Vacancy Announcement
Sumatra
Program Manager, Bogor or Medan
Wildlife
Conservation Society – Indonesia Program
Background
The
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has a distinguished history of scientists
exploring and saving wildlife in some of the most remote and wild places
remaining on Earth. The Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program
(WCS-IP) has significantly grown over the last decades, and contributed
substantially to the conservation of biodiversity in Indonesia. We currently
work in several landscapes in Sumatra, where we aim to protect threatened
species and their habitat through working with government agencies, civil
society organizations and local communities. In order to achieve our overall
goal of saving wildlife and wild places in Indonesia, WCS-IP includes amongst
its strategic priorities the landscape-level conservation, support to protected
areas (PAs), species conservation actions, and engaging local communities.
Within Sumatra, WCS focuses on landscape-level
conservation around Gunung Leuser National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan
National Park, which form part of the World Heritage Site, Tropical Rainforest
Heritage of Sumatra. WCS also has activities in Way Kambas National Park.
Together, these three sites contain the majority of the remaining populations
of Sumatran Rhino in Indonesia, and are very important for Tiger, Elephant and
Orangutans. Despite the GOI’s strong commitment and efforts in sustainably
managing its protected areas, these PAs face serious threats, including
encroachment, poaching, invasive species, illegal logging, and mining, leading
to habitat loss and overall ecosystem degradation. WCS-IP opts for an approach
which aims to enhance the management effectiveness of a
selected number of terrestrial PAs by spearheading and piloting innovative
interventions, which can serve as examples of excellence for the national PA
system.
As
a mega-diversity country, Indonesia encompasses a high number of endemic
species of flora and fauna. While the goal of the national PA system is to
protect and conserve the country’s biological and genetic diversity, many
important geographical areas and species are currently not protected. To
protect some of these critically important areas, which may be located around
but not within the national PA system, WCS-IP is exploring new methods of
conservation, such as payment for environmental services, engaging communities
in conservation actions, working with companies, etc. Many of these methods are
relatively new, and need to be thoroughly analyzed and tested before they can
be put into practice.
Recognizing the complexities of landscape-level
conservation in Indonesia, WCS aims to address these issues through research,
monitoring, policy advice as well as direct support in the field. To increase the effectiveness of our conservation
interventions and strengthen the role WCS-IP in Sumatra, WCS-IP has decided to
create the new position of a Program Manager. The Program Manager will be required to lead and
expand, plan, manage and monitor all projects by WCS-IP in Sumatra. The work
will cover both field interventions as well as on policy development, and
include developing and maintain partnerships with government agencies and
non-government organizations. The work
will include but will not be limited to managing projects in terrestrial PAs in
Sumatra, compiling and analyzing data regarding protected area management, and
developing strategies and innovative interventions to improve PA
management.
The
position will be based in Bogor or Medan, with regular trips to the field to
provide direct technical advice, monitoring and oversight to the projects. The
Program Manager will work under the general supervision of the Director and
Deputy Director of the WCS-IP, as well as work closely together with other
colleagues in the office as a team. The Program Manager will be supported by
program officers and assistants in Bogor, Medan and in the field. The position
will be available for a period of three years from May 2014, with possibility
of extension depending on available funding.
The Program Manager will be responsible
to oversee the responsibilities and activities of this program by:
Providing overall leadership and
oversight to the WCS-IP Sumatra program:
- Developing landscape-level conservation strategies and approaches, with a focus on improving the management of existing PAs, establishing alternative mechanisms for landscape management, and developing and implementing relevant policies and actions.
- Providing perspectives and analysis on PA management issues in the priority landscapes, analyzing existing PA management challenges, and translating these analyses into improved conservation interventions and policies by WCS and partners.
- Selecting relevant project staff and partners, and providing them with training and close supervision to ensure that deliverables under the program are achieved.
- Providing oversight in the implementation of projects and interventions in Sumatra, including capacity building activities, policy and legal analysis, improving PA management systems, data compilation and management, and working with partners.
