Job Description
Reports to: Chad Country Director
Location: N’Djamena, Chad
Position Type: Fulltime
Expected travel: Regular travel throughout the country and periodic travel through the Sudano Sahel Region and project countries covered by the project, as needed.
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.
The Sudano-Sahel Region presents unparalleled opportunities for WCS to play a direct role in saving some of the last remaining intact wildernesses on the planet and to contribute significantly to the security of people and wildlife. The savannas, forests, and wetlands of the region support key populations of endangered elephant, northern giraffe, lion, eland, chimpanzee, gorilla, bongo, and the second largest antelope migration on the planet. Hundreds of bird species occur in the area, including the shoebill and the crowned crane. Communities also depend on the land for their livelihoods through pastoralism, agriculture, fishing, and hunting. WCS has a significant presence in the Sudano-Sahel region, with a strong conservation history and proven success in protected area management, with active conservation mandates, Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR). The project will cover also the Republic of Cameroon.
Chad Program Overview:
WCS has a long history of involvement in conservation in Chad dating back to 2005. This has included aerial surveys of semi-arid areas, aerial surveys and support to elephant protection in Zakouma Park between 2006 to 2012, technical expertise contributions to the development of the Chad National Elephant Action Plan in 2014, aerial surveys in 2015, engagement in providing support to the Government of Chad for management of Sena-Oura National Park as part of a transboundary initiative with neighboring Bouba-Ndjida National Park in Cameroon from 2016 through present. More recently in May 2021 WCS, in partnership with the EU and other partners, has launched the Central Chari Basin Landscape Conservation Program “Écosystème du Bassin Central du Chari: vers une approche intégrée du paysage (BC- Chari),“ covering the landscape between Southeastern Chad, Northern CAR and Cameroon. Over the past years WCS has worked with the governments and partners of Chad, CAR, and Cameroon to put in place transboundary anti-poaching coordination systems (particularly to address well organized elephant poaching) and we are developing a new program with the European Union to engage in transboundary transhumant pastoralism. In February 2023, a Framework Agreement was signed between the Government of Chad and WCS to pave the way for a long-term partnership.
The WCS Chad program (established as of May 2021) has responsibility for the representation, management, and administration of all WCS activities in Chad and ensuring sound coordination of the transboundary initiatives. A country office has been established in N’djamena, with an administration and representation team.
WCS is now seeking a dynamic and highly motivated professional for the position of Project Coordinator. The position will be based at N’Djamena with frequent travel throughout the landscape in Chad and in other countries covered by the project, including CAR and Cameroon.
Job Summary:
The Project Coordinator will oversee the implementation of the project focused on improving access to pastoral services and agro-pastoral structures for natural resource management in Chad with cross-regional collaboration in CAR and Cameroon. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for general project management to facilitate timely and quality achievement of deliverables and for donor reporting, with the support of the Chad Country Director and the Sudano-Sahel regional team. This project is entering its second year of implementation.
Major Responsibilities:
Under the direct supervision of the WCS Chad’s Country Director, specific responsibilities include the following:
Location: N’Djamena, Chad
Position Type: Fulltime
Expected travel: Regular travel throughout the country and periodic travel through the Sudano Sahel Region and project countries covered by the project, as needed.
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.
The Sudano-Sahel Region presents unparalleled opportunities for WCS to play a direct role in saving some of the last remaining intact wildernesses on the planet and to contribute significantly to the security of people and wildlife. The savannas, forests, and wetlands of the region support key populations of endangered elephant, northern giraffe, lion, eland, chimpanzee, gorilla, bongo, and the second largest antelope migration on the planet. Hundreds of bird species occur in the area, including the shoebill and the crowned crane. Communities also depend on the land for their livelihoods through pastoralism, agriculture, fishing, and hunting. WCS has a significant presence in the Sudano-Sahel region, with a strong conservation history and proven success in protected area management, with active conservation mandates, Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR). The project will cover also the Republic of Cameroon.
