Job vacancy : Senior Landscape Manager- the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF)

Job details
Description

Position Summary

The Senior Landscape Manager-Dja (SLM-Dja) will lead the planning, coordination, and management of the Dja landscape conservation strategic plan ensuring its alignment with AWF’s Cameroon strategic vision. She/he is responsible for all aspects of program implementation, ensuring that key components such as planning, people management, financial, and administrative are functional and are in compliance with donor financial guidelines, funding agreements, AWF practice, and global standards taking account of the local conditions. S/he will organize program execution consistent with program objectives by engaging multi-stakeholders and promoting the AWF’s Right-based conservation approach. In collaboration with other AWF staff, Conservation Service , Consultants, and local partners, the SLM-Dja will coordinate effective anti-poaching, ecological monitoring systems, community engagement and administrative support that facilitate program activities implementation in the landscape. The SLM-Dja will promote and support the capacity development of the Conservator, eco-guards, and indigenous and local community members to improve their effort to protect and manage the resources of the national parks.
Key Responsibilities.

1. Program Management and Operations

Manage day-to-day supervision of the Dja Landscape program ensuring effective and quality planning and implementation of activities to meet agreed program objectives; in line with existing management agreements between MINFOF and AWF (e.g. MoU AWF-MINFOF for Dja).
Lead strategic planning, coordination, implementation, reporting, and management of the landscape.
Ensure that all activities are delivered in line with agreed timelines and budgets, according to each donor’s agreements and administrative requirements, and in compliance with donor and AWF operating standards, policies and procedures, and funding agreements.
Oversee budget management of the landscape –responsible for the management of landscape budgets by working closely with Finance Managers on budget coordination with accountability to the finance team for smooth implementation of the work plan.
In collaboration with the MEAL team, manage processes to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the landscape program, timely adaptation of activities, as required and following AWF and donor processes for change, to meet project objectives, and timelines, and support the dissemination of lessons learned.
Ensure that all activities are fully evidenced through excellent record keeping and data storage, in compliance with both AWF and donor requirements, to enable regular monitoring and progression of conservation impacts.
Identify, minimize, and manage safeguarding issues and risks.
In collaboration with the Senior Safeguarding Officer, ensure the development and implementation of the AWF Complaints and Grievance Management Mechanism setup to support AWF’s Right-based Conservation Approach in the landscape.
Ensure that implementation procedures are in full compliance with AWF policies, procedures, and also country law.

2. Program Development.

Collaborate with the program development department by providing inputs to proposals development to support conservation initiatives/activities in the landscape.
Support the Country Director with donor liaison and other networks on program/project implementation.
Lead and take accountability for the development and regular review work plan for consistency in the landscape program.
Provide necessary contribution, when needed, in the development and nurturing relationships with prospective and existing funders and donors.

3. Grant Management

In coordination with the Finance, Budget and Grants team based in Yaounde and Nairobi, undertake specific landscape fund management responsibilities where appropriate, including:
Delivery of grant-funded projects within time-frames, and budgets and managing project inputs from relevant technical and operational staff, consultants, and implementing partners, ensuring appropriate contracts are in place where relevant.
Lead AWF and donor technical report writing and editing, coordinating the inputs of team members, cross-cutting teams, and partners, ensuring accurate and timely technical reports as per AWF and donor requirements.
Manage and oversee landscape finances and ensure all expenditure complies with donor and AWF regulations.
Support the preparation of project financial reports, with support from the Finance and Grant teams, and ensure timely, high quality, and accurate technical, financial, and institutional reporting is submitted to donors.
Ensure maintenance of project financial records by the Finance and Administration Officer, with the support of the Finance and Administration Manager, that meets institutional auditing requirements and donor reporting and auditing requirements.
Ensure timely submission of fund advance requests for activities to Finance Department.

4. Technical Support to Activities.

Support key program thematic areas including but not limited to biomonitoring, law enforcement, community development, ecotourism, and private sector engagement.
Support the Conservation Service to build capacity and support their leadership and responsibilities in the parks and the landscape as a whole.
Develop a system to strengthen the capacity of eco-guards and community members in the use of data collection tools (CyberTracker/SMART, GPS, camera traps), and download, manage, and analyze data for reports.
Support the regular upgrade and management of the Dja Operations Control Room, and assure the function and training of Conservation and AWF staff as appropriate.
Lead AWF contribution in the revision of Dja Faunal reserve Management Plan, specific species management plans and and other initiatives.
Facilitate the activities of the collaboration platforms (e.g. Forum des Acteurs) in support of the Conservation Service and other conservation actions.

