PROJECT LEADER AT FRANKFURT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY SELOUS GAME RESERVE, TANZANIA

An exciting opportunity exists for an exceptional conservation practitioner with proven experience in protected area management and resource protection to lead the Frankfurt Zoological Society’s Selous Conservation Project in the Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania. 

Background:

Frankfurt Zoological Society

Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) conserves wildlife and ecosystems focusing on protected areas and outstanding wild places. We aim to work with and for people to secure biodiversity in key ecosystems worldwide as the basis for all life and the livelihoods of present and future generations. FZS maintains long-term conservation programmes in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe. The Africa Programme is the Society’s largest and oldest and works with partners in five focal countries: Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Africa Regional Office is situated in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. For more information on the Society and our projects, please visit our website at www.fzs.org.

Selous Game Reserve

The Selous Game Reserve (SGR) is Africa’s largest protected area, and internationally recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Covering approximately 50,000 km², it is one of the largest remaining wilderness areas on the continent, and in the past has been home to approximately 40% of Tanzania’s total elephant population, a population that has been steadily declining since the 1970’s due to heavy poaching pressure. Other threats such as Uranium mining, hydropower damming and livestock encroachment are also endangering the outstanding values of the Selous Game Reserve.

In 2012 FZS restarted its work in the SGR in partnership with Tanzania’s Wildlife Division (WD) to support reserve management, resource protection and ecological threat monitoring. Overall we seek to identify long-term solutions to mitigate the growing threats to SGR, and secure the integrity of its ecosystem, both now, and in the future.

The Position:

Name of the Position

Project Leader (PL), Selous Game Reserve

Position in the organisation

The PL will manage a small team of project employees, and will report to the FZS Africa Director.

Purpose of the job

The PL is responsible for assisting the WD in improving the monitoring and protection of the Selous Game Reserve. This will be achieved through effective project management and by building the capacity of key partners. In particular, the PL will work closely with the Wildlife Division’s SGR Management (WD) and Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), as well as all other key stakeholders and donors to ensure the successful implementation of the project.

Major Responsibilities:

Reserve Management

·         Help to implement the newly developed security plan

·         Support the development and implementation of an Ecological and Threat Monitoring Programme for the SGR.

·         Support the review, update and implementation of the SGR General Management Plan, Business and Finance Plan, and other management plans.

·         Provide support for training & implementation of Spatial Monitoring Reporting Tool (SMART).

Partner relations

·         Build trust and effective relationships with in-country partners, stakeholders and donors to ensure that project objectives are met and long-term sustainability is built

·         Ensure effective information sharing with the Wildlife Division’s Selous Project Manager on FZS activities through regular meetings/communications

·         Advise the SGR Project Manager and relevant Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) staff on all matters pertaining to the project with a specific focus on resource protection and ecological and threat monitoring

Staffing

·         Recruit and manage personnel for FZS Law Enforcement and Anti-poaching Mobile Training Unit

·         Recruit and contract project personnel as necessary

·         Manage recruited consultants and all assigned FZS staff working in the SGR

Finance and administration

·         Ensure that FZS has all legal agreements and permits in place to operate in SGR over the next 10 years

·         Manage all project procurement

·         Ensure action plans and budgets are developed and implemented as appropriate

·         Raise funds through submitting proposals to external funding bodies

·         Oversee finances and administrative systems, including planning and reporting, as per FZS, donor and partner requirements

·         Being responsible for the FZS SGR budget

·         Develop yearly work plans and budgets according to the project logframe for FZS core funds, private donors and governmental third party funds

The Africa Director may assign additional responsibilities during the course of the contract, as deemed necessary for achieving the project outcomes.

Outputs

·         Outcomes and activities as per project logframe. In particular,

o   All FZS resource protection, monitoring and management activities completed as per SGR Security Plan and FZS Work plan

o   Submission of relevant funding proposals to ensure sufficient financing of project activities

o   SGR Mobile Law Enforcement and Training Unit established and operational

o   Ecological and Threat Monitoring Framework completed and implemented

·         Strategy effectiveness assessment: overall project strategy developed, priorities reviewed and innovative approaches considered

·         Partnerships with WD and other key stakeholders maintained and productive, partners involved as appropriate in project management

·         Dissemination of project results and lessons learnt nationally, internationally and within FZS

·         Project legal status acquired and maintained, with all necessary legal agreements and permits in place

·         FZS a recognised entity with a positive reputation as a conservation partner within both project area and country

·         Excellent and motivated project staff recruited, developed and retained

·         Staff performance managed so that they carry out their duties to high standards, efficiently and as a team

·         Staff aware of FZS vision, mission, goals and the importance of conservation and the environment

·         Expenditure within agreed budgets and according to FZS Financial Policies and Procedures

·         Project plans and reports submitted as per FZS, donor and partner requirements

·         Adequate funds obtained for additional small scale activities

·         Vehicles, infrastructure and equipment well maintained

·         General maintenance of park infrastructure improved

·         Visibility and knowledge of Selous improved on national and international level

·         HQ and ARO supported in relevant public relations activities

Requirements:

The Selous Conservation Project PL will have demonstrated project management skills and experiences with a strong background in resource protection and ecological and threat monitoring.

a. Qualifications and experience – essential

·         M.Sc. degree and at least 10 years experience in a conservation or development-related field with associated research in a developing country

·         Demonstrated skills and extensive experience in field-based natural resource and wildlife protection

·         Strong experience in Ecological and Threat Monitoring

·         Fluency in English and Swahili

·         Experience managing and motivating project field staff

·         Ability and willingness to live and work in a remote area where communication is difficult

b. Qualifications and experience – desired

·         Working experience in Tanzania and/or East Africa

·         Fundraising and large third party project management experience

·         Donor funded project management experience – particularly financial management

c. Behavioural Competencies

i. Leadership, ii. Developing and motivating others iii. Teamwork, iv. Planning, organizing, and management control to oversee project implementation. v. Practical Approach, vi. Social skills

Terms of Employment:

A competitive salary will be offered, based on qualifications and experience. The full-time position will be based in Matambwe at the Wildlife Division Headquarters, Selous Game Reserve, with occasional travel to Dar-Es-Salaam and the FZS Africa Regional Office in Serengeti National Park as needed. 

Additional benefits include:

·         Basic housing

·         Medical insurance

·         30 days paid leave

An initial contract of 22 months will be offered from 1^st March 2014 until 31^st December 2015.