DRC: Landscape Director, Bili Mbomu Conservation Complex

Oct 3, 2021 | African Wildlife Foundation
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With a mission to ensure wildlife and wild lands thrive in modern Africa, AWF has been a key player in African Conservation and sustainable development for nearly 60 years and has identified the Bili Mbomu Conservation Complex (BMCC) landscape as one of its focal sites for investment. This exciting position will provide leadership for AWF’s strategic interventions in the landscape. It will require someone with proven management skills, strong interpersonal abilities and the capacity to work with various departments of the DRC 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 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.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director Project management & Partnerships, the Landscape Director (LD) will be responsible for providing overall leadership, strategic focus, management and accountability for performance of AWF’s Landscape Program in the BMCC. The LD will be responsible for implementation of all AWF and donor funded programs in the landscape, working with project managers where necessary. They will also be required to assist in attracting donor funding; build the capacity of leadership in the landscape with specific focus on staff from AWF, ICCN 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 BMCC and its wildlife. The LD will have the overall responsibility in the areas of operations, administration, logistics, procurement, budgeting, and financial accounting of BMCC Landscape program.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Landscape Leadership

  • Provide overall leadership for the technical and managerial aspects for all AWF projects and interventions in the BMCC Landscape, working with project managers for specific programs such as the CBCWT
  • Working with other AWF departments and staff, lead the development of the AWF strategy for the BMCC landscape to guide ongoing and future AWF investments in the landscape.
  • Work closely with the AWF Country Coordinator in Kinshasa to ensure close collaboration with the country office and national engagements with key Government departments, donors and stakeholders.
  • Be the technical point of contact with key donors such as EU, KFW, USAID and other key donors in DRC that are funding projects in the BMCC Landscape, program implementing partners, and stakeholders on all aspects of the program/grants.
  • Where relevant and in conjunction with the AWF Country Coordinator, represent AWF 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, national governments, protected area authorities, local authorities, communities, NGO’s and private sector in the region.
  • Participate in the identification of opportunities, development and design of proposals for submission to key donors for support of the program.
  • Ensure AWF’s work in the BMCC Landscape is informing and informed by the regional context for biodiversity conservation such as the Congo Basin Forest Partnership.
  • Supervise all project personnel, consultants, sub-grantees and other personnel as assigned, 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 AWF teams, technical, fund-raising, policy etc., in support of landscape program and vice versa, ensure landscape program contributes to AWF goals.

Program Management

  • Oversee 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 EU grant agreement and AWF policies and procedures including, in particular, AWF’s 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.
  • Work closely with the DRC Country Coordinator to help promote AWF work within the country and ensure close alignment with national strategies and programs.
  • Work with AWF 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 of program performance against prescribed criteria to EU, AWF, 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 AWF 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, steer them towards results oriented activities and sustainability.
  • Oversee the development and management of aviation capacity for the project, working with the pilot to ensure proper and effective use of the plane for project activities and to support management and logistics.

Financial, compliance and administrative responsibilities

  • Work closely with the Finance and Administration officer for BMCC to:
    • 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 appropriate burn rate. All significant variations will be explained to the Country Coordinator, Senior Director, Conservation Projects and Chief Financial Officer.
    • Ensure full compliance with the EU grant and AWF policies and procedures and that there are no disallowable expenses.
    • Ensure partner compliance with 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 to assure optimal longevity, utilization and deployment.
    • Ensure effective use of project funds including proper handling of cash.
  • The LD will be responsible for ensuring proper use and accounting for all funds used in the landscape.

Technical

  • Work in partnership with the Conservator to improve overall natural resource governance of the BMCC and its periphery
  • Develop a general management plan and operational plan; build a stronger presence in BMCC; support law enforcement and anti-poaching; build the capacity of the rangers.
  • Design and supervise a plan to monitor wildlife, key habitat indicators, and illegal activities. Surveys will permit evaluation of progress and the need for adjustments in park security operations, etc.
  • Ensure effective relationships with the communities within and adjacent to the BMCC and ensure effective communication and reporting.
  • Develop a security and anti-poaching plan with key stakeholders such as Maisha including a training schedule, standard operating procedures, rights-based safeguards, informant network, and early threat warning strategies.
  • Ensure that the systems put in place are consistent with ICCN and AWF standards.
  • Develop a strategic stakeholder engagement plan that places a particular focus on the engagement 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 with a vision to improve human well-being and the overall resilience of the landscape.
  • Conduct a Threats-based Analysis of the BMCC and surroundings in order to inform planning and asset deployment.
  • Work with the conservator to develop and oversee the implementation of a general management plan.
  • Oversee the development of key infrastructure development including roads and bridges, radio/control rooms, ranger outposts, key observation and communications posts, staff office, tourism facilities, signage and other facilities.
  • Oversee a rigorous training program designed to build the capacity of ICCN staff and leadership.
  • Examine and contextualize current wildlife and protected area legislation and regulations, and work with ICCN, the AWF Country Coordinator, and other stakeholders to consider suggested adaptations to account for the dynamic state of wildlife conservation in the country.

Other

  • To familiarise themselves with the AWF rights-based approach to conservation work and ensure its effective implementation in the landscape
  • Any other relevant duties as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation, Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Management or related field. Masters will be an added advantage. A lower qualification with relevant experience will be considered
  • Strong leadership skills with demonstrated ability.
  • Solid Project Management Experience with at least 10 years’ experience successfully managing a project in a remote and challenging environment. Protected area management experience is an advantage
  • Experience implementing international commercial or donor projects
  • International work experience with a proven ability to work in remote locations sometimes under strenuous physical conditions
  • Experience working in conflict and post-conflict zones
  • Experience working in the Central African and Francophone African context
  • Genuine respect for the skills and perspectives of communities, partner organizations, and the private sector
  • Demonstrated ability to build 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 of collaborating with governmental institutions, military structures and private sector, such as hunting concessionaires and tourism operators, and conservation/PA-management NGOs.
  • Experience working effectively with local communities to build mutually beneficial collaborations.
  • Fluency in spoken and written French and English.
  • Willingness and ability to live and work in very remote location under physically challenging conditions

Experience of the following will be 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 construction, road building and maintenance, and practical experience in maintenance of vehicles, equipment and infrastructure.
  • Experience in training, anti-poaching training and implementation in different environments (forest, savanna, etc.).
  • Experience with monitoring systems such as SMART, Cyber Tracker, anti-poaching technology, and weaponry.