Executive Director, Africa Regional Program

~ The Wildlife Conservation Society, founded in 1895, has the clear mission to save wildlife and wild places across the globe. ~

Our story began in the early 1900's when we successfully helped the American bison recover on the Western Plains. Today, we protect many of the world's iconic creatures here and abroad, including gorillas in the Congo, tigers in India, wolverines in the Yellowstone Rockies, and ocean giants in our world's amazing seascapes.  

Position Overview

The Executive Director, Africa Regional Program, is a full time position based at the New York Headquarters of WCS. This position requires extensive and authoritative knowledge on conservation issues both in Africa and internationally, extensive management and program development experience, strong leadership and public speaking skills, and an acknowledged standing in the conservation community.

The Africa Regional Director is a key member of Global Conservation Program's (GCP) senior management team; and reports to the Vice President, Field Conservation (VP/FC).

Position Objectives

• To oversee the effective implementation of field conservation through WCS's 3 priority sub- regions (Central Africa, Eastern Africa, and Madagascar and Indian Ocean) and more than 12 country programs in Africa across the marine and terrestrial realms.
• To oversee the collective field conservation contribution of the Africa Program in achieving the WCS 2020 goals. 
• To facilitate application of WCS cross-cutting expertise (for example, species conservation, conservation planning, climate change adaptation, wildlife health) into Africa programs. 
• To ensure the provision of support to Africa Country Programs including strategic planning,annual work plan management, the development and dissemination of conservation planning tools and approaches, budget management, fund-raising and other services from WCS-wide institutional support systems.
• To help establish partnerships with other conservation organizations, and with bilateral and multilateral agencies so as to deliver conservation outcomes more fully and effectively.
• To represent WCS's programs in national, regional and international forums. 
• To encourage the alignment of WCS priorities and programs with the national conservation priorities of the countries where we work. 
• To promote biodiversity conservation among national governments, international agencies, and other non-governmental organizations; direct international attention to important sites and species for conservation; and influence policies that promote their long-term persistence. 
• To serve with senior management within the Global Conservation Programs. 

Principal Responsibilities

Overseeing the management of WCS's 3 sub-regional programs in Africa will require the incumbent: 

• To have line-management authority for the Africa Country Programs and, where relevant Sub-Regional Directors. 
• To ensure a clear set of programmatic goals and objectives. 
• To align programs with funding to ensure budgetary sustainability, and delivery of support to field-based conservation activities from other units in Global Conservation Program and the Society at large.  

Ensuring the provision support to field programs will require the incumbent: 

• To work closely with GCP Senior Management especially Program Development, the Global Resources and Public Affairs divisions, and others in the Society to ensure sufficient, flexible, and growing financial support for projects, programs and initiatives in Africa. 

Facilitating the application of WCS cross-cutting expertise into Africa programs will require the incumbent: 

• To engage with the leadership of the Species Program, the Science Program, and the Wildlife Health and Health Policy Program. 

Promoting biodiversity conservation globally with host country governments, donors, governmental agencies and other non-governmental organizations will require the incumbent: 

• To engage with colleagues and institutions in the conservation community through personal relationships, meetings, speaking engagements, media interviews, writing, and general communications. 
• To direct international attention to important sites and species for conservation; and influence policies that promotes their long-term persistence. 
• Develop personal conservation activities that promote conservation globally.
• Write and publish documents. 

Qualifications 

• A doctorate or equivalent experience in a field related to the conservation of biological diversity;
• 10 years minimum of management experience; ability to foster teamwork within the program; excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Significant and diverse fundraising experience; and
• Fluency in English is essential and preferably skills in other languages with French a particular advantage. 

Note: The position is based at WCS headquarters in New York City, and includes a significant travel schedule. 

To Apply

Please click here to apply on-line, and also, use the email address provided below to send your CV and cover letter.