Country Program Director, WCS Belize

Position Objectives:  - Provide conservation and management leadership to WCS conservation activities in Belize;

·         Elevate and promote WCS’ work across Mesoamerica;

·         Lead on the establishment of program priorities, strategy, and approaches for conservation initiatives in Belize; initiate projects and provide technical guidance and management oversight to project development and implementation;

·         Ensure that results of research activities (including those conducted at Glover’s Reef Marine Research Station) are integrated into national and regional planning and decision-making processes;

·         Integrate WCS priorities and activities into national and regional planning and conservation activities by promoting biological conservation in Belize among governmental agencies, international agencies (where appropriate), non-governmental organizations, and the citizens of Belize; direct national and international attention to important sites for conservation and influence policies that promote their long-term persistence;

·         Help develop sustainable funding programs to support WCS’ conservation activities in Belize and Mesoamerica; and

·         Increase the impact of WCS Belize’s conservation activities and successes through supporting related activities in the region, in particular through collaboration with other WCS Programs. 

Principal Responsibilities

Provide continued oversight and management support for the established marine conservation initiatives of the WCS Belize Program. 

Oversee and build the WCS Belize terrestrial conservation portfolio, liaising with the WCS Guatemala Program. 

Maintain close contact and consult regularly with the Marine Program and Latin America and Caribbean Program in New York about activities and accomplishments of the Belize Program. 

Supervise and manage all WCS Belize Program staff.

Oversee WCS’s scientific and conservation activities in the region. Oversee the Manager of the Glovers Reef Marine Research Station and provide technical guidance on the development of the Station’s research and conservation program.  

Coordinate the development of annual workplans and budget requests for conservation activities in the region 

Help develop program priorities, strategy and approaches for Belize.  Help to identify conservation needs within the region; establish new programs and initiatives; and evaluate the direction and success of the work. 

As required, compile and send to New York office narrative and financial reports; budget requests; and workplans related to your work in the region and ensure they are carried out according to NY guidelines and deadlines. 

Establish and maintain excellent working relationships with partners and donors.  Meet regularly with project partners and relevant government agencies.  Serve as a liaison between the WCS Belize program and other conservation and scientific bodies in both Belize and elsewhere. Ensure smooth collaboration and support with the range of organizations in Belize. 

Raise the profile of the WCS conservation effort in Belize through the dissemination of project results widely in the peer-reviewed and popular literatures.  With staff, write and publish documents, reports, and papers.  Be active in professional societies and attend meetings, workshops, strategy sessions, etc.  

Develop and implement a training and capacity building program for marine conservation in Belize in coordination with the Marine Conservation Scientist, using the Glovers Reef Marine Research Station as a focal site. 

Participate in and contribute to WCS’s cross-cutting global conservation initiatives.  As requested and necessary, travel to other project sites, consult on the development of broader marine and Mesoamerican conservation initiatives, and contribute to special projects and initiatives of WCS’ Marine Program and the Latin American and Caribbean Program. 

Represent WCS in science and conservation-related fora in the region and promote biological conservation across the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor and Mesoamerican Barrier Reef via communication with donors, governmental agencies, non-government organizations and in the citizenries of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras through meetings, speaking engagements, media interviews, writing, and general communication.  Direct national attention to important sites for conservation and influence policies that promote their long-term persistence and raise the profile of WCS in the region. 

Lead efforts to secure additional funding for the program, working with staff in New York. Develop proposals and participate in fund-raising activities; identify new funding sources; meet potential donors; maintain contact with and oversee grant reporting and financial reporting.  Work to diversify the funding base of the program. 

Working with staff of the Latin America and Caribbean Program and Marine Program in New York, liaise with other parts of WCS: trustees, executive staff, policy staff, Public Affairs, Animal Health Program, Science Resource Center, Curatorial departments, Exhibits and Graphics, Education. 

Contribute to, enlarge and uphold the Society’s polices towards Equal Employment Opportunities for women, minorities, veterans, the handicapped and other protected groups. 

Qualifications, skills and experience

Applicants should have PhD or Masters degree and experience in a field related to the conservation of biological diversity, preferably in a developing-world context; 3 years minimum management experience (e.g., managing large budgets, staff, and liaising with government) in adaptation/conservation/development programs; ability to foster teamwork within the program; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated success working with diverse partners to achieve common objectives; and good technical writing skills. The position is based in Belize City with some travel to the program’s field station and other sites within the country and within the region and abroad as needed. Applicants should be committed to conservation and to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society.  

Due to the breadth of the WCS Belize program, we are considering applicants from a range of backgrounds as long as they have strong experience in at least two (preferably more) of the following:

·         Familiarity with marine and terrestrial conservation issues in Belize or Mesoamerica and the Caribbean;

·         Engaging with national political spheres to influence conservation policy;

·         Experience in Marine Protected Area network policy, research, design, implementation, and/or evaluation;

·         Experience in Fisheries management;

·         Strengthening effective enforcement around resource extraction (e.g. wildlife trade; fisheries enforcement);

·         Conducting community engagement relating to conservation and resource management; and/or

·         Training and building capacity in field research, tropical biology, marine conservation biology, conservation advocacy, and/or project management.

Schedule and Compensation

Candidates should be available to start November 16^th, 2015. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Please apply by October 23^rd, 2015 with a cover letter and CV with subject “Country Program Director Belize, [your name]” to kholmes@wcs.org

Location:                    Belize City, Belize, with travel to WCS work sites

Applications Due:       October 23^rd, 2015

Start Date:                  December 1^st, 2015