Park Director – Mbam and Djerem National Park Cameroon

Location: Mbakaou (Headquarters of Mbam and Djerem National Park) Cameroon

Reports to: WCS Country Program Director and Deputy Director

Start Date: ASAP

Position type: 2-years fixed-term contract, renewable.

Organizational Context

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit organization founded in 1895. Its mission is to preserve wildlife and wilderness by understanding critical problems, developing scientific solutions and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, a presence in more than 60 countries, and experience in the creation of more than 150 protected areas around the world, WCS has accumulated the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships needed to ensure that wild places and animal species 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 rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct use of natural resources.

WCS Cameroon Program Overview

WCS first began working in Cameroon in 1988 and established the Cameroon Biodiversity Program in 1993 to coordinate activities across sites in the country and had since then been involved in the creation and management of quite an important number of protected areas across the country including Mbam and Djerem National Park.

Created in 2000, the Mbam and Djerem National Park covers about 4,200 sq km of the transition zone between the dense humid forest of the south and the drier savannas of the north. Since 2003, WCS has been working alongside the Government of Cameroon through the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) on a joint project to secure the biodiversity, ecosystem services and ecological processes of the Mbam and Djerem National Park through strengthened protected area management and enhanced social well-being of its peripheral communities. Project activities focus on:

• Strengthening capacity for effective and efficient wildlife law enforcement.
• Raising awareness and conservation cooperation with local stakeholders.
• Promoting environmentally sound income generating activities.
• Enhancing ecological and socioeconomic research and monitoring.
• Developing sustainable funding mechanisms through innovative initiatives.

Summary of responsibilities

The Park Director is responsible for the overall management of the park including technical and financial management, implementation, monitoring and reporting of park activities and effective representation of WCS with various stakeholders at the local and national levels.

As the WCS representative and manager of the Mbam and Djerem National Park, the Director will ensure the following responsibilities:

• Manage and supervise Park staff.
• Manage Park budget and compliance with WCS and donor’s requirements.
• Strengthen Park staff’s capacity to ensure the conservation of the biodiversity of Mbam and Djerem National Park
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with the government institutions and authorities at local and national level.
• Secure additional funding for the park and contribute to project proposal development.
• Build strong relationships between stakeholders and Park management authorities for biodiversity conservation.
• Strengthen the Community Conservation department within the park to ensure better collaboration with surrounding communities.
• Support and oversee the implementation of law enforcement activities, socioeconomic activities, research and monitoring initiatives, and community-based organizations, including women’s groups, targeted by the projects.
• Monitor and adapt the structure, planning and functioning system of the park.
• Monitor the impact of project activities, consolidate, and expand the Park’s success stories and develop solutions to address challenges and weaknesses.
• Ensure project reporting is in accordance with the various grant requirements and agreed deadlines.
• Identify and promote any other action in line with WCS mission and vision in favor of biodiversity conservation.

Qualification Requirements

• A Master or any equivalent qualification in biodiversity conservation and natural resources management field or related field is desired.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience working in project management in Central or West Africa
• Experience with biodiversity, socio-economic survey design and implementation
• Willing to work in rural areas and travel extensively in often remote areas.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in French and highly proficient in English
• Experience in overseeing financial and technical reporting of project activities.
• Experience in proposal writing and budgeting.
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver on time.
• Aptitude to work constructively in multi-cultural situations and maintain a high level of self-motivation.

Desirable

• Experience in managing personnel.
• Ability to design and undertake ecological and socio-economic monitoring projects.
• Practical experience with natural resource management, protected area management and REDD+ initiatives
• Experience in collaborative management and coordination with partner organizations, local administration, and traditional authorities

Terms and conditions

• This is a nationally/internationally recruited position. WCS offers competitive remuneration in local currency commensurate with skills and experience.
• The initial appointment will be for two (2) years, inclusive of a six-month probationary period according to the local labor law, with the possibility of extension contingent upon performance, continued relevance of the position and available resources.
• The duty station will be in Mbakaou (30 Km South Tibati), WCS Mbam and Djerem Park office.