DRS is looking, on behalf of our client, an international NGO, for a skilled Landscape Director. Source Development Aid

DRS is looking, on behalf of our client, an international NGO, for a skilled Landscape Director responsible for providing overall leadership, strategic focus, management, and accountability for the performance of its Landscape Program in Faro. This exciting position will provide leadership for the organization’s strategic interventions in the landscape. The LD will have overall responsibility in the areas of operations, administration, logistics, procurement, budgeting, and financial accounting of the Faro Landscape program.

Job Title: Landscape Director

Contract duration: 2-year contract, with the possibility of renewal

Location: Faro (Voko), Cameroon

Reporting to: Cameroon Country Director

The LD will be responsible for the implementation of all NGO and donor-funded programs in the landscape; assist in attracting additional donor funding and building a pipeline of funding for the Faro landscape; build the capacity of leadership in the landscape with a specific focus on staff from the NGO, Service de Conservation and community leadership; develop management and operational plans; and facilitate coordination with stakeholders in the surrounding landscape to improve the overall management and conservation of the Park and wildlife.

The successful person will have proven management skills, strong interpersonal abilities, and the capacity to work with various departments of the Cameroon Government, local communities, and international investors as well as other key stakeholders to implement an ambitious conservation and landscape development agenda. He/she is expected to be results-oriented and able to provide leadership to a team of highly qualified and motivated professionals to achieve results and meet program targets and goals. He/she will be expected to exercise a high degree of decision-making and sound judgment.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Landscape Leadership

• Provide overall leadership for the technical, financial, and managerial aspects of all projects and interventions in the Faro landscape
• Lead the development of the organization’s strategy for the Faro landscape to guide ongoing and future investments in the landscape.

• Serve as the technical point of contact with key donors and other key donors in Cameroon that are funding projects in the Faro landscape, program implementing partners, and stakeholders on all aspects of the program/grants.
• Collaborate with the Landscape development team and Program Design teams to build a sustainable portfolio of donors and projects for the Faro landscape.
• Participate in the identification of opportunities, development, and design of proposals for submission to key donors for support of the program.
• Promote the organization’s work within the country and ensure close alignment with national strategies and programs.
• Where relevant and in conjunction with the Country Director, represent the organization at national and international events.
• Lead the engagement with other donors and stakeholders in the landscape to ensure effective collaboration.
• Foster strong and productive working relationships with major stakeholder groups, sub-national government representatives, protected area authorities, local authorities, communities, NGO and the private sector in the region.
• Institute Adaptive Management for the organization’s interventions in the landscape to effectively achieve high-level goals and follow the theory of change, monitoring progress and adapting to changes.
• Ensure the organization’s work in Faro is informed and informed by the regional context for biodiversity conservation such as the Congo Basin Forest Partnership.
• Supervise all project staff, consultants, and sub-grantees, creating and sustaining a work environment of mutual respect where the project team strives to achieve excellence. Ensure a cohesive workplace for optimum staff retention.
• Ensure coordinated inputs and participation of the organization’s teams, technical, fund-raising, policy, etc., in support of the landscape program and vice versa, ensuring the landscape program contributes to the organization’s goals.

Program Management

• Manage day-to-day operations of the program, which includes effective team management, effective administration and tracking of project finances, program monitoring and evaluation, timely donor reporting, and effective coordination and cooperation between project implementing partners among others.
• Ensure full compliance with the donor grant agreements and the organization’s policies and procedures including, in particular, Policy and Standard for Rights-Based Conservation.
• Oversee sub-grantees, facilitate technical assistance, and steer them towards results-oriented activities; and ensure grantee compliance with terms and conditions of their agreements.
• Convene program management meetings with staff and appropriate partners to oversee program implementation.
• Collaborate with the organization’s senior program team and key implementing partners to design annual work and performance management plans that will deliver program-level goals.
• Provide leadership in tracking and reporting program performance against prescribed criteria to donors (EU,…), the organization, and partners in a timely manner.
• Host donor and partner visits in a professional way.
• Build and manage a team of professional staff; ensure roles & responsibilities are clearly defined and performance is managed with the required focus and discipline.
• Optimize utilization of the organization’s Project Management methodologies by comprehensively updating plans in the prescribed formats.
• Ensure quarterly and yearly means of verification (MOVs) are defined, delivered, and recorded in BOX in a timely and transparent manner.
• Ensure implementation of activities and expected outputs in line with respective grants’ terms and conditions, and donor expectations
• Oversee sub-grantees and facilitate technical assistance, steering them toward results-oriented activities and sustainability.

