Country Director (m/f)

Description

• Reports to: Regional Director – Eastern Africa, Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean
• Country Program/Sector: Mozambique/ Eastern Africa, Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean Region
• Start date: January 2021
• Position Type: Full-Time
• Internal liaison: WCS Eastern Africa, Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean Regional Director; Eastern Africa, Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean Regional Business Manager and Regional Finance Comptroller
• Expected travel: Approximately 30%. As required within the country & region, occasionally to the US if/when needed, and to donor/technical meetings as needed/possible
• Mozambique Program Overview: WCS established a country program in Mozambique in 2012 with two primary objectives to increase the protection of Niassa National Reserve, a vast landscape in the north of the country, and improve the conservation status of its elephants through co-manage of the Reserve; and strengthen national-level protected area management by helping to improve policies and reinforcing the government’s ability to implement wildlife crime legislation through strategic engagement with government agencies in Maputo. Since 2016 WCS's Mozambican program has expanded its activities to support the government on reconciling economic development with biodiversity conservation, through the improvement of the application of the mitigation hierarchy in the country, by mapping biodiversity priorities and integrating the into the national spatial planning exercises and contributing to the achievement of international targets (identification of Key Biodiversity areas and implementation of Red Listing assessments). Since late 2018 WCS has started a Marine Program in Mozambique focused on the conservation and protection of sharks and rays, coral reefs and marine mammals
• Position Objectives: Strategic leadership of WCS’s Country Program in Mozambique. Establish the program strategy, priorities, and approaches; develop and implement projects; oversee financial and administrative support for various field projects and for the program as a whole; facilitate smooth and efficient communication with the WCS Regional and New York offices; promote and develop team member capacity
• Promote conservation in Mozambique among national government, state government, international agencies, other non-governmental organizations and private sector organizations; and influence policies that promote the long-term persistence of wildlife and wild places in Mozambique

Duties

• Establish WCS Mozambique Country Program strategy, priorities, and approaches. Implement and support existing and established projects; develop and implement new projects and country initiatives as appropriate
• In collaboration with other relevant WCS staff maintain involvement in the raising of financial support for the program. Develop proposals and participate in fund-raising activities; maintain contact with donors when requested and ensure timely reporting with funding sources. Oversee financial management of the program
• Act as liaison between WCS and the Government of Mozambique, WCS and local partners, WCS and other international agencies active in Mozambique and between WCS-Mozambique and other parts of WCS (regional offices, country programs, regional advisors, conservation solutions, etc.)
• Hire, provide training, and assist staff in their projects; promote conservation/technical capacity building efforts, including in distributed leadership and teamwork, and provide feedback to staff; review and evaluate field reports and project documents
• Develop a network with private sector organizations that are operating businesses in Mozambique and work towards creating shared value collaborations
• Coordinate and support all program initiatives while ensuring proper collection, analysis and publication of field data
• Oversee the production of reports and other required documents (e.g., workplans, implementation plans, activity reports, and financial reports) for WCS and donors on schedule
• Ensure program implementation and outcomes are monitored and regularly evaluated
• Develop training and technical assistance support for project personnel and promote an adaptive management approach at site, project and country program level
• Attend relevant national, regional and global meetings, workshops, strategy sessions, government events, etc.
• Promote wildlife conservation in Mozambican National and State government agencies, donors and other non-governmental organizations through meetings, speaking engagements, media interviews, writing, and general communications. Direct international attention to biodiversity conservation priorities in Mozambique, and influence policies that promote their long-term persistence
• Provide oversight on project and staff security, logistics and operations. Monitor the status of all field teams and ensure the maintenance and effective allocation of resources and equipment.
• Contribute to, enlarge and uphold the Society’s policies towards Equal Employment Opportunities for women, minorities, veterans, the handicapped, and other protected groups

Requisites

• Candidate will hold a Master’s degree and equivalent experience in a field related to the conservation of biological diversity in a Mozambican and regional context
• Extensive experience leading and managing teams required
• Successful experience developing, managing, and overseeing the implementation of conservation programs, preferably in Africa
• Experience in developing and implementing community development projects in Africa
• Proven fundraising experience for conservation from public and private sources, preferably in Africa
• Demonstrated capacity in financial planning and management
• A track-record of success in conservation strategy, implementation, and fundraising
• Minimum of ten years’ program management experience in conservation
• Ability to foster teamwork within the program
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work in a range of cultural contexts, and across organizational borders
• Significant and diverse fundraising experience
• Commitment to WCS’s values of respect, accountability and transparency, innovation, diversity and inclusion, collaboration, and integrity

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• In addition, please note that all candidates must also apply online via the WCS career portal at: http://www.wcs.org/about-us/careers
• WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value
• 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

How to Apply

1. Documentation

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae

2. Application

• Send your Documentation to wcsmozambique@wcs.org with the Subject line “Mozambique Country Director”