Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Manager 278 views0 applications

About Us

Space for Giants is an international conservation organisation that protects Africa’s remaining natural ecosystems and the large wild animals they contain, while bringing major social and economic value to local communities and national governments. We have three thematic pillars of work to achieve our mission which are: 1) The protection and management of natural ecosystems and associated value creation for local citizens; 2) Combating the illegal wildlife trade; and 3) Promoting Human-Wildlife Coexistence. We pride ourselves on our highly collaborative approach with national governments, recognising the importance of being relevant to elected leaders and their constituents, striving to ensure that our conservation work is aligned with their priorities. Grounded in world class science, we bring high quality technical expertise and experience to inform and deliver our conservation programmes, wherever we work.

Role Summary

The Space for Giants Conservation Department supports protected area and species management in a diverse range of programmes including Human Wildlife Coexistence, Protected Area Management, Conservation Investment, Wildlife Law and Justice and Conservation Monitoring and Evaluation. With a proven track record of conservation management experience, the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve (PUWR) SFG Project Manager will support key elements of conservation management of Pian Upe Wildlife reserve including reserve administration, recruitment, programmatic delivery (law enforcement, community collaboration, biodiversity monitoring, carbon interventions etc.). The Project Manager will report directly at protected area-level to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Chief Warden for planning and implementation of the day-to-day activities and to the SFG Managing Director of Conservation on matters of finance and progress of implementation of the Partnership Agreement between UWA, SFG, Karimojong Overland Safaris (KOS), District Local Governments (DLGs) and Pian Upe Community Wildlife Association (PUCWA).

Job Description

Performance Criteria

The Project Manager is expected to work within the arrangement of the Collaborative Management agreement between UWA, KOS, SFG, DLGs and PUCWA. In doing so, the Project Manager will be part of the PA management Committee that will oversee and plan for activity implementation. In particular, the Project Manager will do the following:

1. Protected Area Management

• Supports and participate in the development, review and implementation of the PUWR 5 year Business Plan and associated budget;
• Support and facilitate day to day operations of PUWR in consultation with the UWA Senior Warden in-Charge PUWR (including but not limited to law enforcement operations, community outreach and collaboration, biodiversity monitoring, rangeland management, tourism, Human Resource management, fleet management and governance.);
• Ensure delivery of PUWR activities are compliant and delivered in line with the co-management agreement terms and conditions;
• Participate in planning and recruitment of skilled and unskilled individuals in line with the proposed PUWR Organogram;
• Participate, represent SFG and present programme implementation reports at PUWR Management Board meetings;
• Develop and maintain close working relationships with stakeholders involved in the management of PUWR (e.g. UWA, PUCWA, DLGs, KOS, private sector partners etc.), stakeholders capable of supporting the delivery of programmatic areas (e.g. institutional and governmental funders) etc.;
• Ensure adherence to procurement procedures (tenders, contracts, etc.) to ensure that all reserve activities/purchases etc. are compliant with organisational policies;
• Support and facilitate infrastructure development projects (including their maintenance schedules) in line with the General Management Plan (GMP) and Business Plan;
• Participate in meetings of the PA management committee that are organized by UWA for implementation of PUWR GMP and Business Plan. ;
• Support Capacity building for PUWR staff to ensure skill enhancement of all relevant departments (this includes ensuring adequate refresher training for law enforcement staff);
• Provide accurate and meaningful reports & status updates on programmatic delivery, risk management and contingency planning as necessary;

2. Financial Management

• Oversee the budget for SFG in respect to PUWR planned activities to ensure expenditure in line with approved annual work plans (including but not limited to reporting on budget vs actual, budgetary adjustments, cashflow position etc.);
• Work with and in support of the SFG Managing Director of Conservation to ensure that all SFG projects in PUWR are being managed and delivered in compliance with funding contracts, commitments and delivery terms;

3. Impact Measurement

• Participate and support the development of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework within PUWR as it pertains to impact metrics, threats, indicators etc.;
• Support UWA and SFG’s Communications Departments to report on project impact to PUWR network of supporters and partners.

