The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 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. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

Program Summary (Mekong Drivers Partnership):

In the Greater Mekong Region, WCS has developed the Mekong Drivers Partnership, a multi-scale initiative to find innovative approaches to address the large-scale drivers of deforestation and biodiversity loss facing the Greater Mekong countries, including work with communities, protected area authorities, national governments, regional/international bodies and the private sector. A key aspect of this work is to better understand those private sector companies that are, or are anticipated to be, driving deforestation or forest degradation in the region, and develop and pilot ways of working with them to achieve conservation objectives.

WCS has established programs in all the countries of the Greater Mekong Region, with long-term conservation activities in several large landscapes, most specifically in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Large-scale development, including agriculture, is central to economic development plans in these countries, and changing political and economic conditions, motivated by the goal of bringing the countries out of poverty, are prompting greater investment in agricultural commodities such as rice, cashew, cassava, maize, pepper, and others. These investments are important drivers of deforestation and degradation as a result of their direct and indirect impacts, and are expected to grow rapidly over the next decade, partially as a consequence of foreign direct investment.

In line with WCS’s global efforts on agricultural supply chains, in the Greater Mekong Region WCS aims to promote investment, corporate, and regulatory systems that incentivize responsible business practices among agricultural commodity companies and their financers. To achieve this we will build partnerships with supply chain actors that have existing or planned investments in the region, and through working together we will demonstrate how agricultural commodity companies can reduce deforestation and habitat degradation at target sites.

Position Summary:

The objective of this position is to support the long-term conservation objectives of WCS in the Greater Mekong Region through strengthening our strategic engagement in agricultural supply chains including rice, cashew, cassava, maize, rubber, pepper, and others. The position will develop engagement strategies, and lead on building partnerships with relevant agricultural commodity companies and other supply chain actors to pilot activities that demonstrate best practice in conservation of biodiversity and community rights, and inform policy.

Position Responsibilities:

• In coordination with the WCS Mekong Drivers Partnership Director, further develop a vision and strategic plan for WCS activities in the Mekong Region related to working with agricultural commodity companies and the organizations that finance them.
• Building on available conservation science and priorities identified by the Mekong Drivers Partnership and the global WCS team, identify potential points of influence/entry into new partnerships with agricultural commodity companies in the region that have the potential to raise new financing to support conservation outcomes in key priority regions, and significantly mitigate or halt current or future threats of damage or loss to key forests or biodiversity. Where new data is needed (e.g. ecological, spatial, value chain etc.) in order to facilitate these partnerships, work with the Mekong Drivers Partnership Director to secure and analyse the needed data.
• Working with Country Directors and relevant national and regional technical staff, develop engagement strategies, and ultimately formalized partnerships and pilot activities, with 2-3 agricultural commodity companies or relevant parties in key regions that advance conservation objectives in WCS landscapes, specifically Lao PDR and Cambodia.
• Work with agricultural commodity companies to make the business case for conservation as a mechanism for behavioural change within agricultural supply chains; as needed, conceive and oversee studies to do this.
• Build relationships with the banks and development agencies that finance potentially damaging activities that facilitate deforestation and habitat degradation by agricultural commodity companies, in order to reduce and/or mitigate negative impacts.
• Provide strategic oversight, coordination and guidance of WCS engagement in agriculture-specific private sector investment policy activities with government stakeholders and private sector, specifically in Lao PDR and Cambodia.
• With the WCS Mekong Drivers Partnership Director, maintain regular communication with other WCS country programs in the region to identify opportunities for collaboration and information sharing related to private sector investment practice and policy, and as needed, provide technical guidance, advice and support to ongoing agriculture-related projects in country programs.
• Lead the expansion of WCS’s visibility and engagement in initiatives and networks relevant to improved agriculture and investment practice in the Greater Mekong Region.
• Advise the WCS Mekong Drivers Partnership Director in determining personnel and technical needs to ensure implementation of an efficient, effective, and technically capable private sector business investment practice and policy program including engaging temporary local and overseas experts.
• Assist with fund-raising efforts for WCS’s private sector practice and policy program, identifying and enhancing support from existing and new sources, assisting in development of proposals and reports, building relationships with funders.

Minimal Requirements:

• A university degree or equivalent professional qualification in natural resource management, agronomy, environmental policy, international trade and finance, political and environmental economics, or other relevant discipline.
• A minimum of five years post-qualification experience relevant to the responsibilities above, with experience in the region strongly preferred, and experience of working in the private sector a distinct advantage.
• Sound knowledge and understanding of agricultural value chains in the region, for domestic and international markets.
• Experience in building partnerships between private sector actors and government agencies, civil society, and international agencies on improved business practice, sustainability, certifications, etc, with ideally an existing network in the region.
• Good interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, particularly managing budgets and producing deliverables on time.
• Fluency in English language required, working knowledge of a regional language an advantage.
• A willingness to travel both regionally, and nationally.
• Highly motivated self-starter with demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision

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 through one of the following links:

https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25965&siteid=5168#jobDetails=646985_5168

OR

https://kh.linkedin.com/jobs/view/regional-technical-advisor-agricultural-commodities-and-conservation-at-wildlife-conservation-society-2664444258

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.