Infrastructure Manager_North Cameroon

Supervisor : Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué (BN-B) Landscape Director

Location: Garoua (North, Cameroon)

Job type: Full time and open to all nationalities

Deadline: ASAP

Internal Collaboration: Collaboration with the WCS Paysage Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué (PBN-B) program departments, the WCS Cameroon national office team (Yaoundé) and the WCS regional team in Kigali (Rwanda).

Expected travel: Regular trips in and around Faro, Bénoué and Bouba-Ndjidda national parks in the North Cameroon region, to Sena Oura national park in Chad and occasionally to Yaoundé.

Background

WCS’s mission is to preserve the world’s wildlife and wild places through science, conservation, education and by encouraging people to respect nature.

Wildlife Conservation Society works to safeguard wildlife and natural habitats through a rigorous scientific approach, an international environmental education program and the management of the world’s largest network of urban wildlife parks. These activities contribute to changing people’s attitudes towards nature, and aim to promote viable and sustainable interaction between people and wildlife on a local and global scale. WCS is committed to this work because we believe it is essential to the integrity of life on earth. WCS has been present in Cameroon since 1988, and since then has been working with the government of Cameroon to create several protected areas, training numerous conservationist managers, and doing so in an integrated landscape approach that brings together the key players to protect biodiversity sustainably. The WCS Cameroon program is currently working on three main landscapes: the Takamanda-Mone, Mbam & Djerem and Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué (PBN-B) landscapes. The latter includes the Bénoué National Park (PNB) Technical Operational Unit (UTO) and the Bouba Ndjidda National Park (PNBN) UTO. The UTOs encompass national parks and Zones d’Intérêts Cynégétiques (ZICs). The PBN-B is also interconnected with the Sena Oura National Park (PNSO) in Chad, via the binational project, BSB Yamoussa, supervised by COMIFAC, thanks to funding from German cooperation (KfW).

In the WCS Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué Landscape (BN-B Landscape), WCS implements activities that support the Cameroon government through the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF) for conservation, stability and sustainable development in and around the PBN-B. The vision of the PBN-B program is to « Safeguard the integrity of the Sudano-Sahelian savannah ecosystem of the Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué landscape, as well as its ecological connections, its emblematic wildlife species and maintain a sustainable balance for the well-being of communities ». In this context, WCS has undertaken to set up an infrastructure department responsible for the design, development and implementation of an infrastructure program to ensure the proper management of the PBN-B protected areas: engineering structures, mainly of the invert type, creation and maintenance of dirt roads and airstrips, and construction of staff accommodation bases. It is also developing a program of socio-economic infrastructure construction for the benefit of local populations living near the PBN-B: schools, dispensaries, health centers, grain storage warehouses, boreholes, solar installations, etc. These projects are mainly carried out under contract. These projects are mainly carried out on a contract basis or by local companies, with priority given to the HIMO approach for the benefit of local populations. The Infrastructure Department is also responsible for the management and maintenance of existing facilities and works with the Logistics Department to oversee the supply of materials and equipment required for these projects. The success of the Infrastructure Department’s objectives is measured in terms of compliance with deadlines, cost forecasts and criteria of qualitative excellence in the work carried out. To carry out this Infrastructure Service, WCS is looking for a Manager based in the project’s Garoua intervention zone, with frequent visits to the protected areas concerned by the BN-B Landscape . The success of this position is defined by a strong technical and operational command of the standards and norms in force, but also by an increased and shared understanding of and commitment to the values of the mission and objectives of the PBN-B, and a good knowledge of its target audiences (including the general public, direct and final beneficiaries of the projects, donors and other partners present at territorial and national level).

Responsibilities:

Development and implementation of the PBN-B Infrastructure Service strategy:

• Develop and implement the Infrastructure Department’s strategy in line with BN-B Lanscape ‘s conservation strategy (over 5 years) – Identify and define the infrastructure to be built
• Develop and implement the Infrastructure Department’s annual work plan
• Monitor and evaluate the Infrastructure Department’s strategy and annual work plan in collaboration with the PBN-B Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning team.

