Mbam Djerem REDD+ Project Specialist At Wildlife Conservation Society

Position: Mbam Djerem REDD+ Project Specialist

Reports to: Mbam Djerem National Park Project Director

Location: Mbam Djerem National Park Project Headquarter

Country Program/Sector: WCS Cameroon

Position Type: Full-time

Internal liaison: Central Africa Technical Team, WCS Markets Team

Expected travel: This is a site-based position with frequent visits to Yaoundé

Job Summary

This position will first be responsible for following through on WCS-Cameroon’s strategy to put in place a REDD project centered on the Mbam Djerem National Park. This will include budgeting, developing and overseeing execution of workplans; marshalling required human resources from WCS Cameroon, WCS Central Africa Region and WCS global to complete a range of technical and administrative activities required to complete the project development and initiate field interventions. Project development is expected to take up to 2 years, over which time the nature of the focus of the role will evolve.

As the Mbam Djerem REDD+ Project Specialist the position will be responsible for working with a suite of staff and consultants to contribute the studies and documentation required for the project to be validated against the Verified Carbon Standard. This role will work in close coordination with the Mbam Djerem National Park Project Director, Cameroon Country Program Director, Central Africa Regional Technical Team, and the WCS Global Markets team.

The REDD+ Project Specialist will be responsible for leading the design of the Project, leading the design of stakeholder engagement, developing the workplan and timeline, overall preparation of technical analysis, and development of a comprehensive estimate of project implementation costs in the short and long term. The position will be based in the Mbam DJerem National Park Project office

Position Responsibilities

The following represent an overview of the responsibilities of the position, however, as the overall lead of the project, the exact responsibilities will need to be modified overtime to reflect the changing needs and circumstances throughout the life of the project.

Execution of Project Development

• Coordinate with Mbam Djerem National Park Project Director to design a suite of innovative project interventions, related to avoided deforestation, and degradation, including a specific focus on employing an innovative approach to fire management.
• Develop a framework/model for project governance.
• Direct the implementation of various aspects required for project development, including assessments of potential GHG removals, analysis of socioeconomic and biodiversity impacts, community engagement, stakeholder, and government engagement.
• Work closely with technical consultants and team members to design and implement a data collection and monitoring framework to be implemented alongside the pilot activities, and accurately quantify costs and assess scale-up feasibility.
• Identify additional technical input required for the implementation of the various project components.
• Participate in national and regional level coordination and networking meetings.
• Lead development of technical interim reports.
• Lead and coordinate the preparation of one or more project documents applicable to the VCS, in coordination with the Regional Carbon Advisor and technical consultancy.
• Participate in the writing of additional grant proposals, where needed.
• Represent WCS with partners, donors’ meetings, and scientific seminars and conferences as needed.
• Project Management
• Oversee and direct stakeholder engagement and project governance development
• Ensure the effective launch of the project
• Develop and monitor the implementation of project workplans
• Work with the Mbam Djerem National Park Project Director, Country Program team, Regional Team and Global Markets Team to develop TORs for technical pieces of work to be done by
• qualified consultants or additional staff, manage hiring, and supervision of consultants.
• Oversee the implementation of the project budget and ensure compliance with all financial
• reporting requirements.
• Engage and coordinate with other organizations and projects working on similar initiatives, where such engagement/coordination will contribute to the success of the offsets project.
• Undertake other activities as needed to ensure the implementation success of the project.

Training and Capacity Building

• Assist in the creation of training tools that will support capacity building: organize training workshops in coordination with the Mbam Djerem National Park Project Director and ensure adequate preparation of training events and prepare a report on the workshop results.
• Assist in the organization of, and participate in, the project’s evaluation missions and workshops and contribute to the report on the outcomes and lessons learned for submission to the donors and posting to the project website.
• Develop content, including preparation of case studies and lessons learned that can be shared with partners.
• Participate in conferences or events (webinars, in person meetings) to present project activities and results.
• Assist in preparing presentations for other team members.

Qualification Requirements

• At least 5 years relevant experience in REDD+ project development, including at least 3 years of program management experience.
• Advanced degree in conservation, community engagement, environmental studies, or other related advanced degree.
• Experience in managing on-budget and on-scope delivery of predefined outcomes in private sector or NGOs.
• Demonstrated experience in the convening of networks and multi-stakeholders’ engagement.
• Experience working on field-based implementation of avoided deforestation, reforestation, woodlots, or natural regeneration projects.
• Excellent skills in representation, outreach and partnerships building.
• Excellent skills in mediation, communication and animation of multi-stakeholders’ initiatives
• Excellent written and oral French fluency required.
• Professional level written and oral English fluency required.
• Familiarity with additional languages spoken in the Mbam Djerem landscape would be an advantage, but not required.
• Willingness to travel extensively to field sites, engage in field data collection, stakeholder meetings, etc.