration with local communities. The role also demands flexibility in dynamic field conditions, gender awareness in community engagement, and good physical health to work in hot, tropical, and sometimes remote environments. These additional skills are considered essential:

• Post-graduate degree in environmental science, ecology, natural resource management, or a related field.
• Proficiency in English and Spanish (written, spoken and ability to teach in both)
• Proven experience in mangrove or ecological restoration projects.
• Teaching experience, preferably in environmental education or community training programs.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills for training workshops and community engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and within a team.
• Strong computer skills, especially familiarity with Microsoft and Google software, and basic filing organization.

Desirable background

• Experience teaching in developing countries under highly variable working conditions.
• PhD in environmental science, ecology, natural resource management, or a related field.
• Fluency in additional languages, especially those relevant to mangrove regions (e.g., French, Portuguese, Bahasa Indonesia, Swahili).
• Experience with holistic ecological restoration techniques.
• Knowledge of the blue carbon science, verification standards and coastal ecosystem services.
• Experience in developing training materials and educational content.
• Grant writing and fundraising experience.

Special Considerations and Restrictions

• The position requires substantial travel, often to remote and tropical locations lacking the comfort and accessibility advantages of home.
• On an annual basis, we anticipate 2-5 workshops lasting ~2 weeks each, plus a combination of 2-4 prospect site visits and conferences.
• A successful candidate must have a passport that allows for easy visa acquisition worldwide, whether through visa-free access, visa on arrival, or a streamlined application process.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation Package (salary & benefits): We offer a locally competitive salary and benefits package that is tailored to the candidate’s geographic location and experience. Our aim is to ensure a fair and equitable compensation package that allows for access to healthcare coverage.
• Travel Expenses: Covered for missions, including flights, travel insurance, per diem, and related costs.
• Flexible Working Hours: While travel may involve weekend/public holiday work, compensatory time off is provided.
• Paid Time Off: Approximately 6 weeks per year, including 10 holidays, a 2-week break over Christmas and New Years Day.