Position: Park Director, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo
Location: Bomassa, Republic of Congo
Start Date: January 1, 2014 (or sooner)
Reports To: WCS Congo Country Director
Direct Reports: NNNP Conservateur, NNNP Conservation Director, NNNP ResearchDirector, NNNP Finance and
Administration Director
Overseen By: Ndoki Foundation Board
Purpose:
The purpose of this position is to ensure the effective
protection and conservation of NNNP and its wildlife while helping to develop
world-class tourism and to deliver benefits to and maintain good relations with
the surrounding community and the Republic of Congo.
The Wildlife Conservation Society is seeking an experienced
protected area manager to fill the position of Park Director of Nouabalé-Ndoki
National Park (NNNP) in the Republic of Congo.
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. The
management of NNNP is securely funded for the next five years by USAID, USFWS,
the Sangha Trinational Foundation, and other private and public donors.
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 Park Director
is in charge of the PMU including the operation of all departments and
management of all park staff.
The Park Director will provide strategic and operational
leadership and be responsible for all aspects of park management including ranger
deployment and wildlife protection, community liaision, research, tourism
development, fundraising and reporting, communications, and capacity building
of national staff. The job includes
managing senior staff, developing strong relationships with government
partners, partner agencies and organizations, as well as managing a significant
budget and ensuring program runs smoothly day-to-day.
The Park Director is based in the field, living permanently
on-site at the park headquarters, Bomassa. NNNP is more than 4,000 km2, with an expected
staff of between 100 - 200 people and an annual budget of more than $2 million.
Responsibilities:
Elaboration and implementation of the park’s
management plan
Preparation and implementation of annual work
plans and budgets
Recruitment and management of all personnel
Assuring that all contracts, accords and
conventions related to the park are followed.
Implementing the directives of the park’s board
of directors
Financial and operational responsibility of the
park, including preparation of a 5-year business plan and annual budget
Managing a team that includes a Conservation and
Biodiversity Service department, Research and Monitoring department, Community
Development department, Logistics Service, and Administration and Finance Unit.
Overseeing a local staff complement of 100 to
200 full-time employees, including anti-poaching rangers
Liaise with a Board of Directors of the Nouabalé-Ndoki
Foundation
Building and maintaining relationships with
Government and Community partners, and other key stakeholders of the park
Monthly, quarterly and annual reporting to WCS,
donors and the Board of Directors of the Nouabalé-Ndoki Foundation
Oversight of all financial management and
reporting
Oversight of all logistical operations
Oversight of all research and conservation
activities in the Park
Oversight of all community activities, including
environmental education initiatives with local schools
Work with the Ndoki Foundation Board, WCS, and
other partners to identify tourism development partners and help to develop
NNNP into a world-class ecotourism destination
Person Specification
We are looking for and outstanding leader with proven
managerial experience, strong communication skills, and a full understanding of
African conservation, development and socio-economic issues. A relevant degree (e.g. biology, political
science, law, economics, management, or international relations) is essential,
along with a thorough knowledge of multilateral environmental agreements and
the issues around wildlife trade management and sustainable development. Fluency in English is essential, ideally
combined with fluent French.
Qualifications and
Experience:
10-15 years park management experience, ideally
in at least two African countries (preferred)
For candidates with a conservation background,
at least 5 years senior management experience (required)
For candidates with a financial or management
background, at least 5 years senior conservation experience (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 developing, improving and overseeing
protected area management systems, HR, finance, infrastructure and workshop
maintenance, and law enforcement (required)
Experience working with government agencies,
boards, and other stakeholders on park management support (preferred)
Hands-on management of law enforcement
operations, ideally with military training and experience (preferred)
Implementing a community or natural resource
management project (preferred)
Experience working with tourism operators
(preferred)
Developing infrastructure within a remote
protected area (preferred)
Excellent spoken and written English (required)
French language fluency (preferred)
If not fluent in French, demonstrated ability to
master a foreign language (required)
Please
apply 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: Park Director, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo
EOE M/F/V/D
