Intelligence Mentor – Pendjari & W National Parks, Benin at African Parks

ABOUT AFRICAN PARKS

African Parks is a non-profit organization that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. We currently manage 19 national parks and protected areas in 11 countries covering over 14.1 million hectares in: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Since 2017, Benin Government has entered into a long-term agreement with African Parks to revitalize, rehabilitate and develop both Pendjari and W National Parks. Together, these two Parks form a significant portion of the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex, a globally significant transboundary landscape representing the largest intact wild ecosystem in West Africa.

African Parks is seeking a full-time Intelligence Mentor for Pendjari and W National Parks in Benin. This position is to be shared between the two parks and represents an exciting opportunity to work with a unique conservation organization, dedicated to protecting Africa’s wildlife and remaining wild places. We are looking for a highly organized, self-motivated and passionate individual to manage all aspects of the Intelligence in the WAP Complex. This individual will mentor our dynamic intelligence team and support the work we are carrying out to help secure the future of wildlife and the people living around the protected areas. This is a special opportunity to work with an organization that is carrying out some of the most impactful conservation work across Africa.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Intelligence Mentor is responsible for developing in accordance with African Parks SOPs and in consultation with the APN Intelligence manager an individual and linked intelligence and investigations function for W and Pendjari National parks. Expected Key Performance Areas to achieve are as follow:

• In consultation with the APN intelligence manager and park management, provide continuity and oversight for the human resource structure in place for the intelligence and investigations units in both parks;
• In consultation with the APN Intelligence manager and park management, assist each park’s J2 officer in managing the plan for integrating their intelligence unit and operations into the areas of responsibility, influence, and interest;
• In consultation with park management and APN intelligence manager, assist each park’s J2 officer to manager the intelligence software and technology plan and budget for both Pendjari and W National Parks;
• In consultation with park management and APN intelligence manager, assist each park’s J2 officer to managed a training plan for the primary training and the mentorship of the intelligence and investigations unit members for both parks;
• Assist the J2 managers in each park to coordinate and lead the hiring process for all new intelligence and investigation staff;
• Conduct basic and advanced training for investigators, analysts and intelligence managers in both parks;
• Conduct operational mentorship of the investigations units and supervise the integration of intelligence-lead operations within the law enforcement units of both parks;
• Provide input to the performance evaluations of the Unit managers, including Intel Chief, Head Analyst and Head of Legal Affairs;
• In consultation with park management and the APN intelligence manager, contribute to coordinate and oversee the integration of the individual park intelligence functions across the WAP as well as with national intelligence functions.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for someone who is passionate about conservation and wants to be part of a growing, dynamic team who is responsible for intelligence management of African Parks. Ideally, this person sees this position as an exciting opportunity to help save wildlife and wild places across the continent. Ideally, the candidate has the following or comparable qualifications:

• Military or Law Enforcement background suitably referenced
• Experience conducting and teaching human intelligence disciplines
• Experience conducting and teaching information analytics
• Experience managing an intelligence unit
• Experience conducting and teaching investigations
• Knowledge of Human Rights Management Principles desirable
• Knowledge of or able to learn intelligence analytics and geospatial software
• Knowledge of or able to learn investigations software and technology
• Experience working in Africa
• French fluency, English proficiency
• Resourceful, resilient and reliable. Able to achieve mission success working autonomously or with little support in low-resourced environment for extended periods
• Able to achieve mission success working autonomously or with little support in low-resourced environment for extended periods
• Ability to work well within a team and accept constructive criticism;
• Goal-oriented, self-motivated, creative, highly flexible and adaptable to change
• Strong willingness to and experience living in a remote location
• Adhesion to African Parks values.

COMPENSATION

• Commensurate with experience