The Community Wildlife Management Areas Consortium (CWMAC) is a national organization dedicated to strengthening community-based conservation and sustainable wildlife management across Tanzania. Through its support to Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), the organization works to enhance governance, biodiversity conservation, community participation, and sustainable natural resource management while advocating for policies that empower local communities.

The Policy and Advocacy Officer position is a strategic legal and governance role responsible for providing legal counsel, supporting policy advocacy initiatives, strengthening institutional governance, and enhancing the legal capacity of member WMAs. The role serves as the organization's primary in-house legal resource, supporting the CEO, Board of Trustees, Conservation Trust Fund initiatives, and community governance structures while ensuring compliance with Tanzania's legal and regulatory framework.

Responsibilities or duties

• Serve as the primary in-house legal advisor to the CEO, Senior Management Team, and Board of Trustees
• Provide legal advice on contractual, governance, regulatory, and compliance matters
• Review, draft, negotiate, and manage contracts, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), partnership agreements, service agreements, and consultant contracts
• Ensure all legal agreements adequately protect CWMAC's interests and comply with applicable laws
• Maintain a comprehensive legal register covering contracts, compliance obligations, regulatory filings, and legal matters
• Ensure organizational compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of the United Republic of Tanzania
• Advise on employment law matters, including contracts, disciplinary procedures, grievances, and labour law compliance
• Coordinate and manage relationships with external legal counsel
• Lead the completion of CWMAC’s constitutional review process, including drafting, consultations, reviews, and adoption
• Advise the Board and Executive Committee on governance practices, fiduciary responsibilities, conflict-of-interest management, and constitutional compliance
• Prepare legal and governance documentation for Annual General Meetings, Board meetings, and special resolutions
• Support member WMAs in strengthening constitutions and governance frameworks
• Provide guidance on the rights and obligations of Authorised Associations (AAs)
• Monitor and analyze developments in conservation law and policy in Tanzania
• Contribute legal analysis and drafting support to policy advocacy initiatives
• Build and maintain relationships with government institutions and regulatory bodies
• Participate in legal, conservation, and policy forums at national and regional levels
• Provide legal support for the establishment and governance of the CWMAC Conservation Trust Fund
• Liaise with Board members, legal advisors, donors, and financial advisors regarding Trust Fund legal structures and governance arrangements
• Advise on trust fund structures, endowment options, and investment governance frameworks
• Support ongoing legal governance and compliance of the Trust Fund
• Provide legal advisory services to member WMAs on operational and governance matters
• Develop practical legal literacy materials for community leaders and WMA governance structures
• Conduct legal orientation sessions and training workshops for WMA managers, chairpersons, and governance committees
• Support WMA members during legal and regulatory engagements when required

Qualifications or requirements

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree
• Current admission to the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS)
• Valid Practising Certificate
• Minimum of 4 years of post-admission legal practice experience
• Experience in NGO or civil society law
• Experience in governance, compliance, and institutional legal advisory services
• Knowledge of environmental and natural resources law
• Experience in community land rights and conservation-related legal matters
• Strong background in contract law and legal drafting
• Thorough understanding of Tanzanian legal frameworks, including:
  • Societies Act
  • Wildlife Conservation Act, 2009
  • Land Act, 1999
  • Village Land Act, 1999
  • Employment and Labour Relations Act
• Proven experience drafting and reviewing complex legal documents
• Strong legal research, analysis, and advisory skills
• Ability to prepare practical and well-reasoned legal opinions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Working proficiency in Swahili
• Exceptional legal judgment and analytical thinking
• High standards of integrity, confidentiality, and professional conduct
• Ability to explain complex legal matters to non-legal audiences
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to understand broader organizational and strategic objectives
• Genuine interest in community-based conservation and legal empowerment of rural communities
• Confidence in advising senior leadership and Board members

Experience needed

Minimum of 4 years of post-admission legal practice experience.

• Serve as the primary in-house legal advisor to the CEO, Senior Management Team, and Board of Trustees
• Provide legal advice on contractual, governance, regulatory, and compliance matters
• Review, draft, negotiate, and manage contracts, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), partnership agreements, service agreements, and consultant contracts
• Ensure all legal agreements adequately protect CWMAC's interests and comply with applicable laws
• Maintain a comprehensive legal register covering contracts, compliance obligations, regulatory filings, and legal matters
• Ensure organizational compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of the United Republic of Tanzania
• Advise on employment law matters, including contracts, disciplinary procedures, grievances, and labour law compliance
• Coordinate and manage relationships with external legal counsel
• Lead the completion of CWMAC’s constitutional review process, including drafting, consultations, reviews, and adoption
• Advise the Board and Executive Committee on governance practices, fiduciary responsibilities, conflict-of-interest management, and constitutional compliance
• Prepare legal and governance documentation for Annual General Meetings, Board meetings, and special resolutions
• Support member WMAs in strengthening constitutions and governance frameworks
• Provide guidance on the rights and obligations of Authorised Associations (AAs)
• Monitor and analyze developments in conservation law and policy in Tanzania
• Contribute legal analysis and drafting support to policy advocacy initiatives
• Build and maintain relationships with government institutions and regulatory bodies
• Participate in legal, conservation, and policy forums at national and regional levels
• Provide legal support for the establishment and governance of the CWMAC Conservation Trust Fund
• Liaise with Board members, legal advisors, donors, and financial advisors regarding Trust Fund legal structures and governance arrangements
• Advise on trust fund structures, endowment options, and investment governance frameworks
• Support ongoing legal governance and compliance of the Trust Fund
• Provide legal advisory services to member WMAs on operational and governance matters
• Develop practical legal literacy materials for community leaders and WMA governance structures
• Conduct legal orientation sessions and training workshops for WMA managers, chairpersons, and governance committees
• Support WMA members during legal and regulatory engagements when required

• Strong legal research, analysis, and advisory skills
• Ability to prepare practical and well-reasoned legal opinions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Working proficiency in Swahili
• Exceptional legal judgment and analytical thinking
• High standards of integrity, confidentiality, and professional conduct
• Ability to explain complex legal matters to non-legal audiences
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to understand broader organizational and strategic objectives
• Genuine interest in community-based conservation and legal empowerment of rural communities
• Confidence in advising senior leadership and Board members

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree
• Current admission to the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS)
• Valid Practising Certificate
• Experience in NGO or civil society law
• Experience in governance, compliance, and institutional legal advisory services
• Knowledge of environmental and natural resources law
• Experience in community land rights and conservation-related legal matters
• Strong background in contract law and legal drafting
• Thorough understanding of Tanzanian legal frameworks, including:
• Societies Act
• Wildlife Conservation Act, 2009
• Land Act, 1999
• Village Land Act, 1999
• Employment and Labour Relations Act
• Proven experience drafting and reviewing complex legal documents