Reserve Manager/Project Director (283jc) vacancy in Southern Africa ()

My client an International NGO specialised in Wild Animal Welfare and Conservation, with operations across the globe is now seeking a Reserve Manager/Project Director for one of its largest reserves in the region.

You will be reporting to the Country Director and you will be based in the heart of one of the largest nature reserves in the region.

About the position:

The purpose of this position is to provide the strategic leadership to ensure the conservation and protection of the reserve and its biodiversity, whilst delivering benefits to the local community, developing tourism potential, and maintaining strong partnerships with local and national government bodies, and private tourism operators.

The Reserve co-management is implemented through a senior management team of the Local Reserve Warden and my client’s Reserve Manager – who is also the local Project Director. The Warden is responsible for coordination with local, provincial and national bodies, whilst the Reserve Manager is responsible for operations. This requires close coordination and a strong planning, reporting and communications framework. Together, the Warden and Reserve Manager must lead a management team to implement strategies and plans to secure reserve’s for the long term, and ensure the sustainable use of the Reserve’s natural resources.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and build cohesion in a multi-cultural team (~120 full-time employees)
• Establish and implement a management and communications system with the Warden and the Reserve Management Team (Finance and Administration Manager, Logistics Manager, Monitoring Coordinator, Law Enforcement Manager, Community Team Manager)
• Support the process to finalise the reserve General Management Plan (GMP) during 2015
• Implement the GMP to reduce threats to the reserve’s conservation targets – including coordinating preparation of annual work plans and budgets, coordinating reporting, and supporting the Reserve Management Team to set and achieve quarterly and annual goals
• Coordinate implementation of the law enforcement strategy with the Warden and LE Manager
• Coordinate implementation of the Integrated Conservation and Development Strategy with the Warden and the Community Project Director
• Strengthen and implement management and operations policies, procedures and systems
• Coordinate closely with the tourism operators and other key stakeholders
• Implement a risk management system, and ensure mitigation actions are undertaken
• Oversee financial management and reporting for the reserve, including financial compliance, and management of the reserve assets and stock
• Oversee all logistics operations
• Oversee infrastructure development in the park
• Overall responsibility for all aircraft operations, ensuring appropriate use, effective risk management and implementation of related strategies and plans.
• Contribute to external reporting and fund-raising documents as required

Competencies and Experience:

We are looking for an outstanding leader with proven managerial and project management experience, strong communication skills, and a thorough understanding of African conservation, sustainable development and socio-economic issues.

• 10+yrs experience leading, developing, and managing programs/large projects in at least two developing countries (required)
• 10+ years Project management experience, ideally in at least two African countries (preferred)
• Candidates with conservation background, 5+yrs senior management experience is highly desired.
• Candidates with financial/management background, 5+yrs senior conservation experience is highly desired.
• Proven commitment to leadership and project management (required)
• Proven track record in personnel management, including the ability to motivate, set objectives and manage the performance of a multidisciplinary team (required)
• Experience with government agencies and other stakeholders on PA support (preferred)
• Hands-on management of law enforcement operations, ideally with military training and experience (preferred)
• Implementing a community or natural resource management project (preferred)
• Experience working with tourism operators (preferred)
• Developing infrastructure in a remote protected area (preferred)
• Excellent spoken and written English (required)
• Portuguese language fluency (preferred) – if not fluent in Portuguese, then a demonstrated ability to master a foreign language (required)
• Swahili proficiency (preferred)
• Relevant post-graduate degree (preferred – e.g. conservation, ecology, development, management, international relations, law)
• Proven ability to live and work in a remote area (required)
• Flexibility, optimism, good humour, passion for excellence, self-motivated to achieve a collective purpose.

In return they are offering and attractive package, with free flights back to home base on an annual basis, all accommodation, food, insurance, medical cover will be provided by the client. This can be an accompanied role, however candidates with accompanied children would not be suitable, as the residence is in the heart of the National Park and schooling will not be available for them.

However you will be living in the middle of one of the globes most outstanding places of natural beauty, where you will be part of the international effort to try and secure a future for some of the globes rarest animals on the planet.