Country Program Director – Democratic Republic of the Congo

ABOUT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Background

The Wildlife Conservation Society is an international NGO headquartered at Bronx Zoo in New York City, USA, working to save wildlife and wildlands and to meet global challenges in over 60 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and the world’s oceans. WCS believes that conservation of nature and natural resources is essential to life on earth, the future of humanity, and the wellbeing and cultural identities of Indigenous Peoples and traditional and local communities.

The Central Africa and Gulf of Guinea program is one of the largest of WCS’s 13 Global Regional Programs, including Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, and Gabon. The region presents a set of complex conservation challenges to biodiversity and their habitats and WCS field programs are addressing these through a number of initiatives including protected area management, community engagement, sustainable livelihoods, policy reform and sustainable financing.

Job Description

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) seeks a Program Director for the WCS DRC Country Program.  The Program Director will be responsible for overseeing the overall strategic and program planning and budgeting processes, guiding technical orientations, collaborating with Government and non-government partners, and providing specific input for on-site decisions.  The Program Director will provide strategic programmatic directives to ensure that WCS DRC Country Program reflects the goals of WCS Global Conservation for the Central Africa & Gulf of Guinea Region, which are in harmony with DRC national environmental and social programs.  The Program Director will be responsible for overseeing the work of the senior finance, administration, human resource, operations and program management teams to ensure that effective functioning of financial and administrative matters and adequate internal control between the national and field offices are maintained. 

Job Summary

• Provide leadership and guidance for overall strategic and program planning, and budgeting processes for the DRC Country Program.
• Ensure development and timely, effective and impactful implementation of strategic plans at the national, sub-national and site-based levels.
• Ensure that senior management teams are able to operate with effective functioning financial and administrative systems and adequate internal control between the WCS Central Africa & Gulf of Guinea Regional office, WCS DRC country office and WCS DRC field offices.
• Engage with Government agencies, multilateral and bilateral agencies, as well as private organizations, to align support (financial, organizational, and technical) for WCS DRC strategic initiatives. Identify and build opportunities to connect WCS programmatic priorities with agency funding opportunities. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Engagement and Program Development

• Develop and deliver Program strategic planning that addresses WCS regional, thematic and global priorities, while adapting to the social, political and ecological landscapes of DRC.
• Develop and maintain technical partnerships with bilateral and multilateral government aid agencies, foundations, and individuals to mobilize financial resources for the WCS DRC program.
• Building of strategic partnerships and implementation of resource mobilization strategy.
• Ensure the development and oversight of a Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning approach to program implementation.
• Ensure appropriate and effective communications reflecting WCS regional, thematic and global priorities, including representing WCS in meetings with internal stakeholders and Government, technical and financial partners.
• As needed, represent WCS to external donors and stakeholders as appropriate.
• Advocacy and promotion of WCS’s mandate and mission.
• In coordination with the Government Representative, facilitate and/or manage consultancies, partnerships, and relationships, in support of the Green Climate Fund readiness grant portfolio and associated 30×30 efforts.
• In coordination with the Government Representative, with technical and government partners, support the development of the Community Fund for Forests (CFF) including supporting the creation of governance structures, granting and financing mechanisms, and ensuring the presence and effectiveness of social and biodiversity safeguards.

Program Technical Planning and Management

• Ensure that WCS DRC programs and/or projects address the country program strategic orientation in harmony with stated WCS regional and global conservation goals and objectives relating to site-based, species-based, and thematic issues.
• Ensure that field teams, as needed, are supported with the development and implementation of integrated annual workplans.
• Ensure Senior Technical Staff are well supported and coordinated with Regional Staff in preparing funding proposals and donor reporting as required.
• Supervise, or ensure appropriate delegation to senior management and technical team members, support to field staff so as to reinforce their technical and management capacity; Ensure the annual performance reviews; Approve short-term specialists – expatriate and local – and ensure their supervision by a member of the DRC team.
• Support national HR managers and liaise with regional HR staff in recruiting staff – including developing/approving Terms of Reference, and the screening, interviewing, selection and onboarding of new staff.

Qualifications

• Minimum of Master’s degree or equivalent experience in a discipline related to natural resources management, environment or rural conservation studies, and/or protected area management.
• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in protected areas or natural resources management, sustainable conservation, and/or other environmental assistance or related work in developing countries.
• Proven knowledge and experience with government agencies or government relations, and knowledge of international conservation policy issues (including environmental treaties).
• Proven ability to build capacity and direct initiatives in community-driven natural resource management, field research, conservation biology, conservation advocacy, and project management.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain an extensive network of high-level contacts with government officials, multi-lateral and bilateral technical and financial partners; demonstrate tact and negotiation skills.
• Experience in managing a growing portfolio and balancing growth with capacity.
• Fluent in English and French.
• Interest in conservation and committed to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Other attributes that will help you stand out

• Excellent team player and networker, with experience working in multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural groups, using influence and interpersonal skills, listening, diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships with governments, partners, donors, and all levels of staff.
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills, oral and written, particularly with explaining complex issues to diverse audiences.
• Experience of working across public, private and non-profit sectors.
• Experience of project implementation and stakeholder coordination in the Democratic Republic of Congo or Central Africa.
• Commitment to WCS’s mission and values and the ability to represent these within the organisation and to external stakeholders.

APPOINTMENT TERMS 

Location: Eastern DRC

Salary and Benefits: Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits package. The position is offered on an unaccompanied basis.

Contract length: Open-Ended

Reports to: WCS Regional Director Central Africa

HOW TO APPLY

Closing date: 19^th April

To apply please click ‘Apply Now’ above

Candidates are kindly asked to submit a CV of no more than four (04) pages and a cover letter, preferably in MS Word. All application documents (cover letter and CV) should be submitted in English.

Should you require access to information in a different format to facilitate your application please contact us via [email protected]

Please name your files as follows:

FirstName_Surname_CV_WCSDRC

FirstName_Surname_CL_WCSDRC

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