Manager, Behavioral Science

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Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in the United States (Arlington, VA), Kenya (Nairobi), or Botswana (Gaborone). Conservation International (CI) protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and partnerships, CI identifies and secures critical places in nature that support biodiversity, climate resilience, and human well‑being. The Manager, Behavioral Science will play a pivotal role in linking cutting‑edge behavioral and social science research with on‑the‑ground conservation and restoration implementation.

Affiliated with CI’s global science division, the Moore Center for Science and Solutions (MCSS), and funded through the CI–University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Arnhold Climate Solutions Collaborative, this role contributes to CI’s Africa Field Management Unit (FMU) efforts to test and scale Natural Climate Solutions (NCS).

The manager will strengthen partnerships between CI’s scientific teams, field implementers, community‑based organizations, and research partners, ensuring that local knowledge and field evidence are translated into practical, implementer‑ready tools and strategies. This position will help generate evidence to support the growth of CI’s Herding4

Health (H4H) program — a partnership between Conservation International and Peace Parks Foundation — by co‑developing innovative solutions and leading the edition of an Implementer’s Guidebook that illustrates a range of field‑tested participative research approaches that can be leveraged to improve community engagement and behavioral change.

A key responsibility of this position will also be to support the teams, ensuring project compliance with Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) requirements for rangeland and livestock management initiatives funded by Voluntary Carbon Markets, as well as adhering to evaluation policies of multilateral funds such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The manager will oversee and support transnational research efforts, including well‑being assessments, household surveys, and behavioral field experiments. The Manager will also synthesize findings into outputs that influence policy, partner programs, and CI’s internal learning agenda. This includes writing technical and non‑technical reports, facilitating partner workshops, and ensuring that scientific findings are actionable and accessible for implementers on the ground.

This role may involve co‑managing one or more field scientists, and an ability to work across multiple teams composed of research scientists, program managers, and field coordinators. Fieldwork will primarily occur in countries of CI’s Africa FMU.

• Serve as the project’s focal point for CI’s Africa Field Management Unit (FMU), ensuring alignment between the Moore Center for Science, CI’s Africa programs, and implementing partners.
• Lead the development of an Implementer’s Guidebook, synthesizing behavioral science evidence and practitioner experience into clear, actionable modules for community‑based implementers.
• Serve as the primary liaison across multiple stakeholders (internal science team, implementer partners, national and local authorities) to ensure alignment, co‑creation, and timely delivery of deliverables.
• Partner with academics and field practitioners to co‑design field‑based learning experiences and guidebooks.
• Lead field‑based data collection and stakeholder engagement in rural community settings.
• Take a leadership role in people‑centered conservation solutions.
• Supervise and mentor one (or more) research staff/assistant(s); set performance…