Chad Program Overview:
WCS has a long history of involvement in conservation in Chad dating back to 2005. This has included aerial surveys of semi-arid areas, aerial surveys and support to elephant protection in Zakouma Park between 2006 to 2012, technical expertise contributions to the development of the Chad National Elephant Action Plan in 2014, aerial surveys in 2015, engagement in providing support to the Government of Chad for management of Sena-Oura National Park as part of a transboundary initiative with neighboring Bouba-Ndjida National Park in Cameroon from 2016 through present. More recently in May 2021 WCS, in partnership with the EU and other partners, has launched the Central Chari Basin Landscape Conservation Program “Écosystème du Bassin Central du Chari: vers une approche intégrée du paysage (BC- Chari),“ covering the landscape between Southeastern Chad, Northern CAR and Cameroon. Over the past years WCS has worked with the governments and partners of Chad, CAR, and Cameroon to put in place transboundary anti-poaching coordination systems (particularly to address well organized elephant poaching) and we are developing a new program with the European Union to engage in transboundary transhumant pastoralism. In February 2023, a Framework Agreement was signed between the Government of Chad and WCS to pave the way for a long-term partnership.
The WCS Chad program (established as of May 2021) has responsibility for the representation, management, and administration of all WCS activities in Chad and ensuring sound coordination of the transboundary initiatives. A country office has been established in N’djamena, with an administration and representation team.
WCS is now seeking a dynamic and highly motivated professional for the position of Project Coordinator. The position will be based at N’Djamena with frequent travel throughout the landscape in Chad and in other countries covered by the project, including CAR and Cameroon.
Job Summary:
The Project Coordinator will oversee the implementation of the project focused on improving access to pastoral services and agro-pastoral structures for natural resource management in Chad with cross-regional collaboration in CAR and Cameroon. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for general project management to facilitate timely and quality achievement of deliverables and for donor reporting, with the support of the Chad Country Director and the Sudano-Sahel regional team. This project is entering its second year of implementation.
Major Responsibilities:
Under the direct supervision of the WCS Chad’s Country Director, specific responsibilities include the following:
- Contributing to the recruitment of the project’s staff and supervising the project team;
- Maintaining up to date project management systems to enable timely implementation of activities and deliverables;
- Ensuring standardized monitoring protocols to enable consistent reporting against the donor results framework;
- Regularly communicating with field team leads in Chad, CAR, Cameroon and project partners to coordinate within and across countries project delivery;
- Design and implement innovative approaches to include pastoralist and transhumance community members in biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management;
- Work with national, regional and local actors to develop agreements and practical systems to coordinate seasonal cross-border migration of cattle herders, including forms of taxation and monitoring systems;
- Leading socio-economic and ecological surveys across the landscape, mapping of migration patterns and surveys of significant biodiversity areas to enable integrated land-use planning and GPS mapping;
- Developing and leading livelihood support programs for local communities and pastoralists, e.g. fisheries, gardening, tree planting, grazing management, disease prevention, etc.;
- Setting up cross-border Early Warning Systems to coordinate anti-trafficking efforts across the landscape;
- Overseeing the environmental and social safeguard monitoring systems, inclusive of obtaining institutional ethics clearance for surveys involving human subjects;
- Collating and maintaining records of information from field teams on project achievements and challenges;
- Providing assistance and oversight to sub-award management, contracting and project procurement;
- Preparing internal and external communications, including a contribution to the development of a communications plan, regarding project’s progress outcomes and incomes.
Qualification Requirements
- Master’s degree or higher (or equivalent in training and experience) in a discipline related to protected area management, natural resources management, pastoralism, zootechnics or wildlife / conservation biology;
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience with project management associated with natural resource management or transhumance pastoralism in Africa;
- A proven ability to build capacity and direct initiatives in parks and protected areas natural resources management, wildlife law enforcement, conservation biology, conservation advocacy and project management;
- Proven knowledge and experience working with Pastoralists, Transhumance, Law enforcement and Security issues;
- Proven knowledge and experience with government agencies and management of large agency grants (in particular the EU);
- Substantial experience in partner government relations and knowledge of international conservation policy issues;
- Proven ability to develop and maintain a network of high-level contacts with government officials, multilateral and bilateral technical and financial partners;
- French and English language fluency required, familiarity with languages and culture of Chad and neighboring countries will be an advantage;
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as strong analytical skills;
- Demonstrated experience effectively managing staff and team building;
- Proven ability and comfortable with living and working in a multicultural environment in isolated areas, under difficult field conditions and,
- Significant work experience in Africa, Central Africa region, knowledge of Central Africa and Sudano-Sahel region environmental and political issues.
How to apply
Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience, should apply through the application tab below by June 30, 2023.
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.
Salary Range
Competitive salary commensurate with experience
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