Associate, Mozambique

Full job description
Associate, Mozambique
40 hours per week | Remote from Mozambique | One-year contract with possibility of extension

Preferred starting date: asap (September 2025)

Are you passionate about landscape restoration and local conservation efforts? Do you have experience working with grassroots organizations and designing impactful programs? Maliasili and Commonland are looking for a dynamic Associate to help shape the future of conservation leadership in Mozambique.

About the Role

Maliasili and Commonland have entered a partnership to conduct a scoping study of 10 local organizations working in conservation in Mozambique. The scoping aims to identify organizations doing impactful work for people and nature, contributing to improved ecosystem health and a better life for people. The scoping exercise will inform the cohort to be selected to participate in a conservation leadership program, that both organizations are working together on designing and tailoring.

The associate will work with the existing team to conduct the scoping exercise, as well as contribute to the design of the leadership program.

Given multiple points of alignment in values and approach, Maliasili and Commonland have been collaborating over the past year across various areas of interest.

What You’ll Do

As an Associate, you will work with Maliasili’s Mozambique Portfolio team and Commonland’s Africa Team, supporting and contributing to three main areas of work.

Scoping Exercise

Establishing initial contact and relationship with organizations included in the scoping exercise;

Exploring opportunities for holistic 4 Returns landscape management;

Participating in on-site visits to these organizations, and building an understanding of their work, impact and organizational capacity;

Supporting with any logistics needed for the travel and liaising with partner organizations;

Contributing to the final scoping report.


Development of a leadership program

Supporting with the adaptation of the existing curriculum to the Mozambican context;

Supporting with the management of the Canva platform;

Supporting with any logistics needed, including drafting budgets and contacting service providers.


Other tasks:

Join selected Maliasili and Commonland weekly/monthly team meetings;

Learn about Maliasili’s and Commonland’s approach.

What You Bring

A Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of work experience in the field of landscape restoration, agriculture, or livelihood development on a grassroot level in Southern Africa

A high appreciation for nature and sustainable development

Strong diagnostic and analytical skills – the ability to quickly and accurately understand a problem and design solutions.

Excellent interpersonal skills in communications, relationship management, team processes.

Outstanding ability to manage multiple processes in a dynamic environment, prioritize, multi-task, be hands-on and practical, and deal with problems adaptively and with a sense of humor. A flexible and self-motivated team player who can work independently with limited supervision, but also enjoys working with a fun team

Someone who is driven to achieve, while also eager to learn and enjoys a good laugh.

Candidates are required to speak and write fluent English and Portuguese

Candidates should be living in Mozambique, and be able to connect easily with diverse stakeholders

Ability to travel at least 25% of the time.


What We Offer

A consultancy/freelance agreement for a year

The associate will be paid monthly. This amount will be payable monthly upon receipt of an invoice, including any relevant and authorized expenses incurred in the previous month. The associate shall submit the monthly invoice for the above by the 5th of the following month.

The opportunity to be part of creating long-term sustainable and social impact in Mozambique.

You are part of a dynamic and international environment with passionate and enthusiastic team members and colleagues to work with.

This position will mostly work from home except when stipulated otherwise. A laptop will be provided as an initial package.

Location

This position will be based in Mozambique and will require significant travel, particularly in the first 6 months. Preference for location near an international airport. Neither Maliasili nor Commonland have the capacity to support work or residence permits for this position, so all applicants must be legally eligible to work and reside in Mozambique.

Commonland Foundation

Commonland is an international non-profit that supports people and organisations to restore landscapes and shape a regenerative future for all. With our holistic approach – underpinned by the 4 Returns Framework – people and organisations all over the world are working with nature and their community to restore landscapes. Our core values are empowering each other, putting words into action, and being compassionate & honest.

Maliasili

Maliasili supports high-potential local organizations to accelerate their impact on people, ecosystems, and climate. We provide organizational and leadership development to exceptional local leaders across Africa. Through a portfolio approach, we offer intensive support to help organizations reach their full potential. We believe growth depends on strong leadership, strategic vision, effective monitoring, robust fundraising, and impactful communications. To enable this, we continually refine our branding, processes, and communication tools.

How to Apply

We’re looking forward to hearing from you! Please submit a cover letter and resume via the apply button below before end of day CEST on August 29th, 2025.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Joana Trindade and Grace Warner at jtrindade@maliasili.org and grace.warner@commondland.com. If you have any questions about the application process or HR matters, please contact the People team at jobs@commonland.com.

We believe it is essential to center the diversity of voices and experiences in our work as they are also represented in society. Hence, we warmly encourage applications from people with diverse identities and backgrounds.