Job Description

Reports to: Regional Technical Director, East Africa, Madagascar & West Indian Ocean 

Direct Reports: Africa Marine Mammals Lead 

Location: WCS Africa Regional Hub Office in Kigali, Rwanda, with frequent travel to sites.  

Department/Division: EAMWIO Regional Program 

Position Type: Full-time 

Coordinate with: Country Directors, Country Marine Leads, Regional Technical Specialists, Global Marine program staff, Global cross-cutting teams (e.g. Policy, CWT, Development). 

About the Organization 

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 over a century of experience and long-term commitments across the globe, WCS applies biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and strong partnerships to ensure vibrant, wild places thrive alongside local communities. 

WCS’s East Africa, Madagascar & Western Indian Ocean (EAMWIO) region comprises four coastal and island nations that encompass one of the most biologically rich marine environments on Earth. Guided by a new WCS Western Indian Ocean Marine Conservation Strategy, the regional marine program aims to achieve three core impact goals aligned with the WCS Marine Conservation Strategy (2025–2030): 

  1. Maintaining and increasing the integrity of high-biodiversity and climate-resilient seascapes. 

  1. Improving conservation trajectories for endangered and threatened marine species. 

  1. Sustaining and improving the livelihoods, wellbeing, and rights of coastal citizens. 

Job purpose 

The Regional Marine Director provides vision, strategic leadership, scientific guidance, and operational coordination for WCS’s marine conservation portfolio across the EAMWIO region. They will be responsible for delivering on the WCS WIO Marine Conservation Strategy. The position holder drives regional program coherence, elevates scientific and technical standards, supports national country teams, and strengthens regional partnerships. The RMD oversees strategic implementation across all regional marine streams/themes, including 30x30, Coral Reefs, Threatened Marine Species e.g. Sharks & Rays and Marine Mammals, Water Pollution, Community Fisheries, Markets, and coordinating engagement on issues related to the Quieter and Safer Oceans Initiative. The RMD will serve as the primary bridge between national marine programs, global thematic teams, and other members of the regional office. 

Major Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership, Regional Coherence, and Fundraising 

  • Strategy Delivery: Lead the implementation, oversight, and periodic refinement of the regional marine strategy, ensuring alignment across all national country programs and regional and global strategies and initiatives. In alignment with the strategy, design and launch cross-cutting regional initiatives in collaboration with WCS’s global marine team, and conservation strategies that foster cross-border collaboration and elevate program impact. 

  • Program Governance & Alignment: Lead regular strategic coordination meetings with regional leadership and country marine leads to ensure unified direction, operational coherence, and peer exchange. Where necessary, support refining organizational structures across national marine programs, aligning country-level teams, and optimizing the use of shared regional technical capacity. 

  • Fundraising: Represent WCS EAMWIO in interactions with multi- and bilateral donors. Work with country teams and global staff to co-create opportunities for regional projects, co-design them with country programs, and manage ongoing and future regional marine grants. Support country programs to develop single-country proposals. 

Technical Oversight, Capacity Building, and Policy Engagement  

  • Data Management: Establish, harmonize, and oversee regional standards and protocols for marine data collection across priority marine species and habitats, as well as socio-economic data. Ensure that data is collected and stored in centralized repositories and aligned with Global Marine approaches. 

  • Best Practice Support: Provide technical guidance to field teams on marine conservation project design and program implementation to strengthen the management effectiveness of marine protected and conserved areas, including by connecting country staff to relevant global expertise and findings from recent research. Champion gender equity and inclusive ocean governance within marine conservation practice. 

  • Capacity Development: Design and support capacity-building initiatives, training programs, and peer-exchange platforms for WCS field staff, local partners, and government counterpart agencies, and facilitate sharing lessons learned, management models, and technical tools across country programs in the region. 

  • Policy Engagement: Represent EAMWIO during conferences and policy dialogues to help advance regional priorities and align regional and national policy frameworks with international commitments. Support country programs to contribute to relevant regional initiatives.  

Qualification Requirements

  • Education: PhD or Master’s degree in Marine Biology, Fisheries Science, Conservation Biology, Marine Resource Management, or a related field. 

  • Experience: 7–10+ years of relevant work experience in marine conservation leadership, program administration, and multi-country project coordination, with preference for prior EAMWIO regional experience. 

  • Technical Expertise: Demonstrated expertise across key regional themes: area-based management/30x30, small-scale fisheries co-management, coral reef ecology, threatened species conservation, and marine spatial planning. 

  • Scientific & Data Skills: Proven track record in managing field research, establishing standardized data protocols, and leading technical reporting or scientific publications. 

  • Interpersonal & Cultural Skills: Strong track record in institutional capacity development, cross-cultural team coordination, and navigating complex governance structures. 

  • Languages: Proficiency in English required; working knowledge of regionally relevant languages (Swahili, French, Portuguese) is highly advantageous. 

  • Travel: Ability and willingness to travel extensively within the region, approximately 30% of time away from home base. 

How to apply 

Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications, skills, and experience should apply through the application tab by October 23, 2026. We review received applications on a rolling basis. 

WCS is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensure that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and looking for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate against employment based on age, color, disability, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.

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Salary Range

Competitive salary commensurate with experience

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