Park Director-Bomassa, NNNP Park HQ, Congo At Wildlife Conservation Society

Reports to: Country Director

Location: Bomassa, NNNP Park HQ, Congo

Country Program/Sector: WCS Congo Program

Start date: 1 May 2024

Position Type: Full-time

Application deadline: 1 March 2024

Internal liaison: Congo Program Technical Director, NNNP Finance & Administration Manager, NNNP Department leads and APAMU staff

Expected travel: Local travel to field sites and sub-offices.

Organization Background:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat, and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the livelihoods that depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

Job Summary:

WCS are seeking a highly experienced manager in the role of NNNP Director who can lead the NNNP.

The Director will provide strategic and operational leadership and be responsible for all aspects of Park management including ranger deployment and wildlife protection, community liaison, research, tourism development, fundraising and reporting, communications, M&E, and capacity building of national staff. The job includes staff management and development, establishing and maintaining strong relationships with government partners, including state enforcement agencies, partner agencies and organizations, as well as oversight of a significant budget and ensuring efficient day-to-day program operations.

The Park Director is based permanently on-site at the NNNP headquarters in Bomassa, Sangha Province. The Reserve has a large staff of around 300, working across five Departments.

Candidates will need to clearly demonstrate they have the necessary experience, leadership, communication and diplomatic skills with which to manage such a large and complex project whilst under pressure to deliver results.

Major Responsibilities:

• Assuring full financial and operational responsibility of the NNNP and its staff, including anti-poaching, research and ecological monitoring, community conservation, tourism development, logistics, M&E, operations and finance and administration
• Formal liaison with the Nouabalé-Ndoki Foundation Board established under the partnership agreement, and overall responsibility for the coordination of the bi-annual meetings of the NNF Board Committee and implementation of directives from the NNF Board, including preparation of annual workplans and budgets.
• Collaboration with WCS national, regional and Global Thematic programs, in particular Forests and Climate Change.
• Responsibility for the review, update, validation and implementation of the NNNP Management Plan, SOPs and Strategic Framework.
• Strategic oversight of the law enforcement strategy, in consultation with the Park and in liaison with ACFAP (Congolese Wildlife Agency) and the WCS Law Enforcement Advisors.
• Official representation to, and actively building and maintaining of relationships with, provincial and national Government, community partners, donors, private sector (in particular tourism and foresty Concession operators) and other key stakeholders in the NNNP, including development of a community consulation committee.
• Assuring that all park operations adhere to Standard Operating Procedures and Interior Regulations of the NNNP, and that all contracts, accords and conventions related to the park are followed.
• Finalisation and implementation of the park’s 5-year business plan.
• Management of the Park Management Unit (PMU) and all NNNP personnel, including the facilitation of regular meetings with Heads of Department of the NNNP
• Preparation of a recruitment plan, staff evaluation plan and proposals for re-deployment of NNNP staff according to the Interior Regulations
• Ensuring monthly and quarterly and annual reporting to WCS, donors and the government.

Minimum Requirements:

As the position will take on a broad management mandate, a wide range of management skills and experience are required. For this position, WCS will consider candidates with:

• At least 10 years of senior management experience
• Strong leadership skills and demonstrated experience in managing a large and diverse team
• Strong diplomacy and decision-making skills in a high-pressure environment
• Proven experience of cultural understanding and leadership in a complex, multicultural and remote environments
• Excellent communication and negotiating skills
• Fluency in French and English. Knowledge of Lingala is a distinct advantage
• Previous experience with international donor organizations
• Previous development or conservation experience in Africa, ideally Central Africa, is highly preferred
• Experience in protected areas or equivalent natural resource management context desirable
• Commitment to the values and mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society