Program Manager, Global Program Development

WCS, originally established in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society, is one of the world’s premier conservation organizations, and saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. WCS works in almost 60 countries globally, with the goal of conserving the world's largest wild places in 16 priority regions, home to more than 50% of the world's biodiversity.

The Program Manager will take a lead role in facilitating the development of large, complex government proposals to support GCP work in the field, working closely with conservation field staff. Donors PD covers might include local and bilateral government agencies; multilateral agencies like the European Union, UN agencies, and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF); and occasionally consortium entities that enjoy a mix of public and private funding, such as the Save Our Species fund and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. In recent years, PD has expanded our scope to include engagement in compliance and grants management functions, in close collaboration with the Conservation Operations and Finance units in NY. While focusing on the successful development of government proposals will be the Program Manager’s primary focus, s/he will also play an active role in helping PD improve grants management resources.

On an average day, the Program Manager can expect to: 

*  attend meetings with field and NY staff to discuss ongoing government funding opportunities and strategize how best to make WCS applications competitive

*  answer questions from field colleagues around the world on various government funding streams

*  conduct research into government funding opportunities to determine how aligned they are to WCS’s strategic priorities

*  develop proposal templates and checklists for applications for government funding

*  carefully review and edit proposals to improve quality and ensure donor requirements are being met

*  manage proposal development processes to ensure that proper procedures and approvals in NY are being followed

*  document lessons learned after complex proposal processes to better prepare WCS for future applications.

This is a challenging yet rewarding role, and the successful applicant will have the unique opportunity to engage with a diverse team of conservationists around the world and play an integral part in helping WCS deliver on its conservation mission.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. 1.      Coordinate proposal development (primary responsibility)
   1. Work with technical and finance staff in NY and around the world to strategically develop proposals for government and agency grants by guiding the proposal development process;
   2. Ensure quality control of proposals;
   3. Ensure compliance with both donor guidelines and WCS internal processes.

2.  Provide strategic guidance on funding opportunities and donor relationships

1. Provide advice on government donors, funding opportunities, internal processes, and institutional resources;
2. Develop strategic guidance documents and information products on donors (regulations, lessons learned, institutional experience, success stories);
3. Manage relationships and assist with reporting for key donors and funding streams.

3.   Support systems and resources related to Program Development objectives

1. Contribute to PD’s informational resources in collaboration with the rest of the team;
2. Identify and address gaps in proposal systems and resources;
3. Coordinate with the PD Knowledge Management and Compliance sub-units to manage and improve the PD website and grant management systems;
4. Provide training and overviews on donor regulations/systems as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in biology, conservation science, environmental science, natural resources, or international development
• At least 3 years of experience, preferably including experience with:

?        proposal development

?        government fundraising or business development

?        nonprofit organizations

?        wildlife conservation programs or conservation science

?        grants management, and/or

?        international development programs

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain and communicate complex processes and ideas effectively and efficiently
• Strong organizational skills and ability to juggle multiple priorities
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively against deadlines, and to put in extra hours if required in order to meet those deadlines
• Willingness to work outside of a typical 9-to-5 work day in order to accommodate colleagues in different time zones
• A strong desire to work in a collaborative environment as part of a close-knit team
• Self-motivated, with the ability to learn by doing
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with a diverse group of colleagues
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Dedication to WCS’s mission of protecting wildlife and wild places around the world
• Interest in global policy initiatives, and an understanding of global and regional government and agency donor processes is a plus
• Experience working with SAP (or other ERP systems) would be useful, but not essential
• Fluency in French and/or Spanish would be an asset

Candidates must apply online via the WCS career portal at: http://www.wcs.org/about-us/careers.  Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. The job will be filled when a suitable applicant is found, so interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

This position will be based at WCS New York headquarters, which is located at the Bronx Zoo.