The St Eustatius National Parks Foundation, a non profit nature management organisation based in St Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands is seeking a National Parks Director to manage the Statia National Marine Park, Quill / Boven National Park and Miriam C Schmidt Botanical Garden. The St Eustatius National Parks Foundation has six full time staff to support field, operational and administrative aspects of the organisation. The incumbent will be responsible for the overall management of the organisation, its staff and its functions.

DESCRIPTION

 Organisational Management

• Institutional Development – Responsible for overall integrity of the organisation: Preparation of management plans, budgets, annual objectives, and weekly work programmes; recruits, manages and supervises staff, interns and volunteers; financial management and annual reporting, compliance and development of STENAPA Operational Procedures, implementation of 2007 Statia National Marine Park management plan and 2009 Quill / Boven National Park and Miriam Schmidt Botanical Garden management plan, compliance and development of nature legislation.
• Fundraising, Grant writing, Income Generation – Responsible for all fundraising and grant writing and reporting from established sources, manage donor relations, strengthen income generating capacity to collect user fees, promote souvenir sales and develop new income generating opportunities.

Supervision and Compliance

• Operational Management– Oversees all aspects of park operational activities including annual financial auditing requirements, maintenance of STENAPA assets (boats, trucks, moorings, scuba gear, tools, etc.), staff scheduling and management, and financial management (payment approvals, cash boxes, sales, fee collection, expenses versus budget comparisons, etc.).
• Legislation: Monitoring, Compliance and Inputting– Responsible to ensure compliance with and promotion of existing nature legislation, issue permits, produce reports on violations (Special Agent of Police duties), provide advice to government and make proposals for new rules/legislation.
• Marketing and Public Relations – Responsible for managing stakeholder relations, assisting stakeholders wherever possible, and promoting the organisation and its objectives, maintaining website and approving all public information, providing and developing user information for national parks.
• Education and Awareness – Supervises education (monthly school visits, after school clubs, summer club) and awareness (press releases, monthly radio show, quarterly newsletter, public meetings) programme to stimulate public awareness and education campaigns on major environmental issues, in particular issues related to protected areas and species.
• Project Design and Execution – Supervises the design and execution of all projects in accordance with Project Management procedures. Approves projects with the Board and reports to the Board on project progress.

Technical Management

• Monitoring, Data Collection and Analysis (quality control) – Oversees monitoring programmes in accordance with monitoring procedures and protocols, supervises collection of relevant data on status of indicated habitats and species within and outside (where necessary) of Park boundaries. Provides reports and interprets data to support proposals for policy interventions or amendments, increase public awareness, use in public reports, etc.
• Database – maintains a database for Parks management on key indicators (statistics about divers, yachts, hikers, incidents and violations, etc.).
• Research – Responsible for prioritizing research needs in accordance with partners, arrange resourcing for research, determine relevance of research requests for organization, assess logistical requirements, prepare research frameworks (MOU or TOR) and inform all stakeholders, supervision of researchers/ consultants, ensure all regulations are complied with and permission granted by authorities as relevant.
• Botanical Garden – besides the two National Parks, develop the Botanical Garden with the objectives of conservation and education, in accordance with the Management Plan and in consultation with the Botanical Garden Committee. Manage the house as residence for interns and volunteers.

Reporting

• Responsible for all reporting obligations to donors, stakeholders and governmental organisations. Reports to the Board on all issues pertaining to STENAPA management.
• Represents STENAPA on the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance Board (DCNA) and at regional conferences, workshops and meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Three + years of organisational management experience preferably with nature management or national parks.
• Masters degree in conservation biology, natural sciences or related environmental sciences.
• Experience with research and monitoring in terrestrial and marine tropical ecosystems.
• Advanced diving experience. Some commercial diving experience an advantage.
• Technical skills in boat handling, navigation and marine protocols.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies, tools and best practices.
• Strong communication skills (written and oral). Fluency in English. Dutch an advantage.
• Advanced knowledge of management, organisation or operational procedures.
• Experience working in small island states also an advantage.

Preference will be given to Dutch Caribbean nationals. Please send resume and cover letter to Kate Walker by email to manager@statiapark.org. Closing date is 16th March 2012. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Please review website www.statiapark.org See also www.dcnanature.org