Conservation Lead

Chemonics International seeks a for the anticipated USAID-funded DRC/CAR Resilient Communities and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Mbomou-Uele Region. The DRC/CAR Resilient Communities and Sustainable Livelihoods Activity aims to mitigate inter-communal conflict; building communities’ resilience in the face of persistent insecurity and economic hardship; and strengthening community engagement and development. The activity will also address the threats and drivers to biodiversity conservation to promote a foundation for peace, stability, and development in the Mbomou Uele region.

The Conservation Lead will provide leadership and technical expertise for biodiversity conservation in the Mbomou Uele region, enabling local community members to connect and adapt to security challenges and reduce conservation threats. This includes working with local partners to secure conservation and management of regional ecosystems.

Responsibilities:

• Provides technical advice on biodiversity conservation and alternative livelihood programs to chief of party, deputy chief of party, other component leads, and staff. Advises on biodiversity conservation, developing and integrating measurable conservation targets and activities into key development plans.
• Leads landscape baseline analyses and uses information gathered to design conservation strategies.
• Facilitates the integration of biodiversity considerations into sustainable livelihoods, social cohesion, and GBV resilience and prevention activities.
• Oversee the design of solicitations, subcontracts/grants.
• Supports partners’ efforts to develop sustainable economic alternatives for transhumant and sedentary populations in the region while benefiting ecological connectivity.
• Mentor government, private sector, and community counterparts on designing and implementing effective conservation measures.
• Ensures gender and social inclusion perspectives are effectively integrated into strategies and activities.
• Ensures quality control and timeliness of deliverables.

Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant environmental, sustainable rural economic development, or other another field related to biodiversity conservation
• Minimum of seven (7) to nine (9) years of experience in biodiversity conservation and community-based conservation management.
• Experience developing conservation plans, including defining measurable conservation targets, conservation objectives, and goals and their integration and alignment with existing planning frameworks.
• Experience in developing and using digital data collection, analysis, and reporting systems for conservation monitoring, and data-driven decision-making to reduce threats to biodiversity.
• Proven leadership and organizational skills in managing and coordinating large and diverse work groups.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience, including mentoring, training, and guiding staff.
• Strong managerial, administrative, and writing skills and extensive M&E experience are preferred.
• Demonstrated interpersonal, communication, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Experience on donor-funded projects in Central African countries.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and French, knowledge of local language preferred.
• Position likely based in Kinshasa or Bangui.