WWF, Program Manager, Salonga Program, Democratic Republic of Congo

Position title: Program Manager, Salonga Program, Democratic Republic of Congo
Report to: Director of Conservation, WWF DRC
Supervises: WWF project staff and partners as designated
Location: Salonga landscape (specific location to be determined, Democratic Republic of Congo)


WWF seeks a Program Manager with expertise in broad-scale/ landscape conservation management and protected area management to direct its Salonga landscape program to provide overall coordination and leadership across the landscape, working closely with partners inside and outside of the park to effect real conservation results. The position will oversee the implementation of WWF’s Salonga program with senior scientific and conservation staff in the program, supervises project staff, and collaborate with partners to advance landscape objectives. The position will be based in the Salonga landscape in the DRC with frequent travel.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provides strategic and technical leadership to achieve conservation results, including overall landscape vision; partnership for protected area management (management plan development, implementation, and adaptive management); community-based natural resource management; institutional strengthening and training; policies and legislation; regional networking; and project monitoring.
• Project oversight and coordination: Plans, directs and oversees project activities in accordance with the project description, work plan, budget and contractual agreements. Develops work plans and budgets for approval by WWF, project partners, the project steering committee, and other participating agencies. Mobilizes and coordinates with government and non-government partners, donors, and other stakeholders in the landscape to work towards a common vision on park and landscape management. Oversees program planning to strengthen progress towards objectives (e.g., develop partnership structures for livelihood/health activities, strengthen park management). Organizes regular meetings of Salonga landscape consortium.
• Project implementation: Manages the project(s) and project team using a participatory, adaptive management approach. Ensures that management systems are established, and oversees the administration of the program/projects). Supervises activities. With support from WWF, ensures that project(s) are in compliance with donor regulations. Illustrative responsibilities include:
• Coordinate inclusive land use planning activities
• Use field experience to inform policy advocacy at local and national levels
• Promote strong communication with key stakeholders from local to global scale
• Support capacity building and institutional strengthening of local partners, for land use planning and wildlife monitoring/law enforcement
• Oversee support to ICCN
• Coordinate private sector (forest concession) engagement with WWF Forest Program
• Explore sustainable finance mechanisms
• Administration/Financial management: With the direct support of the manager of finance and administration, ensures development of project budgets for approval, technical and financial reporting, and monitoring of expenditures against budgets. Ensures establishment of financial management systems for the project(s) to adequately meet financial management needs and donor regulations and policies. With support of the network and others, oversees and guides fundraising efforts, ensuring preparation of proposals and engagement of donors.

Profile:

Required Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in an appropriate field (conservation / environment / natural resource or park management; forest / terrestrial ecology)
• A minimum of 10 years of experience working in conservation or development organizations, preferably in a similar biome, however, applicants with project management experience in Africa or elsewhere are encouraged to apply.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong working knowledge of park management and what it takes to effectively manage a large-scale park. Understanding of forest and wildlife ecology, and natural resource management principles is important.
• Depth and breadth of knowledge of community-based natural resource management and rural livelihood issues.
• Strong administrative and financial management skills and excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent people and project management skills to handle complex, multi-faceted projects, negotiate, and resolve conflicts.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English and French.
• Experience working with government officials and donors.
• Ability to live and work in remote and difficult conditions.
• Adheres to WWF’s values, which are: Passionate & Optimistic, Challenging & Inspiring, Credible & Accountable, Persevering & Delivering Results.

Duration of the contract is 2 years with possibility of extension.

If interested, please send your application letter with a CV stating your availability to the Human Resources Manager: E-mail: recrutement_wwfrdc@wwf.panda.org
Mail: 14, avenue Sergent Moke, Concession Safricas, Quartier Socimat, Kinshasa / Ngaliema, DR Congo

Deadline for applications : 13 August 2011