Program Manager-Kabobo Wildlife Reserve

Location:         Kalemie, DRC
Reports to:       WCS Kabobo Wildlife Reserve Director
Start Date:        ASAP
Position Type: Full-time

Background:

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

Purpose:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is seeking a dynamic, experienced and motivated Program Manager to provide technical, administrative and program implementation support to the Kabobo Wildlife Reserve in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The successful candidate will provide programmatic and coordination support to the WCS-appointed Reserve Director.
Candidates will need to demonstrate that they have the necessary experience and skills to work within a challenging, dynamic and complex program.  They will need to demonstrate that they are able to grasp the complexities of situations as they arise and adapt work accordingly.  The Program Manager will be part of a rapidly growing WCS program in the DRC, with the opportunity to interact and exchange experiences with other protected area programs and technical support staff in the region.

Responsibilities:
Working closely with the KWR Director, and liaising regularly with the Senior Management team in DRC and the Central Africa Regional Management and Technical team in Kigali, the Program Manager will:

• Support the development and implementation of a 3-year strategic plan for KWR
• Support the development of annual work plans and budgets aligned with the overall KWR strategic plan
• Coordinate and contribute to donor reporting, program development and proposal preparation as needed
• Support onboarding assistance for new projects in the KWR
• Maintain good project documentation and archives
• Provide coordination support in the implementation of improved management systems and procedures
• Provide oversight and coordination for KWR partners and consultants working across the reserve
• Provide training and mentoring to the KWR team – especially in the areas of results-based management, work planning and budgeting, report writing, learning and adaptation, and communications.
• Oversee a Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning approach to program implementation
• Ensure that internal and external KW partners are kept regularly up to date on project activities, deliverables and events.
• Provide general program support to the KWR Director as needed
• Represent WCS to external donors and stakeholders as appropriate

WCS is looking for a candidate who has:

• Either an advanced degree (master's) in the fields of natural resource management, conservation, development, social sciences or similar, or a first degree (Bachelor’s) with demonstrated and appropriate experience.
• Demonstrated on-the-ground experience (>5 years) in project management, preferably in the field of biodiversity conservation or natural resource management
• Experience working in the project/programme cycles of design, implementation, M&E, reporting, work-planning and budgeting, with knowledge of USAID or other bilateral donors as 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, with French or Swahili a distinct advantage
• Demonstrated experience working in remote areas under challenging conditions and as an effective member of a multicultural team, with experience working in Central Africa or DRC as an advantage
• Energetic, flexible, adaptable, creative and ambitious, with a drive to get things done
• Interest in conservation and commitment to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience, should apply through the application tab by December 1, 2023.

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.

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