Country Director, Sierra Leone

About West Africa Blue

West Africa contains 14% of the world’s remaining mangroves. Along with immense carbon sequestration potential, these coastal ecosystems help protect against erosion, storms and flooding and support diverse terrestrial and marine fauna, including IUCN Red List Threatened Species. Yet these vital wetlands are under increasing threat due to climate change and human activities. Nature-based solutions such as carbon credit projects can play an important role in helping to preserve these ecosystems while also providing a path for under-resourced communities to achieve sustainable economic development.

West Africa Blue (“Blue”) partners with communities and governments to pioneer and launch urgently needed high-integrity, financially sustainable, nature-based solutions. We seek to mitigate climate change, boost community resilience and protect biodiversity. Our partnership builds income diversification opportunities, sustainable strategies, critical skills development and enhanced financial inclusion, especially for women, in rural areas of Africa.

Our team is diverse, innovative, entrepreneurial and committed, with a deep, longstanding connection to West Africa. We are seeking an inspirational leader to join us and lead our flagship project in Sierra Leone.

Blue was co-founded in 2022 by Solon Capital Partners, a leading West Africa-focused investor providing capital and support to high-impact organizations throughout the region.

The Role

The role of Country Director, Sierra Leone is central to our mission and strategy. Our flagship project in Sierra Leone (a large scale community-centric mangrove conservation and restoration carbon credit project) has been underway for 2 years, and we expect to issue carbon credits within the next 12-24 months. This role is essential to achieving that key milestone and delivering successful projects in the country. The role presents a unique opportunity to tackle climate change directly while making a meaningful impact in the lives of affected communities.

You will have significant management and operational responsibility, and you will join a close-knit team that is passionate, collaborative, and fun. United by a shared sense of purpose, we are committed to helping overcome one of the world’s biggest challenges whilst bringing development to some of its least-resourced communities.

The Country Director will be responsible for:

• Overseeing and managing the implementation of high-integrity, community-led mangrove conservation and restoration projects in Sierra Leone. This includes activities such as income diversification initiatives, efficient cooking solutions, community forestry programs and extensive community engagement.
• Leading and mentoring a direct team of managers and a wider community network of project staff, shaping the culture of our young organization.
• Building and fostering relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, project partners, funders, technical consultants and community members.
• Preparing and managing budgets and producing reports to present project performance and impact.
• Ensuring Blue’s operations in Sierra Leone are efficient, compliant and implemented at the highest standards.
• Representing Blue at local and international conferences in a senior management capacity.
  

Success in the role means:

• Blue achieves its project delivery targets.
• You have deep, deferential and trusting relationships with communities as well as strong, constructive relationships with national government and other key stakeholders.
• You and your team are globally recognized as leading practitioners in nature-based carbon projects.
• The company’s systems, policies, workstreams and resources are effectively managed.
• Your colleagues regard you as a dependable and proficient team member.
• Your team is continually developing their skills and the organization’s capabilities are constantly evolving. The team understands and demonstrates the company’s values and culture.
• You are up to date and well-versed in market trends and intelligence.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 8+ years of management experience within a high-paced, results-driven, team-oriented environment.
• Experience in successfully delivering complex projects in a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Strong project management expertise including comprehensive planning, operations, budgeting, and financial management.
• Experience in successfully leading a diverse team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A proven ability to problem-solve and adapt efficiently.
• In-field experience working with rural communities.
  

In addition, it will be beneficial to have:

• A master’s degree in environmental science, natural sciences, business, management, communications, or similar.
• Experience with environmental policy and/or carbon markets.
• Experience working closely with rural communities.
• Experience working in Sierra Leone / West Africa.
• Proficiency in Krio and other languages of Sierra Leone.
  

We are seeking a highly motivated self-starter who is a team player and a natural leader. The ideal candidate enjoys solving problems in a fast-paced environment and is excited to join us in our mission to build prosperous communities and thriving ecosystems through successful nature-based solutions. This role offers ambitious leaders the opportunity and support to take on greater responsibilities at Blue.

The Country Director will be based in Freetown, Sierra Leone and require occasional trips to Blue’s project areas as well as international conferences/events.

We offer competitive compensation packages akin to those at start-ups and fast-growing businesses.