Project Technical Coordinator – WCS Mozambique Program

Description

• WCS established a program in Mozambique in 2012 and its primary objectives are: i) increase the protection of Niassa National Reserve and improve the conservation status of its elephants through co-manage of the Reserve; ii) 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; iii) reconcile economic development with biodiversity conservation; iv) support conservation of key marine species and their habitats, contributing to climate resilience and the livelihoods of the coastal communities depending on services provided by coastal and marine ecosystems
• WCS has signed several agreements with the Government of Mozambique: i) an agreement with Administração Nacional para Áreas de Conservação (ANAC) to co-manage Niassa Special Reserve for a period of 20 years; ii) a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Land and Environment to support the conservation, protection and sustainable management of Mozambique's biodiversity, including priority species, ecosystems and the services they provide, contributing to improving the livelihoods of local communities and reconciling sustainable economic development with biodiversity conservation; iii) a MoU with the Ministry of Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries to support the conservation, protection and sustainable management of marine biodiversity
• Few African countries currently have spatial data on biodiversity to enable them to make informed decisions and policies on land use planning and biodiversity protection in their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), a requirement for parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is the lead implementing agency of the SBAPP Regional Project in four Southern African countries (South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Malawi), which aims to develop and/or enhance national spatial biodiversity assessments, prioritization and planning (SBAPP) processes and products in order to strengthen the national knowledge base on biodiversity; and ensure this knowledge informs land use planning and decision making, assists with the development of environmental policy and strategies, and provides a basis for future biodiversity monitoring
• All four countries have a substantial number of shared species and ecosystem types across their borders, making regional cooperation vital for mapping and assessment processes. The project started in July 2022, ends in June 2027 and is funded by donors the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM). In Mozambique, the work is being undertaken by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA) to provide technical assistance and implement activities related to spatial biodiversity assessment. MTA has assigned the National Directorate of Environment (DINAB) as the focal institution for this project. WCS’s Mozambican Program has established a joint team with DINAB for project implementation. In addition, WCS has been working over the past few years on SBAPP related activities within Mozambique, including the development of a national ecosystem map with partners, assessment of species threatened status, and identification of KBAs, which will be important corner stones of this project. In this context, WCS is now seeking a full-time Project Technical Coordinator to lead implementation of the SBAPP project in Mozambique
• Job Summary: Under the supervision of the Country Director and the Mozambican Marine Program Director, the Project Technical Coordinator has the responsibility for the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the project activities. The Project Technical Coordinator must guarantee compliance with the full proposal document, associated annexes, financial proposal and workplan, as well as with the donors’ requirements. The holder of this position will manage the internal project team, guaranteeing full coordination with the National Directorate of Environment, other national entities, Provincial and District authorities and other conservation partners. The Project Technical Coordinator will also make sure the national project’s advisory committee meets annually and is aware of project’s progress. This position will be based in Maputo. Trips to other areas of the country are expected
• Reports to: Country Director; Marine Program Director
• Country Program/Sector: Mozambique, Eastern Africa and Southern Africa, Madagascar & Western Indian Ocean Region (EAMWIO)
• Internal liaison: WCS Mozambique Marine Program Director, WCS Mozambique Financial Manager, Projects Assistants, Administrative and Financial Assistant
• Expected travel: Approximately 25% as required within Maputo and other regions of the country when necessary

Duties

• Coordination and supervision of project activities according to the agreed workplan and budget Technical and financial planning of activities in collaboration with WCS Marine Program Director, team members and external partners in line with annual work plans
• Coordinate workplans with subcontractors, liaising with them regularly and overseeing the implementation of their activities and development of agreed outputs/deliverables
• Organisation of regular meetings and calls between key WCS team members and partners to discuss project implementation planning and any other needs
• Establishment of the project’s national Advisory Committee (AC), organisation of its annual meetings and maintain a regular flow of information with the AC members
• Supervision of activities and field visits and resolve issues as they arise Technical and financial monitoring of implemented activities and adoption of corrective action as needed to ensure adherence to workplan and budget
• Support to logistical arrangements for smooth implementation of activities including mission planning for staff, and organization of visits of partners, Government and donors
• Close communication and collaboration with supervisors of staff engaged in project activities (Mozambican Marine Program Director, Country Director, Financial Manager, etc.) to ensure smooth and coordinated work planning
• Reporting to the Supervisors of any problems encountered so as to agree on solutions

