Position: Community Engagement Facilitator
Reports to: Community Engagement Officer
Location: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Country Program/Sector: WCS Mongolia Program
Position Type: Full-Time
Organization Background:
Organization background: The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a U.S. non-profit, tax-exempt organization founded in 1895, dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places through science-based solutions and conservation actions. With more than a century of experience, WCS has established itself as the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, achieving innovative and impactful results at scale. Today, WCS operates programs across the entire ocean and more than 3 million biologically critical square miles in nearly 60 countries. Over the years, WCS has played a pivotal role in establishing more than 150 protected areas worldwide. Our work is built on a unique foundation: Global reach across continents and ecosystems; Best-in-class science to discover and guide conservation strategies; On-the-ground protection in collaboration with local and Indigenous communities; Inspiration through education at our world-class zoos and aquarium; Policy influence and partnerships to leverage resources for systemic change. WCS combines biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships to ensure that vibrant wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with governments, NGOs, industries, and communities, WCS applies this knowledge to address species, habitat, and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life for rural populations whose livelihoods depend directly on natural resources.
WCS, Mongolia Program Overview
Established in Ulaanbaatar in 2003, WCS Mongolia has spent more than two decades working to conserve the country’s wildlife and ecosystems. The program applies a science-based, landscape-level approach to support the protection and restoration of Mongolia’s ecological integrity. WCS Mongolia works in partnership with government agencies, local communities, NGOs, and the private sector to advance biodiversity conservation, maintain ecological connectivity, and support sustainable land use. Its work spans wildlife research and monitoring, protected area management, community-based conservation, policy engagement, infrastructure planning, One Health, and climate change adaptation. In 2024, WCS Mongolia launched its five-year strategy to 2030, structured around three priorities: enhancing ecological function, ensuring functional connectivity, and strengthening climate resilience. These guide efforts to safeguard Mongolia’s ecosystems over the long term.
Job Summary:
The Community Engagement Facilitator will support the Community Engagement Officer in implementing local conservation initiatives in the Gobi-Steppe, focusing on Umnugovi, Dornogovi, and Sukhbaatar provinces. This role focuses on empowering herder-led groups (CBOs or nukhurluls), fostering stakeholder collaboration, and promoting sustainable natural resource management and adaptive approaches to climate change. The position requires frequent travel to remote areas to engage with local herders. The Facilitator will help strengthen existing community-based organizations, support the creation of new ones using participatory approaches to strengthen local environmental governance.
Major Responsibility:
- Organize and co-facilitate training modules on natural resource management (NRM) plans, biodiversity conservation, and the legal rights of community groups.
- Facilitate the development and strengthening of herder groups (Nukhurlul) through participatory decision-making and organizational capacity building.
- Raise awareness among herder communities about the impacts of linear infrastructure on livestock and wildlife movement.
- Assist in facilitating engagement of herder households, women-led initiatives, and school students on climate change adaptation initiatives, focusing on water resource management.
- Support efforts to strengthen existing local protected areas (LPA) or assist in establishing new ones by collaborating with local governments and communities.
- Support the development and implementation of community-based natural resource management plans and promote sustainable resource use and biodiversity conservation through participatory approaches.
- Document and monitor community engagement activities for reporting and knowledge sharing, capturing best practices, lessons learned, and success stories from various initiatives.
- Support local awareness activities aimed at promoting conservation and sustainable natural resource management within herder communities.
- Support the design and delivery of local outreach materials aimed at promoting sustainable grazing and biodiversity protection.
- Assist in the development and implementation of community-based natural resource monitoring programs to track progress and outcomes of conservation initiatives.
- Represent the project at herder community meetings, workshops and events, ensuring effective communication of project goals to stakeholders.
- Support other WCS Mongolia program priorities as needed to advance overall herder community engagement for conservation in key areas.
Job qualifications:
Education:
- Bachelor's or master's degree in community or rural development, environmental management, natural resource management, conservation, and animal husbandry or a related field.
Experience:
- 2-3 years of experience in community development or environmental projects
Additional requirements:
Skills:
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders including local government, local communities, school kids and protected area administrations.
- Experience working in rural areas and organizing community workshops, training and focus groups.
- Strong skills in moderating focus groups and community workshops within varied social and cultural settings.
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team, including strong presentation skills
- Willingness to learn about community based natural resource management, wildlife conservation and climate change adaptation
- Adaptability to work in dynamic and challenging environments, particularly in remote areas
Language Proficiency:
- Proficient in spoken and written Mongolian and English.
Travel:
- Travel to work in other locations, districts, and provinces as required, and may be at short notice for extended periods.
Application process:
- Please submit your completed application by including (all in one pdf file);
1) CV in English,
2) With a one-page cover letter in English explaining your interest and suitability for this position,
3) Along with diploma copies, and
4) One reference letter provided by previous line managers;
- The subject line of your email submission with “Application – Community Engagement Facilitator [Candidate Name]” and interested applicants should submit the application to the following email address: hrmongolia@wcs.org
- Applications should be sent on or before 17:00 Ulaanbaatar time, Monday, 18 of May 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted;
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Mongolia Program
201 San Business Center, Amar Street-29, Small ring road, Sukhbaatar district, Ulaanbaatar 14200, Mongolia. Tel: +976-11-323719