Financial, compliance, and administrative responsibilities

With the support from the Finance and Administration officer for Faro :

• Oversee the development of the annual implementation budget plans and continuous monitoring of spending against budgets to ensure strict adherence to established donor targets including ensuring that activities are conducted on time and on budget.
• Ensure that there are regular budget reviews to ensure an appropriate burn rate.
• Ensure full compliance with the EU grant and the organization’s policies and procedures and that there are no disallowable expenses.
• Ensure partner compliance with the terms and conditions of their agreements and that partner performance is adequately monitored and their capacity strengthened.
• Provide timely and adequate technical progress and financial reports for the project.
• Tracking and reporting matching funds from other related programs as required.
• Achieve sound financial management and ensure accountability of all project deliverables
• Ensure effective procurement of project equipment and other essential resources
• Monitor vehicle usage and maintenance.
• Ensure effective use of project funds including proper handling of cash.
• The LD will be responsible for ensuring proper use and accounting for all the organization’s funds and equipment used in the landscape.

Technical

• Working with the Landscape Manager/Technical Advisor, oversee the partnership with the Conservator to increase the ability of MINFOF to conduct its roles and responsibilities to improve overall natural resource governance of the TOU Faro and its periphery, protected area management, and conservation.
• Oversee the Development of a general management plan and operational plan; build a stronger presence in FNP; support law enforcement and anti-poaching; build the capacity of the rangers.
• oversee the implementation of the organization’s Conservation-based rights policy in the organization’s programming in Faro.
• Ensure effective relationships with the landowners and communities adjacent to FNP; establish an effective partnership with relevant hunting concessions (ZICs) surrounding the Park; and ensure effective communication and reporting.
• Oversee the development of an anti-poaching plan including a training schedule, standard of procedures, rights-based safeguards, information network, and early threat warning strategies working with the Conservator and Landscape Manager/Technical Advisor.
• With the support of the Country Director, ensure that the systems put in place are consistent with MINFOF and the organization’s standards.
• Develop a strategic stakeholder engagement plan that places a particular focus on the involvement of the local communities in a way that respects principles of good governance, reduces conflicts between people and wildlife and people and the park management authority, and provides a vision to improve human well-being and the overall resilience of the landscape.
• Work with the Conservator to develop and oversee the implementation of a general management plan.
• Oversee the development of key infrastructure development including roads, radio rooms, ranger outposts, staff office, tourism facilities, signage, and other facilities.
• Oversee a rigorous training schedule designed to adequately build the capacity of the Service de Conservation staff and leadership.

Other

Any other relevant duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Conservation, Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Management, or a related field
• Solid Project Management Experience with at least 10 years of experience successfully managing a project in a remote and challenging environment. Protected area management experience is an advantage.
• Strong leadership skills with demonstrated ability.
• Experience in implementing donor projects.
• Experience working in an International work context with a proven ability to work in remote locations sometimes under strenuous physical conditions.
• Genuine respect for the skills and perspectives of communities, partner organizations, and the private sector.
• Demonstrated ability to build the capacity of multiple stakeholders to engage in landscape planning and management.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills including the ability to build coalitions, negotiate, and manage conflict situations.
• Good understanding of financial management and budgeting.
• Proven ability in managing and motivating a qualified team of professionals in different fields.
• Capacity to facilitate complex multi-stakeholder processes.
• Experience in collaborating with governmental institutions, military structures, and the private sector, such as hunting concessionaires and tourism operators, and conservation/PA-management NGOs.
• Experience collaborating effectively with local communities.
• Fluency in spoken and written French and English.
• The following are not essential but would provide an advantage:
  • Knowledge of international standards and practices related to integrated land use planning, wildlife management, community engagement, and good governance.
  • Experience in natural resource governance and management including the development of management and business plans.
  • Experience in training, anti-poaching training, and implementation in different environments (forest, savanna, etc.).
  • Experience with systems such as SMART, CyberTracker, anti-poaching technology, communications and weaponry.

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