Coordination of reporting for project activities

• Coordination and submission of timely progress (semi-annual) and annual technical and financial reporting, as well as final reporting to meet donor requirements
• Development of updated workplans
• Coordination of quarterly internal technical and financial reviews to measure financial progress and achievement of required milestones
• Support the financial manager on the auditing process that will be carried out to develop audit reports

Contribution to communications activities and presentation of project

• Work with DINAB and WCS’s communication manager to develop a communication and outreach strategy to increase awareness of the project, ensuring its dissemination in relevant media according to the donor requirements
• Preparation, in consultation with country program and donors, of content for social media or other forms of communications and visibility
• Coordinate external communications for outreach and capacity-building with teams and partners, including organisation of webinars, participation in public events and other online and physical outreach and engagement with a range of government, industry, civil society stakeholders and local conservation partners with projects in the region
• Engage and coordinate with other organizations and projects, working on similar initiatives, where such liaison will contribute to the achievement of project objectives
• Coordinate with SIBMOZ (sibmoz.gov.mz) data managers to feed it with relevant project information
• As planned and necessary, participate in international, regional and national workshops, seminars and meetings to represent the project

Compliance Management

• Work with country financial manager and marine program director to ensure and track full compliance with WCS’s and donor requirements, (financial, administrative, procurement, intellectual property, publications, branding, etc.) according to the grant agreement and implementation manuals in the accomplishment of the project’s tasks
• Work with country financial manager to perform grant data analysis on a monthly basis (budget to actuals variance reports, expenses & revenue, remaining balances) and share it, the Marine Program Director, the Budget Manager, and the Country Director
• Support the Finance team to ensure that financial reports are in line with donor templates and requirements and delivered within schedule
• Work with WCS’s HR and admin staff to coordinate the procurement process for all subcontractors according to WCS and donor requirements
• Work with country financial manager and marine program director to review all sub- contracts, ensuring its compliance, including budget/contract monitoring and capacity building efforts to sub grantees/contractors, to ensure highest standards of financial integrity and technical compliance are followed
• Other:
• Represent WCS in a fit and appropriate manner
• Any other relevant task requested by the Supervisors

Requisites

• The successful candidate must be experienced in project management, with focus on Key Biodiversity Areas and Red List Assessments. She/He should have a leading profile, actively liaising with the team and partners, and have excellent written and oral communication skills in Portuguese and English. Must be able to actively plan activities in advance, well organized, self- motivated, autonomous, dynamic, resourceful, methodical, effective and efficient at coordinating multiple resources to get things done, with strong attention to detail; must be able to work on multiple tasks at multiple levels and switch between them; must have background and excellent capacity in foreseeing and planning around obstacles. The successful candidate should have:
• Minimum of a Master degree in Biology, Ecology, Forestry, Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences, or other equivalent subject
• Proven experience in implementing Key Biodiversity Areas and Red List assessment projects in Mozambique (at least 5 years)
• Proven management skills, including budget and time management, solution-oriented with strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Highly organized, planning-oriented, fast learner, and willingness to continuous learning.
• Proven excellent inter-personal and communication skills, mature and capable of building efficient and effective communication with different parties, i.e. fellow co-workers, supervisors, senior & program manager(s), subcontractors, auditors, conservation partners, government partners, etc.
• Good interpersonal and team working skills, showing the ability to understand the team’s needs and Her/His role on supporting the team to achieve the institutional objectives
• High motivation and skills to create capacity and to share knowledge with co-workers and partners
• Proven history of engaging with government during project implementation in Mozambique
• Ability to work consistently, with energy and positivist and constructive attitudes
• Strong sense of responsibility, ability to perform effectively under time pressure, to define priorities and to meet deadlines
• Solid computer skills with respect to e-communication and MS Office Tools or equivalent
• A very high level of integrity, honesty and responsibility
• Ability to travel regularly
• Excellent, fluent spoken and written Portuguese and English

Notes

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
• Indicate the source of this job post: emprego.co.mz
• 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 “Project Technical Coordinator – WCS Mozambique Program”