4. Fundraising

• Assist with grant writing applications as well as supporting institutional and private grant reporting requirements;
• Development of concept notes, proposals, presentations, etc. for use in reporting and fundraising;

5. Strategy

• Provide inputs to UWA and the SFG Managing Director of Conservation to refine the PUWR business plan as well as associated programmatic strategies and PUWR management plans;

Organizational Governance

1. Finance

• Provide input into the Departmental Budgets on a yearly basis

2. Risk Management

• Liaise with the Chief Warden and SFG Managing Director of Conservation to identify risks in project delivery and possible mitigation efforts that could be taken.

3. Impact Measurement and Management

• Record and Report on the Impact each Programme is having based on objectives vs. outcome vs. deliverables and targets to be achieved per Programme
• Record and Report on loss opportunities and potential reasons for the same
• Ensure adherence to Impact measurement protocols & Standard Operating Procedures for each Programme

4. Regulatory and Compliance

• Record and report to UWA and SFG any regulatory or compliance deviations or risks per programme

Stakeholder Management

1. Strategic Relationships

Support UWA and the SFG Managing Director of Conservation in maintaining relationships between:

• Internal stakeholders: Employees, Consultants, interns and volunteers and
• External stakeholders: Governments, Partner organizations, Donors, Vendors and associated government points of contact

Performance Management

1. Capacity Building

• Identify SFG existing and potential staff requirements
• Participate in identifying existing and potential UWA staff requirements and capacity development gaps and strengths
• Oversee development and upskilling of direct and in-direct reporting

2. Performance Management

• Conduct the Annual Performance Management Review of SFG projects and submit Reports to UWA and SFG
• Conduct the SFG Cultural Contract renewal process with direct Reports and Interns
• Record, own and direct reports for leave, timesheets and travel requirements

1. SFG Staff Engagement

• Support the Development and Conduct a yearly Employee engagement survey at PUWR
• Provide assistance and collaborate professionally with interns/scholars as required
• Engage with team members collaboratively to achieve the objectives of the PUWR
• Overseeing adherence to the internal SFG Culture Contract

1. Direct Reports

• Chief Warden Pian Upe Conservation Area

Special Projects

1. SFG ambassador

• Represent the SFG Managing Director of Conservation when requested to do so at meetings, conferences and events as relevant;
• Represent SFG professionally and uphold the company’s values at any external event or with any external parties
• Provide input as per special assignments requested by SFG Managing Director of Conservation as the need arises

Culture and Values

1. Drive the Organizational Culture to internal and external Stakeholders

2. Conduct oneself and encourage team behavior to create awareness and reinforce Organizational Vision, Values and the Culture Contract

Any other relevant tasks related to the role as directed by the Supervisor.

Person Specification

Key Skills: Experienced in Project management and people management, efficient, hard-working, able to multitask, should require limited supervision, self-driven, innovative and organized.

Uphold the cultural values and code of conduct of Space for Giants and UWA: Passion, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability, Innovation, teamwork, professionalism, commitment to conservation and customer care and service delivery.

Academic qualifications and personal specifications

• Master’s degree in conservation, natural resource management, programme management, planning, environmental, or in relevant fields
• Postgraduate qualification in business management, project planning and implementation is an added advantage

Experience, Knowledge & Competencies

• At least five years of project management within the conservation sector or Natural Resource Management (demonstrated experience managing a protected area, reserve, park, wilderness area)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire and mentor a team
• Excellent project and systems management skills
• Proven experience in working with African Governments and other Stakeholders within the conservation space.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to identify trends and patterns of information.
• Experience writing high quality descriptive reports
• Exceptional organizational skills, ability to facilitate communication between different locations and ability work independently to meet deadlines
• Independent thinker and showing initiative in developing innovative approaches
• Exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills, ability to facilitate communication between different locations and ability work independently to meet deadlines
• Working knowledge of various types of conservation technology (including but not limited to SMART, Earthranger, GIS, LoRa etc.);
• Knowledge of law enforcement frameworks and community outreach experience
• Valid driving license

Additional Information

• Contract: Permanent-Full Time
• Reporting to: SFG Managing Director of Conservation & Chief Warden responsible for Pian Upe Conservation Area
• Direct Reports: Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Staff
• Hours: 40 hrs per week but based in PUWR
• This is a full-time position. You may be required to work long hours beyond the traditional 8:00am to 5:00pm as and when submission deadlines require. Additional work hours may be required on occasion so as to fulfil responsibilities.
• You must be willing to work in variable conditions,-willingness to spend significant time in remote locations
• The position will start immediately when the successful applicant has been selected and is available to take up the position.