Head of Logistics, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) At Wildlife Conservation Society

Position***:*** Head of Logistics, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP)
Reports to: Park Director, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
Coordinates with: NNNP Departments, WCS Congo & Regional Logistics Team
Direct & Indirect reports: All staff in Logistics: Procurement, Stores, Fleet, Supply, Camp
Post: Full time
Location: Bomassa, Republic of Congo

Background
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a private, nonprofit U.S. organization founded in 1895. Its mission is to preserve wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, developing science-based solutions, and taking conservation action that benefits nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, a presence in more than 60 countries, and experience in creating more than 150 protected areas around the world, WCS has accumulated the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships necessary to ensure that wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, this knowledge is applied to address species, habitat, and ecosystem management issues that are critical to improving the quality of life for poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct use of natural resources.

Program Overview:
For the past 25 years, WCS Congo has been the primary conservation partner of the Government of Congo, providing support to MEF for wildlife and habitat management in several national parks, parks and protected area buffer zones. Within these sites, WCS develops and implements actions for effective wildlife protection, community-based natural resource management, ecological monitoring, scientific research and environmental education.

Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) covers more than 4,000 square kilometers of intact contiguous rainforest in the northern Republic of Congo. The forest is part of the tri-national Sangha Forest landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area is a stronghold for important populations of large mammals, including forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, and chimpanzees. Established in 1993, NNNP and its buffer zone have benefited from more than 25 years of collaborative management between the Congolese government and WCS to emerge as one of the most successful protected areas for wildlife conservation in Central Africa. In October 2014, WCS signed a public-private partnership (PPP) with the Ministry of Forest Economy (MEF) for the long-term management and financing of NNNP, creating the Nouabalé-Ndoki Foundation as the park’s management entity under a 25-year agreement.

Position Summary:
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is seeking a dynamic, hard-working, calm, creative and experienced Head of Logistics to oversee and provide leadership on the smooth running of local procurement, logistics, fleet management, stores, infrastructure development and domestic arrangements for Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. The Head of Logistics will work closely with the WCS Congo Logistics Director, based in Brazzaville, to ensure optimal management of the Park’s day-to-day operations. They will report directly to the Park Director and they will provide regular updates to the NNNP Management Unit – which is chaired by the Park’s Director and is the executive body in charge of all day-to-day management activities and personnel in the NNNP.

Main responsibilities:

• Ensure that all works complies with the NNNP Social and Environmental Standards;
• Provide leadership for staff carrying out procurement, warehousing and supply in close coordination with the WCS Congo Logistics Director, based in Brazzaville, and the Ouesso Office Manager
• Ensure all local purchasing and procurement for the NNNP comply with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and policies (WCS and donors). Coordination with the Procurement Officer only when this intersects with international procurement.
• Supervise the implementation of warehousing systems for equipment and consumables (food, spare parts, office supplies and fuel) at NNNP;
• Ensure supervision of all construction project are properly carried out in compliance with BoQs, structural drawings and good practices;
• Ensure implementation of equipment management systems, including tracking, inventories, disposals and replacement at NNNP
• Coordinate, in tandem with the Fleet Manager, all transportation, movements and use of fleet by NNNP personnel, partners and visitors, in accordance with security protocols;
• Oversee maintenance and management of the NNNP airstrip, roads and access points and all other infrastructures;
• Oversee the maintenance and management of all vehicles and generators;
• Ensure all internet and communication systems (VSAT, HF, VHF, GPS tracking devices) are functional at all times and used in accordance with established procedures and policies;
• Ensure all permits, licenses and authorizations for aviation and telecommunications are up to date;
• Oversee the management and maintenance of the NNNP dispensary;
• Supervise the NNNP garage team and smooth functioning of water and electricity supplies;
• Oversee the team of domestic staff – including cooks, cleaners and gardeners, ensuring that they fulfil their tasks and requirements
• Oversee recruitment, management and evaluation of all logistics staff, under their relevant supervisors;
• Participate in Park Management Unit meetings with the NNNP Director.

Key Qualifications:

• At least 10 years of experience in logistics, fleet management, procurement in remote, challenging, and multi-cultural locations
• Excellent organizational skills with a practical can-do attitude to work; proven ability and skills to work with their hands;
• Experience organizing departments and structuring teams;
• Experience working with international non-governmental organizations or private sector;
• Good written and oral communications;
• Fluency in French and English – with Lingala an advantage