Job Description
Company Description: Systemiq is the system change company, working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, nature-positive and more inclusive economy. As a certified B Corp, we partner with business, finance, policymakers and civil society to transform five interconnected systems: energy, nature and food, materials and circularity, sustainable finance, and urban transformation.
We bring together strategy, policy, market design and capital mobilisation to deliver tangible results in the real economy. Founded in 2016, Systemiq has grown to a global team of more than 300 people across Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, united by a singular focus on sustainability.
Systemiq is sharing an opportunity for a Head of Forest Protection & Community Impact with a leading tropical forest restoration organisation operating in West Africa.
Head of Forest Protection & Community Impact
Ensuring long-term integrity of restored forest landscapes
Department: PermanenceReports to: CEOLocation: Ghana (Accra or site-based: Bibiani / Dambai)Direct Reports: 2 (Social Performance Lead, Livelihoods Lead)Contract Type: Full-time, permanentFunctional Team: ~50+ (Protection, ESG)
About the Organisation
The organisation is a large-scale tropical forest restoration company operating in West Africa, focused on restoring degraded, biodiverse ecosystems through long-term, community-centred projects.
With operations across multiple countries, a workforce of 1,000+ employees, and thousands of hectares already restored, the organisation is scaling towards 100,000+ hectares under management.
Projects are long-term and aligned with leading international standards (e.g. VERRA VCS, CCB), delivering measurable climate, biodiversity, and socioeconomic outcomes in partnership with global organisations and local communities.
The Role
This is a senior leadership role reporting to the CEO, responsible for ensuring that restored and protected forest areas remain secure and viable over the long term.
Forest Protection is the core focus of this role, requiring the design and leadership of large-scale, field-based protection operations. Alongside this, the role integrates community engagement and livelihood programmes to ensure sustainable, long-term outcomes.
The successful candidate will bring a strong background in land or asset protection and have evolved into a broader operator, capable of working across protection, community engagement, and programme delivery.
You will lead three integrated functions:
Forest Protection
Livelihood Restoration
Social Performance
