Position: Conservation and Biodiversity Unit
National Park, Republic of Congo
location: Bomassa,Republic of Congo
Start Date: January 1, 2014 (or sooner)
Reports To: Nouabale-Ndoki Park Director
Direct Reports: Conservation and protection staff in Nouabale-Ndoki NP
Overseen By: Nouabale Ndoki Foundation-Park
Management Unit
Purpose:
The purpose of this position is to ensure the effective
protection and conservation of NNNP and its wildlife while maintaining good
relations with the surrounding community and the Government of the Republic of
Congo.
The Wildlife Conservation Society is seeking an experienced conservationist
and team manager to fill the position of Conservation and Biodiversity Unit Director
for Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) in the Republic of Congo. The primary responsibility of this position
will be ensuring effective protection of the wildlife of NNNP.
Nouabalé-Ndoki is the most intact, best-managed protected
area in the Congo Basin, with thousands of forest elephants, gorillas, and
chimpanzees, critical rainforest habitat, good park facilities, and
extraordinary tourism potential.
WCS and the Government of Congo have established a Congolese
public entity to manage Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, the “Nouabalé-Ndoki
Foundation,” comprised of a multi-stakeholder board of directors and a Park
Management Unit (PMU). The Conservation and Biodiversity Unit is one of 5
operational units in NNNP (the others include Community Development, Research
and Monitoring, Logistics, and Finance and Administration) and reports directly
to the Park Director in charge of the PMU.
The Conservation and Biodiversity Unit Director will provide
operational leadership and be responsible for all aspects of the Conservation
and Biodiversity Unit as defined in the Park Management Plan and the parks
annual work plan.
Duties include recruitment, training, mentoring and
management of wildlife law enforcement teams, working closely with the Ministry
of Forests staff assigned to the PMU. In addition to coordinating all of the anti-poaching
activities, the Unit Director will work closely with other PMU services and
insure the collection and transmission of Law Enforcement Monitoring (LEM) data
The job includes
managing conservation and protection staff, developing strong relationships
with government partners and ensuring the program runs smoothly day-to-day.
The Conservation and Biodiversity Unit Director is based in
the field, living permanently on-site at the park headquarters, Bomassa.
Responsibilities:
Operational responsibility of the Conservation
and Biodiversity Unit (CBU)
Recruit and train park ecoguards
Manage a team that includes all CBU staff
including 30-60 full-time park ecoguards anti-poaching rangers
Work closely with the Research and Monitoring
department to integrate informant and LEM data into park management and
ecoguards deployment decisions
Assure that LEM data are collected and analyzed
using the SMART LEM system
Using the SMART LEM system draft monthly law
enforcement reports which include: indicators of effort, seizures, resulting
legal proceeding, maps with geo-referenced data on patrol effort and illegal
activities etc.
Assure that all CBU ecoguards follow park regulations
and are well disciplined
Implement the directives of the Park Director
Advise and support the park management on
anti-poaching planning and areas to implement patrols in the park and its
periphery
Develop and implement the monthly park ecoguard patrol
schedule, including the deployment of all protection personnel
Maintain CBU records including signed mission
orders, GIS logs of all patrol routes, SMART data, debriefing data from all
patrol missions, registry of all wildlife offences, etc.
Create and maintain an information network
related to environment and wildlife crime around the park
Assure that all legal instruments related to
seizures, incidents or arrests are submitted by the appropriate personnel
Follow up with the legal system cases sent to court
Communicate regularly with the administrative
authorities of the zones surrounding the park,
Maintain and regularly update database of known
wildlife
Maintain a clear and detailed personnel files on
all unit staff
Participate in weekly management meetings
Be available to perform any other task assigned
as part of the service by the park management
Present to the management of the project a quarterly
and annual activity report
Person Specification
We are looking for an outstanding leader with proven
managerial experience, strong communication skills, a full understanding of African
conservation, and proven ability to command a law enforcement team. A relevant degree (e.g. biology, political
science, law enforcement, management,) is essential, along with a thorough
knowledge of the issues around wildlife protection, and wildlife trade. A proven
ability to work well in a team in multi-cultural situations and under difficult
field conditions is essential. Fluency in written and spoken French required. Bush pilot qualifications and experience
beneficial
Qualifications and
Experience:
A degree in the field of environmental or
biological conservation from a recognized university. Candidates with a Masters
degree will have an added advantage.
At least five (5) years of conservation
fieldwork experience with the last 2 years at a senior position.
Experience in patrolling and enforcement related
work and advanced training in this area of conservation would be an advantage.
Excellent knowledge and commitment on the issues
of wildlife conservation in Central Africa
Excellent writing and speaking skills in French.
Ability to converse in English.
Must be computer literate and have the ability
to use appropriate technology.
Excellent leadership, diplomatic and interpersonal
skills.
Meticulous approach to work and ability to
produce effective outcomes.
Must be able to work with minimal supervision,
both in the field and in the office.
Organization and management skills (required)
Proven track record in personnel management (required)
Proven track record in wildlife management (required)
Hands-on management of a remote and large
protected area in Africa including staff supervision, infrastructure and
maintenance, and law enforcement (required)
Hands-on management of law enforcement
operations, ideally with military training and experience (preferred)
Experience working with tourism operators
(preferred)
Experience developing infrastructure within a
remote protected area (preferred)
Pleaseapply on-line at www.wcs.org, scroll to ‘careers’ at the bottom of the page and follow the prompts to apply on-line (you must
register online in order to be considered). IN ADDITION TO APPLYING ONLINE:
Please send a cover letter, resumé and at three references (with contact
information including phone numbers) to:wcsafrica@@wcs.org.
Please type the following in the subject line:Conservation and Biodiversity Unit
Director, Nouabalé-Ndoki
EOE M/F/V/D
