Regional Law Enforcement Advisor

Reports to: Regional Director, Central Africa and Gulf of Guinea 

Location: Kigali, Rwanda (or other country office in the region) 

Coordinates with: Africa Protected Areas Management Unit; Country Directors, Landscape/Site Directors 

Organizational Background: 

WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run programs spanning the entire ocean and more than 3 million biologically critical square miles in nearly 60 countries.  We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence.  Our 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission. 

Regional Overview: 

The Central Africa and Gulf of Guinea program is one of the largest of WCS’s 13 Global Regional Programs, spanning Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, and Gabon. This is a rapidly growing program with a diverse and expanding portfolio of donors, partners and projects. The region presents a set of complex conservation challenges to biodiversity and their habitats and WCS field programs are addressing these through a number of initiatives including protected area management, community engagement, sustainable livelihoods, policy reform and sustainable financing. WCS recently formally established its regional hub in Kigali, Rwanda which hosts a growing team of technical specialists and regional management to support our country programs and field offices.  

Job Purpose:  

The Regional Law Enforcement Advisor will ensure law enforcement operations in sites where WCS is engaged in collaborative management agreements (CMPs) are adequately staffed, organized, equipped, and comply fully with the SOPs defined by the WCS Africa Protected Areas Management Unit (APAMU). The position will provide specialized leadership and technical assistance to support law enforcement efforts across WCS Central Africa Region’s portfolio of terrestrial protected areas. This will include but not be limited to supporting operational strategy, law enforcement planning, ranger training needs – including partnerships with external law enforcement and training service providers as needed, international human rights best practice, impact measurement and security assessment.  This position will work closely with country directors and protected area leadership and field programs in Central Africa in close coordination with  APAMU and as needed the Counter Wildlife Trafficking Thematic Program and WCS Safety and Security team.  

Primary Responsibilities: 

This position’s responsibilities will include but not be limited to: 

• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of wildlife protection and law enforcement strategies across WCS Central Africa Region’s portfolio of terrestrial protected areas.  

• Provide expert advice to site leadership and site-based law enforcement staff in thematic areas such as operational strategy, law enforcement planning, ranger training needs, international human rights and code of conduct best practice and impact measurement. 

• Provide on-site guidance and remote support to ensure that best practices are followed for optimal protected area management outcomes.  

• Initiate cross-learning initiatives, where appropriate conduct and/or support trainings and inductions to incoming site-based law enforcement leadership and field staff on law enforcement SOPs and operational strategies.  

• Assist in mitigating capacity gaps by developing appropriate strategies for the recruitment of suitable law enforcement personnel across WCS Central Africa Region’s portfolio of terrestrial protected areas. This may also include spending time in the field to fill a specific capacity gap when required. 

• Support the site teams in sound and transparent intelligence-led decision-making through supporting the development of Africa-wide law enforcement metrics with APAMU and their roll-out across the region’s protected area portfolio. 

• Provide expert support in the best use of conservation technology tools such as SMART and Earth Ranger, communications technologies and ensure optimal field deployment and subsequent analysis of effectiveness. 

• Work with the WCS Safety & Security team to provide additional support where needed to site teams to carry out security assessments and development of security planning following WCS best practices 

• Ensuring regular site-based reporting systems are in place for security and law enforcement operations.  

Minimum Qualifications: 

• At least ten years of experience leading, managing, and/or advising on law enforcement operations, ideally in Protected Areas including strategic and operational planning, risk analysis and training/development. 

• Proven experience managing a law enforcement monitoring system and understanding of intelligence-led law enforcement 

• Experience working in at least one African country is highly desirable, ideally in the Central African region.  

• Demonstrated knowledge of international human rights standards in the context of law enforcement 

• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills and demonstrated success in working in a leadership role with diverse partners, including national governments, to achieve common objectives.  

• Fluent French language skills required, and English an advantage.  

• Willingness to travel extensively in the region.  

• Commitment to conservation. 

Workplace Conditions and Environment: 

• Periodic need to work overlapping hours with teams located in different time zones. 

• Periodic need to work in the field, potentially including long hours and weekends.  
   

  How to apply
  Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications, skills, and experience are encouraged to apply via the application tab. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

   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.