DRC: Sustainable Markets Manager

May 30, 2022 | Wildlife Conservation Society
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The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization 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 organizations, 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 utilization of natural resources.
   

The Kahuzi Biega National Park (KBNP) is one of the most biodiverse protected areas in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where WCS has been working to support conservation for more than 20 years. In 2022 WCS entered into a new management agreement under a Public Private Partnership with the DRC National Protected Area Agency (ICCN) to conserve KBNP and bring it up to international human rights and protected area management standards, respecting indigenous governance and management. In this context, WCS seeks to develop a new paradigm for KBNP, through conservation that is realised through people and nature working together. 

Job Summary

The Sustainable Markets Manager is a pivotal new role in this new paradigm, the main functions of the role will be to: 

  • Provide technical and coordination support on a multi-sectoral program focusing on economic resilience, coffee production, and gorilla conservation around the Kahuzi Biega National Park in eastern DRC, in particular supporting the Chief of Party (TechnoServ) in the USAID funded “Hearth Gorilla Coffee Alliance” (GCA), and
  • provide technical expertise to other WCS projects involving work on livelihood and protein diversification, sustainable market development and microenterprise with communities.

The Sustainable Markets Manager will provide technical oversight on the linkages of economic activities to conservation, ensure strong design of community conservation programs with KBNP buffer communities, and ensure strong coordination and alignment with the other Strategic Approaches of the program.

Major Responsibilities

He/she will deliver on the following principal responsibilities in full coordination with, and supported by, the WCS KBNP and DRC management team, and the WCS Central Africa Regional team as needed:

  • Serve as the Deputy Chief of Party and primary WCS point of contact and authorized representative with USAID in regard to all communications on the Gorilla Coffee Alliance (GCA) project;
  • Coordinate the implementation, management and administration of the WCS components of the GCA project in close collaboration with relevant teams and project partners;
  • Provide leadership to the design, implementation, and partnership strategy to improve the conservation linkages to market systems and integrate conservation within other strategic approaches, that are inclusive and increase community support to KBNP;
  • Provide or ensure technical support and quality assurance to other livelihoods diversification, micro-finance and sustainable market-based initiatives in and around KBNP;
  • Oversee implementation on the conservation strategic approach, conservation contracts, and livelihood programming;
  • Within the GCA, facilitate joint activity design and planning, coordinated implementation, and learning between conservation, coffee productivity, livelihoods, marketing and nutrition teams;
  • Build capacity of technical and other project staff, partners, and stakeholders for implementing multi-sectoral agriculture system strategies for increasing food production and diversifying incomes;
  • Understand and manage expected results, including monitoring and evaluation of ongoing activities as part of a collaborating, learning, and adapting approach;
  • Work closely with the field team and project staff, including regular field visits, to develop annual work plans aligned with annual and life of project targets;
  • Build and maintain constructive relationships with government officials, private sector and civil society partners, conservation sector leaders, donors/collaborators, and others as appropriate.

Qualification Requirements

WCS is looking for a candidate who has:

  • Advanced degree (masters) in a natural resource management, conservation, development, agronomic studies or comparable
  • At least 5-7 years’ experience in natural resource management, sustainable agriculture, or socio-economic related interventions
  • Demonstrated knowledge of USAID project management including USAID rules and reporting requirements
  • Experience working and collaborating with diverse sets of stakeholders, such as local NGOs, government officials, donor representatives and the private sector a distinct advantage.
  • Experience with conflict sensitivity and management is a key advantage
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, working capabilities in French; knowledge of Swahili or other local languages are a distinct advantage
  • Easily adaptable to work with a large and diverse team, strong collaborative spirit and patience


How to apply

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience, should through the application tab below by June 8, 2022

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