*Head of Infrastructure Service at Wildlife Conservation Society*

Head of Infrastructure Service

From the Bouba Ndjidda Landscape – Benue (PBN-B)

Context

WCS’s mission is to conserve wildlife and wild places around the world through science, conservation action, education and encouraging people to respect nature.

Wildlife Conservation Society works to conserve wildlife and natural habitats through rigorous scientific research, an international environmental education program, and the management of the world’s largest network of urban wildlife parks. These activities help change people’s attitudes toward nature and aim to promote viable and sustainable interactions between people and wildlife at local and global scales. WCS is committed to this work because we believe it is essential for the integrity of life on earth. WCS has been present in Cameroon since 1988 and since then, has worked with the Government of Cameroon to create several protected areas, train many conservation executives, and this in an integrated landscape approach, which involves key stakeholders to protect biodiversity sustainably . Currently, the WCS Cameroon program works on three main landscapes, namely the Takamanda-Mone, Mbam & Djerem, and Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué (PBN-B) landscapes. The latter includes the Operational Technical Unit (UTO) of the Benue National Park (PNB) and the UTO of the Bouba Ndjidda National Park (PNBN). The UTOs include national parks and Hunting Interest Zones (ZICs). The PBN-B is also interconnected to the Sena Oura National Park (PNSO) in Chad, via the binational project, BSB Yamoussa, supervised by COMIFAC, thanks to funding from German cooperation (KfW).

In the WCS Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué Landscape (PBN-B), WCS implements activities that support the Cameroonian government through the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF) for the conservation, stability and sustainable development in and around the PBN-B. The vision of the PBN-B program is to “Safeguard the integrity of the Sudano-Sahelian savannah ecosystem of the Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué landscape, as well as its ecological connections, its emblematic wildlife species and maintain a sustainable balance for the well-being of communities”. In this context, WCS is committed to structuring an infrastructure service in charge of the design, development and implementation of the infrastructure construction program to ensure the proper management of the protected areas of the PBN-B: civil engineering structures, mainly of the raft type, creation and maintenance of dirt tracks and airstrips and construction of bases for the accommodation of personnel. It also develops a program of socio-economic infrastructure constructions for the benefit of the populations living near the PBN-B: schools, dispensaries, health centers, grain storage warehouses, boreholes, solar installations, etc. These achievements are mainly carried out in-house or by contracting local companies,

and by favoring the HIMO approach for the benefit of the local populations. The Infrastructure Service also ensures the management and maintenance of existing installations and supervises with the Logistics Department the supplies of materials and equipment necessary for its achievements. The success of the Infrastructure Service’s objectives is assessed in terms of compliance with the deadlines, the forecast costs and the criteria of qualitative excellence of the work carried out. To carry out this Infrastructure Service, WCS is looking for a Manager based in the project intervention zone in Garoua with frequent trips to the protected areas concerned by the PBN-B. Success in this position is defined by strong technical and operational mastery respecting the standards and norms in force, but also by an increased and shared understanding, a strong adherence to the values ​​of the mission and the objectives of the PBN-B, a good knowledge of its target audiences (including the general public, direct and final beneficiaries of the projects, donors and other partners present at the territorial and national level).

Responsibilities :

Development and implementation of the PBN-B Infrastructure Service strategy :

• Develop and implement the Infrastructure Service strategy in accordance with the PBN-B conservation strategy (over 5 years) – Identify and define the infrastructures to be built
• Develop and implement the annual work plan of the Infrastructure Service
• Ensure the monitoring and evaluation of the strategy and annual work plan of the Infrastructure Service in collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning team of the PBN-B

Project management :

