Program Manager, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) At Wildlife Conservation Society

Location: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Reports To: WCS DRC Country Director

Start date: May 2021

Objective

To provide management and operational support to the WCS DRC program.

About WCS

WCS is an international NGO headquartered at Bronx Zoo in New York City working to save wildlife and wild lands and to meet global challenges in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and the world’s oceans. Our work in Africa employs approximately 1,100 staff in 12 country programs focused across three major regions (Central Africa and Gulf of Guinea, Sudano-Sahel, and East and Southern Africa-Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean).

Our MISSION is to save wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education and inspiring people to value nature. Our VISION is a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth. Our GOAL is to conserve the world’s largest wild places in 16 priority regions, home to more than 50% of the world’s biodiversity. Our VALUES are Respect, Accountability and Transparency, Innovation, Diversity and Inclusion, Collaboration, Integrity.

Background

WCS has been working in the Democratic Republic of Congo with government, community and private sector partners to achieve conservation in multiple landscapes across the country for over three decades. In partnership with our government partner ICCN (Institute of Nature Conservation), WCS manages a portfolio of three site-based programs in the east of the country that encompass some of the most important protected areas and habitats in DRC for elephants and great apes (Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Kahuzi-Biega National Park and Kabobo Wildlife Reserve). The program is also addressing a number of key drivers of threats to biodiversity and forests at national or sub-national scale, including climate change and loss of intact forests and urban bushmeat consumption.

To assist in coordinating activities and operations between the field programs, Kinshasa office and other regional and thematic departments within WCS, the WCS-DRC Program is currently looking to appoint a Program Manager. The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills, experience of working in an operational or administrative capacity in an international NGO or equivalent structure in Africa, and interested in broadening their skills and experience in working for an international conservation NGO.

The primary responsibility of the WCS-DRC Program Manager will be to ensure good internal coordination and communications between the Kinshasa and field offices and between WCS DRC and other WCS departments.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Assist the WCS-DRC Country Director in maintaining smooth and efficient overall Program management by acting as primary liaison and ensuring timely follow-up between field projects and Kinshasa office on activities related to field operations, logistics, procurement and general project administration.
• Provide administrative support to ensure smooth and efficient operations between the field projects and the national office
• Assist the WCS-DRC Country Director, Finance and Operations Director and Human Resources and Administrative Manager in organizational planning specifically for recruitment screening, staff workload/balancing, etc.
• Assist in identifying and implementing best practices for improved internal systems
• Manage external communications, knowledge dissemination and grant reporting as required
• Participate in and represent WCS at meetings on a national and international level as requested by the WCS DRC Country Director
• Manage the Agenda and organize the different appointments of the Country Director

Key Qualifications

• The Program Manager should have at least a level of higher education equivalent to Bac+2 in any technical field such as communications, social and environmental sciences, development management, economics, public finance, law. A level of study Bac+5 (Masters) would be desirable
• At least five years-experience working in an international NGO or equivalent work environment in Africa
• Proven experience of large program management, personnel management, operations, systems and administration
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, experience in working in multi-cultural environments and a solution-focused work ethic
• Proven experience of grant report writing
• Interest in wildlife conservation and environmental issues in Africa
• Excellent, fluent spoken and written English and French
• Excellent command of Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• The ability to conduct planning, results-based management and reporting.
• The ability to plan and prioritize urgent tasks and maintain a good organization of one’s work
• Be rigorous, available and methodical
• Good ability to work under tension and manage stress
• Good ability to work in a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Discretion and confidentiality.