Project Director, Buffer Zone Project – Congo Country Program

The Wildlife Conservation Society currently seeks candidates for the position of Project Director for the Nouabalé-Ndoki Buffer Zone Project. The buffer zone includes 1.3 million hectares of logging concessions surrounding the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP). The logged forests are managed for timber and wildlife, and support healthy populations of large mammals like lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, and forest elephants. Due to its biological richness, the buffer zone forms part of the Sangha Tri National protected area network (with Cameroon and Central African Republic), and also forms the center of the WCS Ndoki-Likouala Landscape, linking the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park with the Lac Télé Community Reserve (LTCR) to the east. In addition to its ecological integrity, the area is important for the forest and game resources that it provides for local communities.

The Buffer Zone Project is a partnership between WCS, the government of Congo (Ministry of Water and Forests - MEF) and the Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB) logging company to manage wildlife in 3 logging concessions in the periphery of the national park. The project employs approximately 70 permanent and temporary workers, and has an annual budget of $550,000 - 750,000. Project activities focus on law enforcement, environmental education and community outreach, ecological and socio-economic research and monitoring and promoting alternatives to hunting as a source of protein and revenue. The project plays the principle role in establishing and maintaining wildlife management systems through the delimitation of hunting zones, management of controlled hunts, and establishment of community resource management committees. The project also significantly influences forestry practices through its collaboration with CIB.

Education and Skills:
• Masters degree, preferably in a conservation-related field (PhD considered a plus);
• Written and spoken fluency in French and English;
• At least three years of experience in protected area/project management, preferably in Africa. An emphasis on law enforcement or anti-poaching is desirable
• Experience working with local communities and some knowledge of forestry is advantageous;
• Strong organizational and proven managerial skills;
• Ability to work in difficult and politically challenging conditions.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to collaborate with Congolese counterparts
• Ability to develop workplans and budgets
• Proven ability in reporting and proposal writing
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as strong analytical skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, an ability to work well with a wide variety of people in a team setting, ability to negotiate with government and private sector, and, ideally, a sense of humor.

Interested candidates should send a CV and a cover letter explaining:
Why the candidate feels biodiversity conservation is important in today’s global context;
Why conservation is important for local communities;
Why the candidate wants to be involved in these issues and what they believe will be their contribution if hired.

More / LessHow to apply

These documents and or requests for detailed terms of reference should be sent to Paul Telfer (ptelfer@wcs.org), with copies to Carolyn Gibson (cgibson@wcs.org) and Vince Smith (vsmith1@wcs.org). Applications will be reviewed as they are received; and the position filled as soon as possible.