Head of Research and Biomonitoring , North Cameroon

Position: Head of Research and Biomonitoring , North Cameroon.

Supervision: Landscape Director Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué (PBN-B) and Deputy Landscape Director

Location : Garoua (North, Cameroon)

Job type: International

Internal collaboration : Collaboration with WCS Paysage Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué (PBN-B) program departments, WCS Cameroon national office team (Yaoundé), WCS Regional team in Kigali (Rwanda) and other scientific programs of WCS and its partners.

Expected travel : Regular travel in the WCS intervention zone in the North Cameroon region: Benoue and Bouba-Ndjidda national parks and Sena Oura national park in Chad. Possible interventions in other protected areas in the region, such as Faro and Waza national parks. Other occasional trips to Yaoundé.

WCS’s mission is to preserve the world’s wildlife and wild places through science, conservation measures, awareness-raising and by encouraging people to respect nature.

Wildlife Conservation Society works to safeguard wildlife and natural habitats through a rigorous scientific approach, and international environmental education program and the management of the world’s largest network of urban wildlife parks. These activities contribute to changing people’s attitudes towards nature, and aim to promote viable and sustainable interaction between people and wildlife on a local and global scale. WCS is committed to this work because we believe it is essential to the integrity of life on earth. WCS has been present in Cameroon since 1988, and since then has been working with the government of Cameroon to create several protected areas, training numerous conservationist managers, and doing so in an integrated landscape approach that brings together the key players to protect biodiversity sustainably. The WCS Cameroon program is currently working on three main landscapes: the Takamanda-Mone, Mbam & Djerem and Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué (PBN-B) landscapes. The latter includes the Bénoué National Park (PNB) Technical Operational Unit (UTO) and the Bouba Ndjidda National Park (PNBN) UTO. The UTOs encompass national parks and Zones d’Intérêts Cynégétiques (ZICs). The PBN-B is also interconnected with the Sena Oura National Park (PNSO) in Chad, via the binational project, BSB Yamoussa, supervised by COMIFAC, thanks to funding from the German Development Cooperation (KfW).

In the WCS Bouba Ndjidda – Bénoué Landscape (PBN-B), WCS implements activities that support the Cameroonian government through the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF) for conservation, stability and sustainable development in and around the PBN-B. Within this framework, WCS is committed to structuring a Research and Ecological Monitoring (R&EM) department to monitor the evolution of the animal population and its habitat, as well as the pressures and threats they face, and to measure the impacts of landscape UTO management to guide protected area managers in their interventions. WCS is looking for a Research and Ecological Monitoring (R&EM) Department Manager, based in Garoua, with frequent visits to the protected areas (PAs) concerned by the PBN-B and occasionally to other PAs in the region. The success of this position is defined by a strong technical and operational mastery, but also by an increased and shared understanding – as well as a strong adhesion – of the values, mission and objectives of the PB&B, as well as a good knowledge of its target audiences (including the general public, direct and final beneficiaries of the projects, donors and other partners present at territorial and national level).

Responsibilities:

Development and implementation of the PBN-B Research and Ecological Monitoring (R&EM) Department strategy:

• Develop and implement the R&SE department strategy in line with the PBN-B conservation strategy (over 5 years).
• Participate in BSB Scientific Committee meetings, facilitate and coordinate approved scientific research activities.
• Work with existing teams to develop appropriate research methods for priority research areas as defined by the Scientific Committee.
• Develop and implement the PBN-B R&SE department’s annual work plan.
• Monitor and evaluate the R&SE Department’s strategy and annual work plan in collaboration with the PBN-B Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning team.
• In collaboration with partners and the Ecole de Faune de Garoua, and possibly other academic institutions with the requisite skills, to set up regular archiving of ecological monitoring data and ensure that research results are put to good use.
• Proactively identify R&SE opportunities and partnerships for PBN-B.

Project management:

• Manage PBN-B R&SE department equipment
• Participate in PBN-B’s monthly and quarterly planning.
• Draw up and implement an action plan to strengthen the R&SE department’s capacity: recruit, train and supervise staff.
• In collaboration with other departments, develop and supervise activities to raise awareness among local populations of biodiversity conservation issues and human/wildlife conflicts.
• Prepare Terms of Reference (TOR) and budget forecasts for the R&SE department’s activities and contribute to enriching the TORs of other relevant departments to ensure the R&SE department’s involvement in PB&B’s cross-cutting objectives.
• Oversee the production of periodic activity reports for the PB&B R&SE department.
• Supervise and develop research projects (scientific articles, academic research, etc.).

Development, updating and application of PB&B R&SE department standards

• Under the supervision of WCS scientific bodies and in relation with conservation departments and partners, support the implementation of the ecological monitoring strategy set out in the management plans, define and propose ecological monitoring methodologies and protocols adapted to conservation objectives/strategies:
• Monitoring, analysis and communication of remote sensing data using satellite geolocation collars and camera trapping.
• Monitoring, analysis and communication of aerial and pedestrian survey data
• Support for the coordination of the activities of the Anti-Poaching Department (LAB) and the Aviation Department of PBN-B
• Monitoring, analysis and communication of changes in PBN-B’s vegetation cover
• Monitoring, analysis and communication of changes in the abiotic environment
• Monitoring, analysis and communication of anthropogenic activities, including data on sport hunting in PBN-B ZICs
• Monitoring, analysis, communication and management of human/wildlife conflicts in and around PBN-B
• Monitoring, analysis, communication and management of developments in PBN-B
• In collaboration with the GIS Officer based at the National Coordination office in Yaoundé, administer GIS-related applications and exploit ecological monitoring data from various information sources, build up and feed databases.
• Supervise the production of cartographic and ecological monitoring data by/for the various project needs.

Expected results:

• The ecological and ecosystem interests of PBN-B are monitored, analyzed and communicated, encouraging conservation efforts.
• Research and ecological monitoring methodologies and standards are developed, validated and implemented
• The ecological monitoring strategy for the PB&B is developed, validated and implemented.
• R&SE department activity reports produced in accordance with WCS and partner requirements
• Thematic mapping of fauna, vegetation cover, human activities and other relevant indicators is updated, archived and communicated as required by WCS and its partners.
• The production of reports on the evolution of vegetation cover and wildlife damage is archived and communicated according to the requirements of WCS and its partners.
• The production and publication of scientific articles and university dissertations/theses are managed according to the requirements of WCS and its partners.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required, PhD preferred, in science and environment / protected area management / wildlife management / geographic information systems management or any other relevant discipline.
• At least 5 years’ experience in natural resources or wildlife management in Africa, working in an international organization with responsibility for at least 15 employees.
• Good knowledge of ecological monitoring methods and tools, and of terrestrial wildlife inventory techniques.
• Good knowledge of GIS and remote sensing tools, proficiency in GIS administration and use of GIS software and packages, and geographic information management techniques.
• Computer skills, particularly in specific software for processing and analyzing wildlife inventory data and producing thematic wildlife maps (SMART, EarthRanger, DISTANCE, R, ArcGIS/QGIS).
• Mastery of databases and metadata management through integration and reproduction.
• Autonomous and rigorous in work organization .
• Ability to lead a team.
• Good knowledge of the political and socio-economic context of protected areas, with demonstrated openness and sensitivity to the socio-cultural environment in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in French and English, with a track record of producing recognized scientific articles.
• Ability to adapt, be efficient, enthusiastic and diplomatic in a complex and demanding environment; willingness to spend extended periods in the field in sometimes rudimentary conditions.