5. Staff Management and Partner Relations

Line manage relevant staff through providing induction, reviewing individual work plans, objective setting, continuous performance management, training, coaching, and personal development planning to ensure efficient, effective delivery of the landscape program.
Participate in the recruitment and selection of staff under his/her supervision and consultants when required.
Establish and actively maintain a positive and productive working relationship with key stakeholders such as government, indigenous and local communities, NGOs, and the private sector both at the landscape level.
Ensure effective collaboration with sectorial ministries (MINFOF, MINAT, MINAS, MINDEF, MINADER…), and related government offices for smooth implementation of the program.
Ensure alignment of activities and good relations upheld between field teams, AWF program staff, and with partners, ensuring any conflicts arising are managed efficiently and positively.
Identify and work closely with local community-based organizations that can effectively contribute to and benefit from this program.

6. Communications and Representation.

Encourage a culture of excellent communication, sharing of knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices, and collaboration between project staff, wider AWF team members, implementing partners, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
In liaison with Communications and Program Departments, ensure the landscape provides materials (e.g. text and images…) for the production of up-to-date communications and fundraising material (e.g. web pages, articles, reports) to ensure the visibility of AWF’s work in the landscape.
Ensure AWF is adequately represented at various partner and stakeholder coordination
platforms for the successful implementation of landscape activities.
Represent AWF and the Dja landscape program, in developing its profile and promoting
its work to third parties, including diplomatic and government agencies, communities, NGOs, academic institutions, funders, and media.

7. Others

Work as an active member of AWF Cameroon and the wider AWF team and attend Cameroon meetings and work planning sessions as required.
Provide technical input, where appropriate and requested, on other work undertaken by the AWF Cameroon program.
With the agreement of the Country Director, perform any other tasks that may be requested from time to time as required.

Requirements and Skills

Education & Experience.

Master’s degree in natural resources management, environmental or conservation management, development studies, or any relevant fields or a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in, Natural resource management, or another field directly related to conservation with relevant experience;
At least 7 years of proven experience in leading and managing conservation program programs in Cameroon and or Africa with knowledge and direct experience in landscape and protected area management;
Proven experience in managing program funds including strategic planning and budgeting funds from diversified sources including governments and aid agencies, and private sector donors;
Knowledge of the policy/institutional context related to conservation and the government agencies, development partners, and donor institutions and experience working in a multicultural environment and international organizations.
Proven ability to assess capacity, and develop skills of project staff and partners ;
Ability to lead and design biodiversity survey methodologies including managing field research and biomonitoring, including camera trapping;
Experience in the use/implementation of SMART or similar ranger-based monitoring tools such as CyberTracker, GPS, and ArcGIS;
Experience leading in awareness-raising and/or environmental education activities;
Experience in implementing and monitoring community livelihood activities;
Experience using FPIC (Free, Prior, Informed Consent) processes.

Skills & Abilities.

Strong Project Management ability – planning, time management, and coordination
People Management – ability to build, motivate and develop cross functional teams, networking,; and Financial Management – costing, budgets, and cash flows;
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and diplomatic skills with the ability to manage and interact at all levels of an international, multicultural, and multilingual organization.
Report writing, networking, coordination, and facilitation skills.
Ability to create a culture of mutual respect and high performance
Proactive nature of problem solving and comfort working with a diverse group of staff and patners
Outstanding interpersonal skills including the ability to build coalitions, negotiate, and manage and resolve conflict;
Experience engaging diverse stakeholders and extreme tact in dealing with sensitive matters;
Passionate about wildlife and conservation with the ability to galvanize the network and the broader community around a shared agenda;
Willingness to work independently, and successfully manage relationships with colleagues within the Organization;
Commitment to AWF and its mission of promoting the ecological and economic viability of large landscapes;
Knowledge of M&E systems is preferred;
Fluency in French and English;
Ability and willingness to work in remote areas under challenging physical and nutritional conditions;
High competence in computer and internet skills and;
Ability and willingness to fulfill AWF administrative and accountability procedures and regulations.
Willingness and ability to work in remote and physically challenging locations.