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The Peregrine Fund (TPF) aspires to protect the earth’s 586 species of raptors, partnering with local people on five continents to inspire action and preserve essential habitat. For nearly 50 years, we’ve earned a reputation for making science-based decisions, solving problems creatively, factoring in the multitude of variables unique to every conservation challenge, and inspiring people to value raptors and their habitats. Our staff, volunteers, and supporters are a diverse, multicultural force united to achieve our distinctive mission.
We hire and retain the world’s most promising talent by providing a collaborative, inspiring work environment, competitive compensation, contributions to 403(b) retirement savings, excellent benefits, and flexible policies that respect work-life balance. We offer professional development and significant opportunities for promotion from within.
ABOUT YOU
If you’re looking for career satisfaction above and beyond a competitive salary and a title, consider TPF’s culture of lasting, international partnerships and personal fulfillment. Take an active role in saving species from extinction, protecting habitats of high raptor conservation value and inspiring people around the world to become our partners in building upon our legacy of enduring results.
POSITION SUMMARY
TPF has been working in Africa since the 1990s with established programs in Madagascar and East Africa (Kenya). Our primarily objectives were to conduct research on raptors in jeopardy, provide hand-on training in developing local capacity at graduate and para-biologist level and to increase public understanding about the need to protect birds of prey and their habitats. With TPF’s new strategic plan and Vision 2050 in place, this position will ensure that our ongoing programs in Africa are aligned with our strategic plan to maximize conservation impact. Our work will initially focus on three main elements – reducing the scourge of vulture poisoning across East Africa, inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders and to promote our Global Raptors GRIN app. Essentially, within the first year, the incoming Africa Program Director will ensure that ongoing projects in Kenya’s southern Rift Valley are effectively completed. The work and expertise of TPF’s Africa Program Director are integral to this effort. This position is likely to evolve to a global function requiring close coordination with TPF’s Global Director of Conservation Strategy and External Affairs, as well as our Chief Scientist.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Africa Program Director unit is responsible for implementation of TPF’s conservation efforts on the continent. The Director facilitates and oversees TPF’s research, conservation, capacity development, partnerships, and fundraising, and works closely with partners to achieve conservation goals. He/she will coordinate contacts with government agencies, multilateral organizations, corporations, other conservation organizations, foundations and the academic community with interests in the continent.
He/she will work with our Global Director of Conservation Strategy and External affairs to:
- Complete our ongoing raptor research and conservation programs in Kenya’s southern Rift Valley in a timely manner whilst initiating new projects that are aligned with TPF’s Vision 2050
- Design a specific, actionable conservation and strategic plan that contributes to the organization’s goals on the African continent and ensure that our work is adequately leveraged and represented in international conferences and donor events.
- Play a leading role in engaging donor and partner support on the continent as needed.
- Negotiates or supports the negotiation of complex and innovative solutions with government agencies, companies, other conservation partners, major institutions, and landowners for example in reducing human wildlife conflicts and in tackling landscape level threats such as mitigation of wind farm development.
- Work with key Peregrine Fund staff to coordinate, integrate and promote The Peregrine Fund’s diverse projects on raptors and help the organization leverage its field successes with tools that dramatically increase the scale of our influence and result in significant and measurable conservation results.
RESPONSIBILITES AND SCOPE
- Facilitate the development and implementation of cutting-edge conservation strategies based on thorough scientific evidence to benefit raptors by directly addressing challenges related to endangered species, places of high conservation value, and landscape threats affecting multiple raptor species including poisoning, collisions with wind turbines, and electrocutions
- As feasible, integrate and leverage existing projects, such as our ongoing work in Madagascar
- Work with The Peregrine Fund’s Global Director of Conservation Strategy to develop and lead strategies to engage major international agencies, corporations and foundations, and conservation partners that work on conservation issues to mitigate negative impacts on biodiversity conservation and environmental services
- Identify and cultivate high-leverage partnerships around conservation goals in coordination with partners
- Engage externally, manage relations with TPF’s Board of Directors, and manage key public and private partners and donors essential to raising the funds needed to implement TPF’s continent-wide strategy
- Work directly with The Peregrine Fund’s President and Board to establish an Advisory Council to maximize their participation in and contributions to the continent’s conservation, fundraising and policy efforts
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Ph.D. in ecology, natural resources management, forestry, biology, or related field.
- Integral knowledge and understanding of bird of prey biology, ecology and conservation issues affecting birds of prey
- 15 years’ experience designing, conducting and managing (applied) conservation and research projects, including on raptors, in different parts of Africa or beyond
- Demonstrated management experience including ability to successfully motivate, lead, set objectives, and manage performance of a large multi-disciplinary team
- Success as an inspirational leader who has successfully motivated staff to achieve and sustain excellence
- High energy, forward and strategic thinker, creative individual with high ethical standards
- Outstanding leadership and visionary qualities and able to work effectively with and through others in a decentralized and geographically dispersed organization
- Proven high level of competence in applied conservation and ecological research skills, including design, data collection and management, analytical and writing skills to international publication and presentation standard
- Proven experience of close daily collaboration with both conservation practitioner and academic colleagues and students, both in Africa and the US, in the context of complex collaborative projects
- Experience implementing hand-on training for developing local capacity at different levels (practitioner to university) and to increase public understanding
- Proven managerial talent in budgeting and staffing
- Written and verbal fluency in English. A working knowledge of Kiswahili and French is desirable although not essential
- Superb communication skills via written, spoken and graphical means
- Experience designing, implementing, and directing complex or multiple projects of strategic importance, including managing finances, supervising multidisciplinary professionals and coordinating the work of partners while meeting deadlines
- Experience working with current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and geographic regions
- Experience communicating with and presenting to diverse audiences including donors, board members, employees, outside partners, or equivalent
- Successful experience in partnership development (partners, community, governments, etc.) including extensive networking with high-level conservation, business and/or government contacts
- Demonstrated success in significant fundraising with international government bodies, NGO’s, and foundations, including identifying donor prospects and donor cultivation, and budget management
- Experience working with methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives
- Experience conceiving and implementing strategic and creative initiatives
- Proven interpersonal, negotiation and conflict resolution skills
- Proven technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment and strong operational focus
- Demonstrated operational, implementation and detail-oriented perspective
- Well organized and self-directed
- Politically savvy and a team player
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 10 years’ experience as a proven leader in the conservation arena in Africa
- Knowledge of French, Portuguese and an African language such as Kiswahili
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Requires frequent travel domestically and internationally
- Evening and weekend hours required
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for this position submit resume (3 Pages maximum) (required) and cover letter electronically to Hiring Manager at employment@peregrinefund.org. The deadline for applications is 23.59 GMT July 31st 2018.
The Peregrine Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of men and women of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and cultures. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, veteran status or other status protected by law.
The successful applicant will be required to complete a background screening before final offer of employment is made.
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