DEPARTMENT: Global Conservation, Africa Program

JOB TITLE:  Africa Program Assistant

REPORTS TO:  Deputy Director Africa Finance & Administration

HOURS:  Full time

LOCATION: Center for Global Conservation, Bronx Zoo, NYC

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) seeks a dynamic, well-organized, hard-working, and committed Program Assistant to support the administration of our African field conservation program.  The successful candidate will join a cohesive, effective, diverse team at the Bronx Zoo in New York and in 16 countries in Africa saving some of Africa and the world’s most spectacular wildlife and wild places.

POSITION OBJECTIVES:            

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is an international conservation NGO headquartered at the Bronx Zoo in New York City working to save wildlife and wild lands and to meet global conservation challenges in over 60 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.  The Africa Program is the largest of WCS’s field programs, with over 1,000 staff in 16 countries.

WCS’s Africa Program is led, managed, and administered by a small team in New York consisting of a Director, three Deputy Directors, Budget Coordinator, two Program Officers and a Program Assistant , working closely with field staff and with other WCS departments.  This team’s key roles include managing and supporting Country Directors, fundraising from private and public sources, guiding program strategy and implementation, representing the program internally and externally, and facilitating communication with and support from WCS departments such as Finance, Development, Public Affairs, etc. 

The primary objective of the Africa Program Assistant position is to assist in the administration of the WCS’s regional program for Africa. The position is based at the Bronx Zoo in New York City. The responsibilities include but are not limited to:

General Administrative Responsibilities

• Office management and general logistics for the Africa team, including retrieving mail, booking meeting rooms, managing team calendar, fielding main Africa phone line, handling central email account and general Africa team contact list, coordinating IT help

• Arrange travel and accommodations for NY and visiting field staff; assist in processing visa and travel documentation;

• Coordinate activities for visitors and visiting field staff with other WCS departments and divisions; handle logistics and scheduling for presentations including advertising and technical set-up.

• Follow up on procurement orders and pack equipment for shipment to African field offices, at times accompanying visitors and materials to airports and coordinating documentation. 

• Help prepare, format and catalogue documents, letters, communication materials, brochures.

• Maintain catalogue of promotional materials and images and serve as point person for distribution and requests.

   

Financial Administrative Responsibilities

Provide support to Africa program in financial management, including processing related paperwork and requests for disbursements. Tasks may include, but are not limited to:

• Process, follow-up and verification of payments for invoices and stipends.

• Prepare check and wire requests for reimbursements and invoice payments.

• Prepare and process consultancy contracts in adherence to Human Resource standards for field personnel.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
As an ideal entry-level conservation management and administrative position, the minimum requirements are

• Bachelor’s Degree

• Ability to work in a team (which is largely based outside of the NY office).
• Proactive, service oriented and able to react to multiple varied requests in a timely manner.
• Commitment to follow through and quality control.
• Previous experience in administration desirable.
• Excellent organizational skills, including responsiveness to multiple, simultaneous projects and demands; ability to set and follow priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with an ability to work with a wide variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures.
• Strong writing skills required. Ability to produce clear and concise email communications.
• French fluency highly desirable, but not mandatory.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Sincere understanding of and commitment to WCS’s mission.

This is a New York-based position and applicants must be legally permitted to work in the United States.

All applicants are requested both to apply online at www.wcs.org  (http://www.wcs.org/about-us/careers) and also to send a cover letter and CV to wcsafrica@wcs.org.  The duel application system helps us to track and assess candidates.