Regional Program Manager-Sudano Sahel

Reports To:        Regional Director, Sudano-Sahel
Direct Reports:  None
Location:            New York or another location with a WCS office
Program                Sudano Sahel Region
Position Type:    Full-time
Start Date:           March 2024
Duration:             Minimum 2 years

About WCS
The Wildlife Conservation Society is an international NGO headquartered at Bronx Zoo in New York City working to save wildlife and wild lands and to meet global challenges in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and the world’s oceans. Africa is one of WCS’s largest field engagements, with approximately 1,500 staff in 13 country programs managed through three regional programs (Central Africa, Sudano-Sahel, East Africa, Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean)

Organization Background
The Sudano-Sahel Region presents unparalleled opportunities for WCS to play a direct role in saving some of the last remaining intact wildernesses on the planet and contribute significantly to the security of people and wildlife. The savannas, forests, and wetlands of the region support key populations of endangered elephants, northern giraffes, lions, and eland. Communities also depend on the land for their livelihoods through pastoralism, agriculture, fishing, and hunting. WCS has a significant presence in the Sudano-Sahel region, with a strong conservation history and proven success in protected area management. WCS currently has conservation initiatives in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), with transboundary linkages with the Central Africa Regional Program in Cameroon. We work actively to support protected area management wildlife law enforcement, and local livelihoods, develop conservation-security partnerships, enhance anti-trafficking activities, and implement our policy and scientific programs.

Job Summary
The Regional Program Manager reports to and works under the direction of the Sudano-Sahel Regional Director and works closely with the Regional Business Manager to ensure that all activities are aligned with conservation priorities and donor requirements. The primary objective of the Regional Program Manager position is to ensure central support to the country programs in grant proposal and report development, knowledge management, and communications. This position is responsible for supporting the Sudano-Sahel Regional Director and regional team to ensure excellent coordination with the rest of WCS Global and Corporate and facilitate and support WCS’s mission in the region.

Responsibilities
Overall responsibilities:

• Provide effective coordination and operational support to the Sudano-Sahel Regional Director and team (including Regional Business and Grants Managers, country program and protected area landscapes teams) to successfully manage a growing portfolio of grants, related processes and workflow for the Sudano-Sahel region.
• Support the Sudano-Sahel Regional Director and team in the building of collaborative relationships as a support point for Sudano-Sahel programs with central WCS Global staff (including in New York and Europe), particularly on grant management, communications, fundraising and partnership management, communicating the interests and priorities of the regional program with the global program and partner departments, ensuring sound coordination, management and support to the region.
• Support the Sudano-Sahel Regional team in ensuring effective communication with donors and partners, as appropriate and requested by the in-region team.
• Support project teams to prepare on-time grant reports, proposals, and communications with donors; review these materials to ensure adherence to quality guidelines (EU, USAID, USFWS, UNESCO, KfW, WCN…) and assist in tracking and ensuring timely implementation and deliverables for project grants.
• Work closely with the country teams to coordinate and support the implementation of cross-cutting technical support to assist and build the capacity of programs and staff.
• Identify and pursue agreed fund-raising opportunities to implement the objectives and activities agreed under the regional and country strategic plans.
• Assist the Regional Director with cross-regional strategic prioritization work: facilitating implementation of program priorities, strategy, and approaches: supporting project development and ensuring implementation is tracked and monitored.
• Other duties as assigned.

Specific Tasks & Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership

• Support the Sudano-Sahel Regional Director and team in building collaborative relationships as a focal point for Sudano-Sahel programs with the wider WCS Global team
• Work with the Sudano Sahel Regional Director and the central Global Resources and Program Development to review and implement funding strategies to meet agreed funding objectives and targets.
• Communicating regional program priorities and interests to the global program and partner departments; ensuring coordination, management, and support to the region.
• Provide effective coordination and operational support to the Sudano-Sahel Director and regional team to successfully manage a growing portfolio of grants, related processes, and workflows.
• Support the regional program in developing resource development strategies which are regularly reviewed, updated, and implemented.
• Conduct research and analysis of a suitable mix of conservation donors to increase understanding of the donor environment in Sudano Sahel as well as long-term perspectives and preferences.

Project Design, Proposal Development & Contracts Management

• Lead in the identification of funding opportunities and support programmes, network, and technical staff directly or indirectly in preparation of funding proposals.
• Coordinate with the regional team, country office staff and partners for submission of innovative and high-quality proposals.
• In coordination with key staff support proposal development and awards management systems to ensure timely planning, follow up and donor reporting.
• Ensure that annual work plans and budgets for all programs and projects are developed and adhered to.
• Coordinate timely submission of reports to donors as required according to funding agreements, as required and according to agreed standards.

Communications and Engagement

• Engage to develop strong networks and connections with WCS communication and publicity teams, community and other stakeholder groups on the development and implementation of Communications and Partnership Development Strategies that can support WCS fundraising and engagement activities.
• Support regional and country program teams to continuously manage donor networking processes and liaisons.
• Develops, and participates in strategic partnership-building / fundraising approaches with government, donors, and WCS stakeholders, in coordination with the Regional Director and Country Directors, as appropriate.
• Coordination of policies and procedures with other WCS program managers.

WMinimum Requirements and Job Skills (Required):

• A bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related field, or equivalent experience, plus at least 5 years of working experience with international networks, preferably non-profit sector.
• An understanding of and commitment to conservation of wildlife and wild lands and the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
• Proven effective coordination skills, with excellent communication, organizational and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated success in working with diverse partners to achieve common objectives.
• Proven successful grants management skills, ideally with EU and other bilateral donors, including proposal and report writing, but also workflow management.
• Fluent English speaking and writing; French speaking and writing proficiency required.
• Willingness to travel in the Sudano-Sahel Region of Africa.

Additional Requirements:

• Up to 50% travel within the Sudano-Sahel Region
• Must be available early mornings to work with Eastern Africa Time Zone