Bilingual Project Manager – CRAFT-Sustainable Development at University of Leeds

**Contract Type:** Fixed Term (60 months)

Are you interested in joining a groundbreaking research initiative aimed at understanding the changes occurring in the rainforests of the Congo Basin, and contributing to enhanced forest protection and better local livelihoods? Do you have experience in project management along with strong organizational and communication skills to support researchers and coordinate essential activities? Are you proficient in French?

We’re offering a new position that involves providing project management support for the Congo Basin Science Initiative (CBSI) and its flagship project, CRAFT-Sustainable Development (Congo Rainforest Alliance for Forest Training for Sustainable Development). Funded by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under its Congo Basin Forest Action Programme, this role presents an exciting opportunity.

CBSI and CRAFT are jointly led by the Ecology and Global Change Cluster at the School of Geography, University of Leeds, and the Congo Basin Water Resources Centre, University of Kinshasa. Collaborating closely with leading scientists and early career researchers from Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, the UK, and beyond, you’ll have a global impact.

CRAFT will facilitate part of the CBSI Science and Capacity Building Plan, supporting 12 leading scientific research teams in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, along with six UK-based teams. This encompasses 20 new PhD studentships and 12 MSc/MRes studentships for emerging scientists from the region, revolutionizing both the region’s scientific understanding and capacity, and delivering these insights to policymakers and civil society.

As a Bilingual Project Manager, you’ll spearhead project management and activity coordination for CRAFT and CBSI. Responsibilities include strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation to ensure timely delivery of commitments, financial reporting, tracking progress against objectives, organizing and participating in project meetings including a major annual conference in central Africa, coordinating logistics for international travel, communicating with project partners in French, overseeing content production for the project’s website and social media, and managing daily project operations.

Please be aware that this position may qualify for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route, though first-time applicants might need to meet certain salary requirements. For more information, visit www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

For research and academic roles, you may be eligible under the Global Talent visa. For more details, visit www.gov.uk/global-talent.

**What We Offer in Return:**

– 26 days of holiday plus approximately 16 bank holidays/university closure days (including Christmas)—totaling 42 days a year!
– Generous pension scheme plus life assurance, with the University contributing 14.5% of salary
– Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership at The Edge, our cutting-edge campus gym offering a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls.
– Personal Development: Access to courses through our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team.
– Additional benefits include on-site childcare, shopping discounts, travel schemes, and more!

To learn more about the position or if you have any questions, please contact:

Professor Simon Lewis
Email: s.l.lewis@leeds.ac.uk