line. TheWhat We Can Achieve Together:
The wWINGS Postdoctoral Scholar will join The Nature Conservancy’s science community at a pivotal moment for people and nature, contributing dedicated capacity to a peatland conservation science project in Angola, and more broadly, the conservation of two irreplaceable landscapes in Africa: the greater Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) and the Congo Basin. As part of the William Wingard Global Sustainability (wWINGS) Fellowship, the fellow will be part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary science team to advance rigorous, actionable research that informs conservation decisions and supports progress toward TNC’s 2030 goals.
This position will focus on community-based aspects of peatland conservation, stewardship, science and engagement as part of TNC’s commitment to protecting the headwaters of major river systems, including the Okavango, Zambezi, Cuando, Cuanza & Congo, in Angola, and in mitigating climate change through avoided conversion of peatland ecosystems. The fellow will play a key role in strengthening freshwater and peatland ecosystem conservation across the Angolan Highlands Water Tower, the broader KAZA landscape, and Congo Basin.
Working closely with TNC scientists, practitioners, and partners in Angola and the region, the wWINGS Fellow will collaborate with a dynamic, international network of conservation practitioners, scientists and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) advisors. Through this role, the Fellow will help bridge scientific inquiry and on-the-ground impact, developing knowledge, tools, and insights that support durable conservation outcomes at local, regional, and global scales.
This is a 2-year term-limited position. The location for this position is flexible and will be based in Africa in any of the six countries where TNC is registered to do business (Angola, Gabon, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa). The postdoctoral fellow will work for The Nature Conservancy as part of the Global Science Business Unit. This role has an expectation of international or domestic travel 10% or less.
We're Looking for You:
We’re looking for an early-career conservation social or interdisciplinary scientist who is eager to apply their research skills to complex, real-world conservation challenges through the wWINGS Fellowship. You are motivated to work at the intersection of science, practice and policy, in an interdisciplinary and collaborative way using approaches grounded in scientific integrity. You’re excited to grow as a scientist and professional and eager to contribute to a postdoctoral experience that emphasizes applied impact alongside research excellence.
The wWINGS Fellow will support research on community-centered approaches that advance conservation outcomes while promoting community well-being and resilience in southern Africa. During the first year, you will focus on literature reviews, applied social science and human-centered design methods to co-design, test and evaluate locally appropriate, rights-based approaches to peatland protection and improved management with communities in southeast Angola. In the second year, you will build on these findings to inform and strengthen community conservation approaches across additional ecosystems, geographies and communities in the KAZA region and Congo Basin. Throughout the fellowship, you will work closely with TNC scientists, practitioners, and partners, contributing ideas, methods and insights that support scalable, durable conservation solutions.
What You'll Bring:
Ph.D. in a natural or social science discipline relevant to human-centered approaches to designing conservation interventions with communities, awarded by start of the position (and no longer than 4 years prior) and at least 1 to 2 years of related experience.
Experience designing and conducting scientific research, including reviewing and synthesizing literature, designing and interpreting qualitative surveys and interviews, collecting and analyzing data, and interpreting results.
A demonstrated ability to communicate scientific findings clearly through written products such as reports, manuscripts, or other scholarly outputs with a record of peer-reviewed publications.
Experience working collaboratively with various colleagues or partners, in-person and remotely, across multiple geographies and timezones, and an interest in contributing to team-based, interdisciplinary efforts.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently with guidance from mentors.
Strong writing and communication skills in English.
Desired Qualifications:
Experience applying qualitative and/or quantitative social science and ethnographic approaches/methods in conservation contexts, including designing, conducting, analyzing and interpreting data from semi-structured interviews and focus groups.
Knowledge of community-centered and rights-based conservation approaches, including experience working with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Africa.
Experience with, or strong interest in learning and adapting human-centered design approaches for social innovation.
Experience or interest in wetland conservation in multiple countries across Africa and beyond.
Knowledge of complementary research tools and methods including survey design, qualitative, mixed-method and/or quantitative data analysis.
Experience or interest in collaborating with colleagues skilled in spatial data analysis and remote sensing.
Strong communication skills across formats, including written, verbal and visual or graphical communication.
Portuguese language skills are highly desirable, but not required.
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. The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process. 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..
Salary Information:
This position may be based in Angola, Gabon, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, or Zambia; candidates must be legally able to work in the country. Salary will be in local currency and is based on location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment and used to determine your actual pay range. Additionally, for all applicants, actual pay will fall within a range based on a variety of factors including, for example, the candidate’s qualifications, specific skills, and experience.
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.”
What We Bring:
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.
Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.
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.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.
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.