Position: Country Director
Reports to: Regional Director-EAMWIO
Positions Managed: Heads of Departments, Thematic Leads, Technical Advisor(s)
Location: In-country (remote not an option)
Country Program/Sector: Global Conservation Program
Position Type: Full-time
Scope Capacity: Country
Coordinates with: WCS Regional team (Director, HR, Thematic leads); Global Resources and Grants, Management & Compliance
Expected travel: Up to 35% of time, as and when required to WCS field sites, regional and internationally when required.
About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organisation 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 organisations, 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 utilisation of natural resources. More information at www.wcs.org
About WCS Mozambique Program WCS established a country program in Mozambique in 2012 with two primary objectives: to increase the protection of Niassa National Reserve and improve the conservation status of its elephants through co-management of the Reserve; and strengthen national-level protected area management by helping to improve policies and reinforcing the government’s ability to implement wildlife crime legislation through strategic engagement with government agencies in Maputo. Since 2016, WCS’s Mozambican program has expanded its activities to support the government on reconciling economic development with biodiversity conservation, through the improvement of the application of the mitigation hierarchy in the country, by mapping biodiversity priorities and integrating the into the national spatial planning exercises, and contributing to the achievement of international targets (identification of Key Biodiversity areas and implementation of Red Listing assessments). Since late 2018, WCS has started a Marine Program in Mozambique focused on the conservation and protection of sharks and rays, coral reefs and marine mammals.
About the Country Director position: The Country Program Director will oversee the country program’s implementation and oversight. S/he will lead the development and management of WCS Mozambique’s conservation program in line with the WCS 2030 and WCS Regional 2025 strategies. The position holder will be responsible for: leading on the establishment of program priorities, strategy, and approaches for terrestrial and marine conservation and climate adaptation initiatives; supporting conservation project development and implementation; fundraising and grants oversight; coordination with government and non-government partners; directing national and international attention to the country for conservation; influencing policies that promote preservation of biodiversity and sustainable development, while reducing vulnerability to future climate and environmental change; and, representing WCS at meetings and events.
Major Responsibilities:
- Coordinating and supervising the implementation of all WCS Mozambique Country Program projects and activities, including ensuring financial and administrative support for field and office activities.
- Establishing and maintaining excellent working relationships with partners and donors. Meeting regularly with project partners, relevant government agencies, and community leaders. Serving as a liaison between the Country Program and other scientific and conservation bodies in the country and elsewhere.
- Raising the profile of WCS Mozambique’s conservation efforts through the dissemination of project results widely in the peer-reviewed and popular literature. Writing and publishing documents, reports, books and papers and/or supporting program staff to do so. Maintaining active roles in professional societies. Attending relevant meetings, workshops, and strategy sessions in the country and the region (where required).
- Collaborating with the Regional Director, Global Conservation thematic programs and Global Resources to secure funding for the Program. Working to maintain a diversified funding base at a sustainable level to support Program activities.
- Overseeing grant and financial reporting and ensuring that draft reports are submitted with adequate time for internal review.
- Hiring, managing and contributing to capacity building of Country Program staff, while contributing to enlarging and upholding the Society’s policies, including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies, towards equal employment opportunities for women, minorities, veterans, the handicapped and other protected groups.
- Participating in and contributing to WCS’s cross-cutting and global conservation initiatives in the region.
- Liaising with other parts of WCS where appropriate, including but not limited to communications, international policy, Global Resources, Grants Management and Compliance, and Global Conservation Program Thematic Program staff.
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