Wildlife Works Carbon Africa
Position Title: Regional Manager – Biodiversity & Social Monitoring
Type of Contract: Full Time Employment, contractual
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to: Africa Regional Director
About Wildlife Works
Wildlife Works Carbon Africa is a world-leading REDD+ program development and management company, with an effective approach to applying innovative market-based solutions to the conservation of biodiversity.
Over its 20-year history, Wildlife Works has established a successful model that uses emerging marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets to protect threatened forests, wildlife, and communities.
Wildlife protection, community governance and forest protection thus form the three pillars of Wildlife Works’ holistic approach to conservation, while the development and sales of nature-based carbon credits provides forest communities economic pathways to transition from extraction-based to conservation-based livelihoods.
Job Summary
Wildlife Works Carbon Africa seeks to recruit a Regional Manager (Africa) in charge of Biodiversity and Social Monitoring who will work closely with Country Managers and/or project-level research staff under the guidance of the Global Director of Conservation.
The Regional Manager will primarily spearhead, provide guidance and support on issues related to biodiversity and social research for Wildlife Works’ growing REDD+ portfolio across Africa.
The successful applicant will be responsible for designing and overseeing the implementation of Wildlife Works’ Biodiversity and Social monitoring strategies for all REDD+ projects in the region.
S/he will also support the Global Director of Conservation in activities related to research, documentation, dissemination and outreach, and policy development on these matters.
This role requires a dynamic team player with good project management skills, the ability to run and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously as well as experience working globally across cultural, geographic and time zone boundaries.
S/he shall be expected to be flexible and work within the existing structures, professionally and ethically with competence, accountability, and integrity.
Responsibilities:
The Regional Manager Biodiversity & Social Monitoring is to undertake the following tasks:
- Define, design, and execute Wildlife Works’ Biodiversity and Social monitoring strategies for all REDD+ projects in Africa. This involves evaluating various methods and monitoring protocols to determine the most appropriate ones for each project setting or objective, whilst balancing scientific rigour, cost, ease-of-execution, and replicability
- Support Wildlife Works’ REDD+ projects’ validation and verification audits, particularly ensuring delivery of accurate and complete information for reporting requirements, both for validation or verification bodies and financial partners, plus resolving biodiversity and social impact-related questions from clients or auditors under guidance from the Global Director for Conservation
- Write, and/or support writing of, concise and informative internal reports plus scientific, peer-reviewed publications, including dissemination of lessons learned and contributions to best practices from all Wildlife Works’ projects in Africa for research, knowledge and learning purposes
- Link with relevant REDD+ policy processes nationally, especially on REDD+ nesting and safeguards, to ensure Wildlife Works’ interests, opinions and positions on MRV are articulated in the best way
- Develop and maintain professional networks, including research and Government, build research partnerships and propel research and monitoring excellence at Wildlife Works
- Work with or train partners on the ground to develop and implement Biodiversity and Social monitoring plans that are adequate for compliance with key standards such as CCBA, and reflect company’s ethos
- Conducting desk research and/or rapid reconnaissance field visits to prospective REDD+ projects in Africa whenever needed, describing their biodiversity and community (social) profiles including key drivers of forest loss and potential impacts
- Provide in-house expert guidance and support for the screening of prospective Wildlife Works’ projects for potential environmental and social impacts and risks, plus identification of risk management opportunities or mitigation strategies
- While Wildlife Works commits to fund core monitoring budgets fully, solicit co-funding and grants for undertaking offshoot or student biodiversity or social research that augments core research work
- Represent Wildlife Works in various local and international meetings and forums.
- While the description above covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the tasks anticipated for this position, other tasks may be assigned as necessary in line with organizational needs.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
- Master’s or higher degree (PhD an added advantage) in environmental- or social-related field including policy, natural resources, sustainable or community development, wildlife management, environmental science and management, or other relevant fields
- A minimum of five years’ work experience post-MSc (preferably international and/or with clear application) in academia, the private sector, a development research organization or other institution undertaking research, monitoring and/or impact assessment.
Required Skills and Competencies (obligatory)
- Experience with managing research projects and interfacing with external partners, such as multi-laterals or other bilateral development or public agencies in Africa
- Good understanding of monitoring, impact assessment and risk-based approaches to managing projects and programmes
- Demonstrated familiarity with the environmental impacts of various drivers of forest loss, including social and economic issues and mitigation options including Payment for Ecosystem Services
- High level of proficiency with MS Office Suite (including Access) and other core research programs like mapping (ArcMap or QGIS), statistics (SPSS, R or similar), project management tools and other specialised tools (like SMART, Distance, Wrike, MIRADI etc)
- Experience with undertaking systematic reviews, meta-analysis or other forms of evidence synthesis
- Excellent research, analytical and writing skills, both popular and scientific, with high levels of attention to detail
- Fluency in English and Swahili is required; French is a strong added advantage.
Other Skills and Competencies (preferred)
- Strong organizational skills, with a high degree of cultural sensitivity and creative ability to navigate unforeseen complexities
- Excellent interpersonal skills, able to communicate with interdisciplinary colleagues and external stakeholders and partners on all levels, across a multicultural professional environment
- Good leadership skills, assertiveness, ability to take initiative and work within deadlines
- Ability to work productively on both independent research assignments and as part of a team
- Sound judgement and decision-making skills, including proactive problem-solving
- Flexibility to work long hours, including weekends and public holidays, especially when working with colleagues and partners across different time zones
- Willingness to travel.
Terms of Employment
Successful applicant will be employed as the Regional Manager (Africa), Biodiversity and Social Monitoring, guiding, and supporting project-level research teams in all Wildlife Works’ REDD+ projects across Africa, and will report to the Global Director of Conservation.
This is considered a full-time position according to the Wildlife Works’ scheme of service and after a three-month probation period.
Unless on mission to the field, the position will be based at Wildlife Works’ Africa Regional Office in Nairobi or any other location that will be agreed upon.
Remuneration: A competitive salary and benefits package will be offered, commensurate with the successful applicant’s experience.
WWCA is an equal opportunity employer and employment shall be based on merit, qualifications, and competence.
Employment decisions shall be made without regard to an applicant’s gender, race, color, age, sexual orientation, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, medical condition, marital status, or physical and mental handicap is a bona fide occupational disqualification.
This policy governs all areas of employment, including promotion, assignment, and discharge.
How to Apply
Applicants should send a Cover Letter and CV expressing their interest in the position, what they can bring to the job and the names and contacts, (including telephone and email) of two referees who are knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience to the Human Resource Manager, Wildlife Works, on or before 2nd September 2022.
Applications by email should be sent to:
hrkenya@wildlifeworks.com
copied to mwangi@wildlifeworks.com
Applicants will also require copies of key academic and professional certificates.
We thank all applicants for their interest in working for Wildlife Works. Due to the likely volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Wildlife Works does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing or training).
Wildlife Works is an equal opportunity employer, values diversity and inclusion and thereby welcomes diverse candidates to apply.