Program Manager, Okapi Wildlife Reserve

Reports to: Park Director

Location: Bomassa, NNNP Park HQ, Congo

Country Program/Sector: WCS Congo Program

Start date: ASAP

Position Type: Full-time

Internal liaison: NNNP Park Director, Congo Program Technical Director, NNNP Finance & Administration Manager, NNNP Department leads and Senior Program Manager for WCS in Central Africa.

Expected travel: Local travel to field sites and sub-offices.

Organization Background:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat, and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the livelihoods that depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

Job Summary:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and motivated Program Manager to provide technical, administrative and program implementation support to a large and complex program Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) in Northern Congo. The successful candidate will work closely with the NNNP Park Director to provide programmatic support across all departments of protected area management of NNNP with a particular focus on timely project reporting and new project development for a diverse array of grants and funding sources, tracking grant implementation, project onboarding, and staff capacity building.

The Program Manager is based permanently on-site at the NNNP headquarters in Bomassa, Sangha Province.

Major Responsibilities:

• Ensure the management of a diverse portfolio of donors that includes bi-laterals, multi-laterals, foundations, and private donors in close coordination with the Country and Regional office.
• Oversee management of projects and grants including assistance with development of strategies, preparation of proposals, coordination of timely reporting and donor communications, as well as compliance with donor regulations.
• Support the Park Director in providing technical, financial, and administrative support to field staff and team leads in the development and implementation of work plans.
• With the Finance and Administration Director and Programmatic leads, identify and support staff recruitment, and identify opportunities for staff capacity building and staff mentoring.
• Facilitate internal WCS communications between field teams, the Park Management Unit, Congo country office, and Central Africa regional office.
• Provide technical assistance and oversight to ensure adherence to and awareness of WCS policies, donor regulations and government requirements in project administration.
• Work with NNNP and National Finance Director to monitor and track project progress, budgets, burning rates, and delivery according to Planning (workplan), Performance, and Monitoring plans.
• Develop and maintain NNNP knowledge management systems for project and finance teams.
• As requested by WCS leadership, represent WCS at meetings on a national and international level
• Through the Central Africa regional office maintain relationships and communications with regional delegation offices of bilateral and multi-lateral donors, and foster, where possible, the participation of existing and new partners in relevant aspects of program implementation and strategy development .

Qualifications.

• An advanced degree in the social sciences, international affairs, conservation, or another field relevant to the position’s responsibilities
• Demonstrated on-the-ground experience (>5 years) in project management in the field of biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, or similar
• Experience working in the project/programme cycles of ideation, design, work planning, budgeting, implementation, MEL (Monitoring Evaluation & Learning), and reporting, with knowledge of USAID, KfW, AFD, UNDP, UNFunds or other bilateral donors a distinct advantage.
• Experience working, coordinating and collaborating with diverse sets of stakeholders – such as local NGOs, government officials, donor representatives and the private sector
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French
• Experience in large project or program management, administration, and fundraising
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Proven ability to work effectively and flourish in a multi-cultural team
• Results-focused attitude to work
• Willingness and ability to travel to field sites
• Interest in wildlife conservation and committed to the WCS mission