The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 and based in New York, that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities.
The Southeast Asian Archipelago Regional Business Manager oversees the budget and finances of the Southeast Asian Archipelago region, and provides direct support to the Regional Director in managing grants and the operations of the Regional Program. This region includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and with additional operations and activities in Singapore, in addition to region-wide engagement on a variety of conservation matters, comprising a portfolio of almost 100 different funding streams. The Regional Business Manager will continually assess and document the financial health of the Regional Program, develop both short and long-term financial plans for the Region, and work with the Regional Director, the Regional Grant Manager, Regional Financial Controller, and associated Country Program staff on grant management and fundraising. S/he will regularly provide reports for management in the region and headquarters in New York.
This position reports to the Regional Director of the Southeast Asian Archipelago Region. This position will involve regular travel to WCS Country Offices within the region approximately 25% of the time.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Financial Management and Planning: Ensure Regional Director has the financial information required to manage and fundraise for the Region. Provide monthly key performance indicators for each country and all multi-country grants. Work with Regional Controller to resolve any issues with finances in the Region. Annual presentation of short and long-term financial plans for each country with detailed variance analysis on prior plans. Report regularly to headquarters in NY about the financial state of the Region.
- Budget Leadership: Manage and maintain the Regional Program budget. Lead the annual WCS budgeting process for all countries in the Region. Responsible for working with country finance teams to understand and report on full program costs. Responsible to manage the region’s unrestricted allocations in consultation with the Regional Director. Serve as the budget lead for regional grants; Review country budget adjustments, support the countries in providing budget to actual reports, and ensure regular and timely budget updates.
- Proposal Review and Development: Working in coordination with NY-based departments and country programs, approve all proposal budgets from the countries within the Region and develop regional proposal budgets. Ensure budgets are covering costs and are contributing to strengthening the Regional Program. Ensure budgets are in line with long-term financial plan for the Region. Ensure budgets are developed in compliance with WCS and donor policies and undergo appropriate reviews.
- Grant Management: Ensure regional grant administration is on track. Lead the review of donor agreements and contracts, in coordination with the program teams and other support departments including Risk Management, and Office of the General Counsel. Provide support and review in the preparation of procurement, subgrants, subcontracts, and service agreements. Coordinate preparation of financial reports for regional grants. Review and approve grant financial reports prepared by Country Programs. Support Country Programs in understanding WCS grant management processes, systems, tools and donor compliance requirements. Provide support to the Regional Controller during audits.
- People Management: Work with Regional Director to manage regional staffing. Support the recruitment of grant/finance/administration staff as needed. Analyze capacity-building needs and provide capacity building and training to country and regional financial staff on financial management, budgeting, grant management and fundraising as required.
- Perform other duties: as determined by the Regional Director.
Position Requirements:
The person in this position must have strong interpersonal skills and display evidence of good leadership, business partnering, professional judgment, and influencing skills. S/He must have excellent written and oral communication skills and be comfortable participating both as an effective individual contributor and as a leader and listener in group settings. S/He must have significant attention to detail, be well organized, self-motivated, resourceful, effective and efficient at coordinating multiple resources to get things done; can work on multiple tasks at multiple levels and switch between them; can foresee and plan around obstacles.
- Proven financial management experience in an international regional organization (5+ years) including staff management, and systems / process development experience.
- Experience with grants management, budgeting, and grant reporting in a multi-funder environment and involving a large funding portfolio required (i.e., experience with US government funding, EU, KfW, GEF, ADB, private foundations, and others).
- Able to exhibit superb professional judgment in a sometimes ambiguous environment.
- Ability to work on multiple tasks at multiple levels in a fast-paced environment is a necessity.
- Bachelor degree required, MBA preferred. Related program of study such as finance, accounting, economics or business highly preferred.
- Effective “roll up the sleeves” work ethic. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse, multi-cultural teams. Must be solution-oriented, and have strong problem solving and analytical skills and the ability to creatively contribute to thinking on regional issues.
- English fluency required. Competency in a local language(s) is a plus.
- Excellent computer and systems skills required with respect to MS Office applications (advanced skills in MS Excel required) and major financial accounting and reporting software (SAP or equivalent).
- Self-motivated and organized with attention to detail.
- Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, with attention to coaching and mentorship and professional development of finance staff.
- Ability to travel approximately 25% of the time.
- Ability to work after normal business hours as necessary, in order to meet deadlines and / or communicate with New York-based groups.
Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, should apply by sending an application letter and CV together with the names and contact information of three references at the soonest possible time to:
https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25965&siteid=5168#jobDetails=611594_5168
WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations
Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.
