Senior Landscape Technical Manager, Keo Seima REDD+ project

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 WCS Country Program in Cambodia, is a relatively large, vibrant program with long-term programs in four major forested and/or wetland landscapes: Eastern Plains (Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary), Northern Plains, Major Rivers, and Tonle Sap.

Position Summary:

WCS seeks a full-time Senior Technical Manager to oversee the implementation of the Keo Seima REDD+ Strategy: a new, significantly-expanded, 5-year, REDD+ funded landscape strategy, that builds on nearly 20 years of WCS support to communities and government in the Eastern Plains Landscape.

Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (KSWS) consists of nearly 300,000 ha of lowland and hill semi-evergreen and deciduous forest. It supports globally significant primate and bird populations. Nearly 30,000 people live on the edge of or inside the protected area, many of them ethnic Bunong. Following the loss of forest to the south and west, KSWS is now located on a deforestation frontier. The protected area has been a REDD+ project for ten years, generating and selling a significant volume of carbon credits. The challenge now is to prevent deforestation and maintain the integrity of KSWS in the face of mounting threats. The Keo Seima 2021 Strategy has been developed to achieve this goal, by motivating and inspiring government, local communities, and civil society to value and protect KSWS.

The Senior Landscape Technical Manager will be responsible for the overall management of the Keo Seima REDD+ Strategy, and work closely with the Project Manager and Assistant Project Manager to ensure adherence to strategy objectives, performance requirements, and adaptively manage activities as needed. The Senior Landscape Technical Manager will oversee management of the Keo Seima Project Manager, the Keo Seima Technical advisory team, and have overall oversight for WCS field staff in Keo Seima WS.  This is a unique position, which will be supported by an expert advisory panel, the Country Director, Senior Technical Advisor, and WCS’s Regional and Global Teams.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide overall managerial oversight and coordination for all aspects of the Keo Seima REDD+ Strategy (including developing and maintaining team work plans, guidance on implementation and coordination of activities across teams and grantees);
• Lead development of annual action plan and deliverables with relevant stakeholders including government, partners and local communities;
• Oversee and provide capacity building to the Keo Seima Project Manager and Assistant Project Manager on all aspects of project implementation;
• Provide overall leadership on monitoring and evaluation to identify emerging issues, understand implementation challenges, resolution and achievements; 
• Prepare narrative reports for timely submission to the advisory panel and collate and maintain records of information from field teams on achievements and challenges;
• Oversee the implementation of the visibility plan for KSWS and ensure that sub-grantees deliver and comply with the visibility plan;
• Through support to the KSWS Project Manager, ensure wise use of funds to effectively and efficiently implement the Keo Seima REDD+ Strategy;
• Serve as the principal liaison with the KSWS advisory panel;
• Provide direct line management of other senior KSWS staff, including team leaders;
• Identify gaps and resources for capacity building to achieve the project’s objectives;
• Liaison with government and NGOs partners to ensure alignment of REDD+ project activities;
• Serve as liaison with relevant WCS departments in the context of the project (Mekong Drivers Partnership, Asia Program, Conservation Science and Solutions).
  

Minimum Requirements:

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience of program or large project management associated with natural resource management issues, preferably in forested environments;
• Postgraduate degree or equivalent experience in a related field;
  • Experience managing large grants, including overseeing complex consortium or partnership relationships, and the ability to set and meet multiple deadlines;
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills, and the ability to manage multiple teams to achieve short-term goals while maintaining sight of the wider vision;
  • Knowledge of logical framework planning and monitoring methodologies;
  • Proven ability to manage, guide and support local staff of different capacities;
  • Ability to make sound decisions based on analysis, consultation with others, experience, and judgment;
  • Vision to work towards the Keo Seima 2021 Strategy big-picture goals, and an ability to integrate activities implemented in KSWS into WCS’s ongoing program of work in Cambodia, and regionally;
  • Strong verbal and written skills in English to international standards.

Applications:

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 the following link:

https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?partnerid=25965&siteid=5168&PageType=JobDetails&jobid=709784

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.

Pre-screening will start as soon as WCS starts to receive incoming application.

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.