Regional Project Coordinator - Melanesia

Expected travel: Approximately 20% to project sites and field offices in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Organization Background:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

Melanesia Regional Program Overview:

WCS Melanesia programs in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands integrate community engagement, science-based conservation, outreach, and linking successful local conservation initiatives to regional and national policies. We take a “boots on the ground” approach, spending time living and working with local communities to collaboratively solve the pressing conservation challenges of habitat loss and degradation, overexploitation, and climate-change adaptation through innovative applications of community-based resource management (CBRM) and working with government to improve policy implementation.

Job Summary:

The Regional Project Coordinator will oversee implementation of a large (~€4.7M) grant focused on scaling and financing holistic integrated watershed management to deliver co-benefits for biodiversity, climate change and human well-being in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.   The Regional Project Coordinator will be responsible for general project management to facilitate timely and quality achievement of deliverables and for donor reporting, with the support of the WCS Melanesia Regional Director.

Major Responsibilities:

• Maintaining up to date project management systems to enable timely reminders to field teams and partners for upcoming activities and deliverables;
• Updating project work plans for each work period;
• Regularly communicating with field team leads in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands and project partners to coordinate within and across country project delivery;
• Reviewing project outputs and deliverables to maintain high standards of technical quality;
• Ensuring standardized monitoring protocols to enable consistent reporting against the donor results framework;
• Overseeing the environmental and social safeguard monitoring systems, inclusive of obtaining institutional ethics clearance for surveys involving human subjects;
• Collating and maintaining records of information from field teams on project achievements and challenges;
• Providing assistance and oversight to sub-award management, contracting and project procurement;
• Preparing internal and external communications, including developing a communications plan, regarding project progress.

Minimum Requirements:

• Masters or Ph.D. degree in environmental science, public health, policy or natural resource management, with some social science skills preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience with project management associated with natural resource management or rural health programs. Knowledge and experience in watershed management, nature-based solutions, public health, community-based management and/or sustainable financing an advantage.
• Proven ability and experience to manage projects, and set and meet multiple deadlines.
• Proven ability to manage, guide and support local staff of different capacities.
• Experience with donor reporting requirements, particularly from European donors.
• Knowledge of Melanesian cultural contexts an advantage.
• Ability to make sound decisions based on analysis, consultation with others, experience, and judgment.  Decisions may affect organization’s public image, positively or negatively, as well as impacting the work of many throughout the organization.
• Good communication and presentation skills; ability to persuasively convey the mission of WCS to diverse groups, especially local stakeholders and constituents who are critical to the organisation’s overall prosperity.
• Must demonstrate strong verbal and written skills in English to international standards.

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, should apply by sending an application letter and CV together with the names and contact information of three references at the soonest possible time through one of the following links:

WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

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