Reports to: WCS Regional Director, Central Africa Program
Location: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Country Program/Sector: Democratic Republic of Congo
Expected travel: Approximately 20%, including travel to field sites within DRC and donor/technical meetings outside the country.
Start date: 1 October, 2019
Position Type: Global Conservation Program – Fulltime
Democratic Republic of Congo – Program Overview:
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been supporting the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for almost 30 years in the protection of its wildlife and natural ecosystems. Working primarily with the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), our field conservation work is focused on three large landscapes in eastern DRC: Kahuzi-Biega National and surrounding Oku forests in South Kivu Province, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Ituri Province (currently government under a 10-year co-management agreement between WCS and ICCN) and the Kabobo Reserve in Tanganyika province. Collectively these landscapes span some of the considerable diversity of ecosystems found in the DRC, harbor some of the most biodiverse regions in Africa, and form the strongholds for some of DRC’s most charismatic endemic wildlife, including the Grauer’s gorilla and the Okapi. They are also pioneering a wide variety of novel forest governance and protected area management structures, involving the government, civil society and local community organizations.
WCS is seeking a dynamic and committed Country Director with a significant knowledge and experience of the region to lead our work in the DRC.
Job Summary
The Country Director is responsible for the overall implementation of WCS’s activities in DRC. This includes the development of program strategic priorities, communication and coordination with the government and other partners inside and outside the country; and recruitment and oversight of staff to implement these strategic priorities. The DRC Program is managed within WCS’s Central Africa Regional Program.
Major Responsibilities:
- Lead the WCS DRC program in consultation with the Regional Director for Central Africa and the Africa Program team based in New York.
- Act as legal representative of WCS in DRC, working in consultation with the Regional Director and with the WCS Office of General Counsel.
- Lead and manage all WCS staff and activities in DRC, including recruitment, evaluation and career development.
- Prepare and implement annual country workplans and budgets and approve project workplans and budgets.
- Ensure that all WCS activities in DRC are implemented in strict accordance with WCS Global Financial policies, and adhere to all WCS Global Policies on administration, code of conduct, human resources, and procurement.
- Ensure WCS activities in DRC are in full compliance with national laws and norms related to employment, taxes, visas, permits and government reporting obligations.
- Act as the primary representative of the DRC Program to bilateral and multi-lateral donors within DRC, the media, the Government of DRC, and other internal and external stakeholders.
- Fundraise from public and private sources within and external to the DRC in consultation with the Central Africa Regional Program, and working with the Africa Program team, Program Development and Global Resources departments in the WCS New York office.
- Collaborate with other global and cross-cutting WCS initiatives, including but not limited to the Central Africa bushmeat and Livelihoods team, and Conservation Solutions
Key qualifications
This position requires a minimum of the following:
- At least 10 years of management experience, specifically in nature conservation or natural resource management
- At least 5 years of field experience in Central or West Africa
- MSc or PhD in conservation, ecology, or related discipline preferred
- Proven fundraising experience for conservation from public and private sources
- Demonstrated capacity in the oversight of large operational budgets
- Demonstrated leadership and personnel management capacity in a multi-cultural work environment
- Demonstrated experience working with multi-lateral and bilateral donors, African state institutions, and other NGO partners.
- A track-record of success in project implementation
- Ability to work under difficult conditions and in security sensitive areas
- Strong commitment to achievement of WCS’s conservation mission.
- English and French language proficiency required
Application process:
Interested candidates, who meet the above requirements, should apply by emailing a detailed application/cover letter and CV together with the names and contact information of three references to: [email protected] . Please include “DRC Country Director” in the subject line of your email. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. If you have any queries related to this position please contact: [email protected]
Application Deadline: 15th May 2019
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. The Africa Program is the largest of WCS’s field programs, with approximately 1,100 staff in 12 country programs focused across four major regions (Central Africa, Sudano-Sahel, East and Southern Africa, and Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean).
Our MISSION is to save wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education and inspiring people to value nature. Our VISION is a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth. Our GOAL is to conserve the world’s largest wild places in 16 priority regions, home to more than 50% of the world’s biodiversity. Our VALUES are Respect, Accountability and Transparency, Innovation, Diversity and Inclusion, Collaboration, Integrity.
WCS provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. WCS does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.
More Information
- Job City Kinshasa