Program and Project Management:
- Overall management of project activities, including planning, implementation, and assuming quality control through developing and operationalizing monitoring and evaluation plans.
- Leading and coordinating the implementation and administration of all projects under this program, ensuring that approved workplans and activities are undertaken in a timey manner in line with budgetary means, as well as adapt the objectives, strategies, workplans and budgets as circumstances dictate, ensuring that annual, mid-term and end-of-project targets will be met.
- Support the Program officers in recruiting, managing and supervising field staff in close coordination with HR Manager, including development of Terms of Reference, individual workplans and conducting performance evaluations, planning and monitoring work and travel schedules.
- Selecting, managing and supervising partners and sub-contractors to implement activities and produce deliverables in timely fashion, including developing Terms of Reference, providing assistance in their selection and recruitment process, coordinating sub-contractor work, and monitor and evaluate their deliverables, and ensure that they are submitted in a timely manner.
- Preparing activity reports and assisting in preparing financial reports as required by donors and/or stakeholders, in Indonesian or English, written or verbal, as well as a monthly technical report in English to the Deputy Director.
- Providing capacity building and technical support to Program team and partners to ensure that the projects are effective and achieve targets;
- Documenting lessons learned from project implementation and develop briefing notes for the Deputy Director to improving implementation and coordination of project activities, support decision-making processes and knowledge management.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:
- Liaising and establishing good working relationships and/or strategic partnerships with key stakeholders such as local government, forestry department, academia, NGOs, private sector, donors and others to ensure the successful coordination, implementation and follow-up of project activities, as well as the mobilization of additional resources to the projects.
- Provide technical and facilitating support to meetings, seminars, workshops and public outreach activities as required and formally represent WCS as necessary in such meetings, workshops and conferences.
- Writing regular updates on the project activities, including news flashes and updates for WCS-IP website and other social media postings, and articles for brochures, leaflets, and printing media.
- Writing and publishing research findings and scientific papers in close coordination with line supervisor on a regular basis in scientific journals, policy papers and technical report
Program Development
- Providing inputs regarding the vision and strategy for WCS Indonesia. Participate as a member of WCS-IP to plan, implement, monitor, and periodically update WCS’ strategic approach to conservation in Indonesia.
- Developing project proposals, by compiling information, documenting lessons from projects, developing future strategies and sharing and discussing ideas and concept notes with Deputy Director for Program Development.
Others
- Undertake any other duties, as assigned by the Deputy Director and Director of WCS.
Job
Requirements
Qualifications
The
postholder should have a postgraduate qualification in ecological, social
sciences and/or a related discipline.
Experience
•
Strong background
in landscape-level conservation, PA management, and species conservation,
including policy analysis and developing appropriate
interventions.
•
At least 15 years
working experience with 8 years in managerial level
•
Proven track
record of program management, including project development, implementation and
backstopping, staff supervision and budget oversight
Competencies
•
Strong managerial
capacities, as well as strategic technical and intellectual skills in
conservation and protected area management;
•
Leadership,
results-orientation, team-building
•
Strong
facilitation, coordination, networking and negotiation skills;
•
Good analytical and
planning skills; ability to set forecasts and refine/review them in the light
of experience and further analysis
•
Strong sense for
innovation and new approaches to conservation.
•
Decisiveness and
independence,
•
Good judgement, ability to
work under pressure
•
Ability to
maintain financial and technical control of projects in the field
•
Good report
writing and presentation skills
•
Excellent
interpersonal and communication skills
•
MS Office, as
well as database and other analytical software
•
Excellent writing
skills in both English and Indonesian
Application
When you are interested on the above position and consider that you
possess the necessary qualification, please submit your job application
consisting of updated curriculum vitae, expected salary, three professional
references and a cover letter explaining your interest towards this work and/or
this organization to recruitment@wcsip.org. The email subject
should be put as: "Sumatra
Program Manager".
Deadline
May 10th, 2014
No correspondence, only short-listed candidates will be notified.