Project management:

• Manage the Infrastructure Department’s equipment and materials in coordination with the team and the Logistics Department.
• Implement effective time and budget management for each project
• Produce or coordinate the development of architectural plans for projects in collaboration with various stakeholders.
• Develop effective communication with stakeholders, sponsors and managers
• Ensure effective monitoring of work progress while identifying and proposing effective solutions
• Oversee the production of periodic activity reports for the Infrastructure Department
• Ensure quality control and compliance with safety standards
• Participate in monthly and quarterly planning for BN-B landscape
• Prepare Terms of Reference (TOR) and budget forecasts for the Infrastructure Department’s activities and contribute to enriching the TORs of other relevant departments to ensure the Infrastructure Department’s involvement in BN-B landscape ‘s cross-functional objectives.

Manage the human and material resources of the PBN-B Infrastructure Department:

• Manage the Infrastructure Department’s equipment and materials with the Logistics Department
• Supervise, coordinate and monitor the work and tasks of the Infrastructure Department’s deputy manager and infrastructure managers (engineers), works supervisors and their assistants, as well as site managers and runway work supervisors (approx. 10 permanent employees – and approx. 300 temporary/seasonal employees)
• Definition of roles and responsibilities within the project team
• Elaborate and implement an action plan for the Infrastructure Department’s capacity building: recruitment, training and supervision of personnel.
• Have a strong sense of purpose/responsibility within the team
• Measure department performance and hold others to account for achieving agreed targets and standards
• Foster learning and a sense of common purpose in diverse teams, using WCS opportunities to develop others

Development, updating and application of PBN-B Infrastructure Service standards:

• Under the supervision of the WCS Regional Infrastructure and Logistics Department and in relation to the requirements of WCS partners, define and implement methods and protocols for infrastructure construction and maintenance adapted to current standards and norms:
• Design infrastructure plans in collaboration with beneficiaries and in compliance with current standards and legislation.
• Work with government agencies to ensure compliance with construction standards
• Ensure compliance with environmental standards of Cameroon, donors and BN-B landscape protected areas.
• Ensure compliance with (high) health and safety management standards for construction projects and infrastructure management.
• Prepare and provide technical advice during tender processes for service providers to ensure compliance with applicable standards and legislation.

Development, updating and application of PBN-B Infrastructure Service standards:

• Under the supervision of the WCS Regional Infrastructure and Logistics Department and in relation to the requirements of WCS partners, define and implement methods and protocols for infrastructure construction and maintenance adapted to current standards and norms:
• Design infrastructure plans in collaboration with beneficiaries and in compliance with current standards and legislation.
• Work with government agencies to ensure compliance with construction standards
• Ensure compliance with environmental standards of Cameroon, donors and PBN-B protected areas.
• Ensure compliance with (high) health and safety management standards for construction projects and infrastructure management.
• Prepare and provide technical advice during tender processes for service providers to ensure compliance with applicable standards and legislation.
• Controlling the environmental impact of infrastructure projects in the BN-B landscape by integrating responsible and sustainable management of BN-B Landscape infrastructures (housing, offices, garages, runways, operational and living bases).
• Propose and integrate minimum standards for users of infrastructure services.

Expected results:

• Infrastructure construction and maintenance methods and standards are developed, validated and implemented
• The Infrastructure Service strategy within BN-B Landscape is developed, validated and implemented.
• Infrastructure Service activity reports are produced in accordance with WCS and partner requirements.
• The construction and maintenance of BN-B Landscape infrastructures is effective and corresponds to the requirements of WCS and its partners.
• The management and use of the equipment and materials of the BN-B landscape ‘s Infrastructure Service respects a responsible and sustainable approach.
• The management of BN-B Landscape protected areas is improved thanks to the infrastructures built

.Qualifications :

• Engineering degree in civil engineering or construction management
• At least 5 years’ experience in construction, including in a complex logistics environment in rural Africa
• Excellent command of building codes and architectural design
• Creativity in project design and solutions orientation
• Project management skills
• Good knowledge of solar electricity, domestic electricity and plumbing
• Experience of working and managing complex logistics in remote field conditions
• Good knowledge of construction software (Autocad, Sketchup) and office tools (Pack office, MS Project)
• Excellent team management and project management skills (task and activity planning, forecast budgeting, activity reporting)
• Ability to work in a multicultural context and on a remote site with basic amenities
• Fluency in French required, English and Fulfulde desirable

How to apply

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience, should apply through the application link by August 12, 2024, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis .

WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.