• Manage the equipment and materials of the Infrastructure Department in coordination with his team and the Logistics Department
• Implementation of effective management of deadlines and budget for each project
• Carry out or coordinate the development of architectural plans for projects in collaboration with the various stakeholders
• Develop effective communication with stakeholders, sponsors and managers
• Ensure effective monitoring of work progress while identifying and proposing effective solutions
• Supervise the production of periodic activity reports for the Infrastructure Service
• Ensure quality control of work and compliance with safety standards
• Participate in monthly and quarterly planning of the PBN-B
• Prepare Terms of Reference (TOR) and forecast budgets for the activities of the Infrastructure Service and contribute to enriching the TOR of other relevant services to ensure the involvement of the Infrastructure service in the cross-cutting objectives of the PBN-B

Management of human and material resources of the PBN-B Infrastructure Service :

• Manage the equipment and materials of the Infrastructure Department with the Logistics Department
• Supervise, coordinate and monitor the work and tasks of the Deputy Head of the Infrastructure Department and the infrastructure managers (engineers), the site managers and their assistants, as well as the site managers and the track works supervisors (approximately 10 permanent employees – and approximately 300 temporary/seasonal employees)
• Definition of roles and responsibilities within the project team
• Develop and implement an action plan for strengthening the capacities of the Infrastructure Service: recruitment, training and supervision of staff
• Have a strong sense of purpose/responsibility in your team
• Measure department performance and hold others accountable for achieving agreed objectives and standards
• Foster learning and a sense of common purpose in diverse teams by using the opportunities offered by WCS to develop others

Development, updating and application of PBN-B Infrastructure Service standards  :

• Under the supervision of the WCS Regional Infrastructure and Logistics Department and in relation to the requirements of WCS partners, define and implement methods and protocols for construction and maintenance of infrastructure adapted to current standards and norms:

o   Design the infrastructure plans to be carried out in collaboration with the beneficiaries and in compliance with the standards and legislation in force

o   Work with government agencies to ensure compliance with building standards

o   Ensure compliance with environmental standards of Cameroon, donors and protected areas of PBN-B

o   Ensure compliance with (high) standards of health and safety management of construction projects and infrastructure management

Prepare and provide technical advice during tendering processes to service providers to ensure compliance with current standards and legislation

• Control the environmental impact of infrastructure projects at PBN-B by integrating responsible and sustainable management of PBN-B infrastructure (housing, offices, garages, runways, operational and living bases)
• Propose and integrate minimum standards for users of infrastructure services

Expected results :

• Methods and standards for construction and maintenance of infrastructures are developed, validated and implemented
• The Infrastructure Service strategy in the PBN-B is developed, validated and implemented
• Infrastructure Service activity reports are produced according to the requirements of WCS and its partners
• The construction and maintenance of the PBN-B infrastructure is effective and meets the requirements of WCS and its partners
• The management and use of equipment and materials of the PBN-B Infrastructure Service respects a responsible and sustainable approach
• The management of protected areas of the PBN-B is improved thanks to the infrastructures created

Qualifications :

• Hold an engineering degree in civil engineering or construction management
• Have at least 5 years of experience in the construction field, including in a complex logistics environment in rural Africa
• Excellent command of building codes and architectural design
• Ability to be creative in project design and solution-oriented
• Ability to manage projects
• Good knowledge of solar electricity, domestic electricity and plumbing
• Experience working and managing complex logistics in remote field conditions
• Good knowledge of IT construction tools (Autocad, Sketchup) and office automation (Pack office, MS Project)
• Excellent team management and project management skills (task and activity planning, forecast budgeting, activity reporting)
• Ability to work in a multicultural setting and at a remote site with basic amenities
• Fluency in French required, English and Fulfuldes desirable

Admissibility of applications 

WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and are looking for future team members who share this same value.

Any interested person is invited to send their application to WCS Cameroon preferably electronically to the address:  rhrecruitment@wcs.org  and imperatively put a copy to the address edjomo@wcs.org no later than August 12, 2024 including:

– A reasoned request addressed to the Country Director of WCS Cameroon: (LM_Candidate name);

-A Curriculum Vitae: (CV_ Candidate name);

-Subject: Infrastructure Manager_ WCS PBN-B