ESG / Social Performance Manager

ESG / Social Performance Manager

£70,000 – £90,000 + Share Options

Location: London, Accra, or Freetown (with frequent travel to project sites in West Africa)

UK visa sponsorship available

Are you an experienced Social Performance professional with a strong analytical mindset and a track record of implementing IFC-compliant frameworks in African operations? This is a rare opportunity to take on a high-impact leadership role with a pioneering organisation focused on large-scale tropical forest restoration and community benefit sharing.

The Role

As Social Performance Manager, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that local communities receive meaningful and measurable benefits from carbon finance projects. This is not a box-ticking ESG role – it requires practical, field-driven execution and the ability to translate global social standards into operational reality across multiple West African jurisdictions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Community Benefit Sharing: Design and implement equitable benefit-sharing agreements
• Stakeholder Engagement & Land Rights: Lead land acquisition processes in line with World Bank Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles, conducting Vulnerability Assessments and Livelihood Restoration Plans where needed.
• Data-Driven Social Impact: Conduct rigorous quantitative and qualitative social data collection to measure the effectiveness of interventions.
• On-the-Ground Implementation: Provide oversight to in-country ESG teams, ensuring best practices are followed at all project sites.
• Industry Compliance & Thought Leadership: Maintain VERRA CCB validation, uphold the highest social performance standards, and position the company as a leader in the nature-based solutions sector.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Extensive experience implementing IFC-compliant social performance frameworks in a company operating in Africa (e.g. forestry, agriculture, mining, or infrastructure).
• Strong academic background in a social science, economics, or a related analytical field, with experience in data-driven impact assessment.
• Hands-on and field-oriented – comfortable working on the ground in remote areas and leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple countries.
• Pragmatic rather than ideological – able to drive real-world outcomes rather than just advocacy.
• Experienced with land rights, community engagement, and social impact assessment.
• Fluent in English (French is desirable).
• Willing to spend at least 10 weeks per year working in West Africa to stay connected with field realities and drive effective implementation.

What’s on Offer?

• £70,000 – £90,000 salary + share options in a high-growth organisation.
• A chance to work on a globally significant initiative with direct impact on thousands of lives.
• The opportunity to define best-in-class social performance standards in a rapidly evolving industry.
• Frequent travel to project locations in West Africa, working in a fast-moving and dynamic environment.
• UK visa sponsorship available for candidates looking to be based in London.
• Expats based in Accra or Freetown will also be considered.

This role is ideal for an analytical, hands-on professional who thrives in complex, multi-stakeholder environments and is passionate about delivering tangible impact.

To apply, please apply with your most up to date CV.