Location:         Epulu, Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Ituri, DR Congo

Reports to:       WCS OWR Director, DRC Program Director (Technical Supervision)

Start Date:        ASAP

Position Type: Full-time

Purpose:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is seeking a dynamic, experienced and motivated Program Manager to provide technical, administrative and program implementation support to a large and complex protected area; the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. WCS is implementing a 10-year agreement with the DRC Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN – Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature) to manage the OWR under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The successful candidate will provide programmatic leadership to the OWR team, working closely with the OWR and DRC country leadership. S/he will ensure that the OWR program works effectively and efficiently to drive impact according to the OWR Strategic Plan.

Candidates must demonstrate they have the necessary experience and skills to work within a challenging, dynamic and complex program. They will need to demonstrate that they are able to grasp the complexities of situations as they arise, adapt work accordingly and manage their time well.  The Program Manager will be part of the WCS DRC country program, with the opportunity to interact and exchange experiences with other protected area programs and technical support staff in the region.

Working Relationships

The Program Manager reports to the OWR Site Director with a technical reporting line to the DRC Program Director. The Program Manager will supervise the OWR Program Team, with direct supervision over the Grants and Reporting Officer, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Communications Coordinator, Head of Community Conservation, the Head of Research and Biomonitoring and the Head of Sustainable Financing and Tourism. The Program Manager will collaborate closely with the OWR Site Manager, Social and Environmental Safeguards Team and Law Enforcement Advisor.

Responsibilities:

Working closely with the OWR Director and WCS Program Director, and liaising regularly with the Senior Management team in DRC and the Regional Management and Technical team in Kigali, the Program Manager will:

Program Management (40%)

• Manage program planning – including annual work plans and budgets – to ensure alignment with the 5-year OWR strategic plan
• Working closely with the country program and technical team, ensure a high quality of implementation through the development and dissemination of standard tools, procedures, methodological guidelines, etc. in relevant technical/programmatic areas (Social and Environmental Safeguards, Livelihoods, Education, Natural Resource Management, etc.)
• Ensure management of program budget in close collaboration with the Site Manager and Head of Finance
• Working with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Department, to ensure adaptive management through strict adherence to MEL standards, tools and processes
• Ensure the recruitment, onboarding and quality control of program consultants and partners
• Ensure adherence to WCS program management processes and guidelines at the national and global levels
• Provide specific, direct support in the organization of certain strategic activities, such as the OWR Board of Directors Meeting, the Site Coordination Meeting, etc.
• Assist with the process of recruiting staff for the OWR – including the development of a recruitment plan and organigramme, developing Terms of Reference, and the screening, interviewing, selection and onboarding of new staff.
• Coordinate with the MEL department to ensure the OWR SharePoint is regularly updated with all grant/program documentation and technical documents.

Grants Management and Reporting (30%)

• Manage the project/grant cycle from effective and timely start-up to clean and clear close-out of OWR awards
• Ensure respect for donor rules and regulations
• Manage OWR-focused grants to ensure effective, efficient and transparent budget management
• Coordinate grant reporting to ensure high quality, timely submission of grant technical/narrative reports

Capacity Building (10%)

• Identify capacity gaps within the team and brainstorm with site, national and regional leadership to find and deliver solutions
• Build capacity of the technical departments on quality reporting and donor compliance

Business and Program Development (10%)

• Lead the development of OWR-specific proposals in close collaboration with the DRC Program Director and Regional Support Team.
• Provide high quality inputs to program/business development processes linked to OWR (in cases where the proposal is for multiple sites)

Donor, External Relations and Coordination (10%)

• Ensure effective and clear communication with donor focal points for OWR-focused grants
• Provide oversight and coordination for OWR partners and consultants working across various fields and sectors within the OWR
• Represent WCS to external donors and stakeholders as appropriate
• Ensure that internal and external OWR partners are kept regularly up to date on project activities, deliverables and events.

Qualifications and Requirements: 

WCS is looking for a candidate who has:

• Either an advanced degree (Masters) in the fields of natural resource management, conservation, development, social sciences or similar, or a first degree (Bachelor’s) with demonstrated and appropriate experience.
• Demonstrated on-the-ground experience (>5 years) in project management in the field of biodiversity conservation or natural resource management
• Experience working in the project/program cycles of design, implementation, M&E, reporting, work planning and budgeting, with knowledge of bilateral donors a distinct advantage
• Experience working, coordinating and collaborating with diverse sets of stakeholders – such as local NGOs, government officials, donor representatives and the private sector
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, with French or Swahili a distinct advantage
• Demonstrated experience of working in remote areas under challenging conditions and as an effective member of a multi-cultural team, with experience of working in Central Africa or DRC an advantage
• Energetic, flexible, adaptable, creative and ambitious, with a drive to get things done
• Interest in conservation and committed to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society

Application process

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience, should apply at this link by May 23, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.