Sustainable Markets Manager (SMM), USAID’s Gorilla Coffee Alliance

Congo DRC

Organization: WCS - Wildlife Conservation Society
Location: Congo DRC
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- Environment
- Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
- Peace and Development
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: Closed

Job Description

Location:            Bukavu, DRC
Reports To:        KBNP Director (WCS), technical reporting line to the Chief of Party (TechnoServe)
Collaboration: Kahuzi-Biega Program Manager (WCS),
Start date:         As soon as possible
Duration:           2 years (renewable)
Position type:    Full-time

Organization Background:
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. A critical component of WCS’s work in KBNP aims to improve local livelihoods, increase food security and reduce exploitation of natural resources in KBNP. The Gorilla Coffee Alliance (GCA), is an important element of this work. WCS is the lead on Strategic Approach 2 (Strengthen KBNP Landscape Constituency Building) and plays an important role in Strategic Approach 3 (Support enterprises incentivizing conservation action) of the program.The Sustainable Markets Manager (SSM) will provide technical oversight on the linkages of economic activities to conservation, ensure strong design of community conservation programs with KBNP buffer communities, and promote strong coordination and alignment with the other Strategic Approaches of the GCA program.

Position Summary
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 (TechnoServe) in the USAID-funded USAID’s Gorilla Coffee Alliance(GCA).

The SSM 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 GCA program.

Major Responsibilities
The SSM 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;
Serve as a GCA Implementation Committee member based in South Kivu for WCS to present quarterly progress updates, submit quarterly reports, conduct work planning reviews, and prepare for steering committee meetings;
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 is 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 December 22, 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.

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