Cameroon: Douala-Edea Project Manager

The ZSL Cameroon programme is recruiting a dynamic individual for the position of Douala Edea Project Manager to support its programmatic activities in the Douala Edea Landscape. ZSL has been working in Douala Edea since 2012 supporting conservation efforts of the Ministry of Forestry and Fauna (MINFOF) and community-based conservation of forests, freshwater species, and fisheries. The post-holder will have experience with conservation, natural resource management, community development and working in engaging and challenging environments. This position will manage, in coordination with the Deputy Programme Manager, all aspects of ZSL activities in the DE Landscape.

Role and Responsibility

• People: The post holder will have direct line management responsibility for up to 5 employees. They will be responsible for volunteers/interns and contractors, as required. This will include managing performance, conducting performance appraisals, recruitment, setting objectives, agreeing workplans and providing support for both professional and personal development.

• Financial resources: The post holder will be responsible for the management of all funds related to delivery of the programme of work, reporting to the Deputy Country Manager. This will include management of grant budgets, monitoring and forecasting of spend, checking and monitoring staff budgets and expenses and reporting.

• Confidentiality: The post holder has access to information about employees in the relevant country, about funding agreement budgets, terms and conditions and occasionally confidential corporate information and is expected to treat all such information in strict confidence.

• Inventory: The post holder is responsible for the appropriate and safe use, maintenance and inventory of all the project’s equipment and materials, including field offices and equipment and capital items, such as vehicles and boats.

Main duties and key responsibilities

• Effectively managing the team of staff, contractors, partners and other personnel responsible for delivering project activities, producing workplans, reviewing progress, and adapting plans as necessary to ensure the project stays on track.
• Providing technical oversight and input into all project activities, to ensure the technical and scientific rigour of all project activities, contributing to methodologies, implementation, analysis, technical reports and, where appropriate scientific outputs.
• The post holder will also be responsible for taking the lead on and delivering some activities.
• Ensuring that a robust Monitoring and Evaluation plan is in place and working with the ZSL team and partners to ensure that the project is achieving deliverables and having intended conservation impact, on time and to budget.
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that the project is appropriately staffed and for the recruitment, safe working, direct or indirect line management and support of the project team.
• Working closely with and managing relationships with partners, sub-grantees and consultants to ensure their contributions to programme activities are appropriate, of a high standard, delivered and reported on in a timely manner and they comply with ZSL’s financial standards.
• The post holder will be responsible for reporting on the project both internally to the Deputy Country Manager and UK Africa Management team and externally through donor reports and contributions to newsletters, annual reports etc.
• Working with the ZSL Country Programme team to ensure that health and safety standards are met, kept up-to-date and adhered to throughout project implementation. Working to ensure that ethical standards are met by all ZSL staff.
• Contributing to the production and implementation of the country strategy, regional strategy and relevant global programme strategies, as necessary.
• The post holder works closely with all relevant departments at ZSL Cameroon and UK to ensure that appropriate financial and other systems are in place to support the operation of the country programme and the management of the projects.
• The post holder will ensure that an appropriate visibility and communications strategy in line with the grant, Net-Works and ZSL requirements are in place and implemented throughout the project implementation.
• The post holder shall ensure that information and images are supplied by the local team for use in digital communications, including website and twitter, annual reports, posters and other literature as needed.
• The post holder will represent ZSL in the media as needed; this may include television, radio and newspaper interviews.
• The post holder will represent ZSL at national and international conferences and workshops as needed, and will be expected to deliver talks and presentations to a range of audiences.

Building relationships

• The post holder is expected to nurture and maintain good working relationships with staff in the country programme, the Africa programme management team, the Marine and Freshwater International team and to develop good relationships with other staff in ZSL, using tact, sensitivity and diplomacy as appropriate.
• A significant part of the role is the maintenance of existing, and development of new, relationships and partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including government authorities, donor agencies, embassies, local and international NGOs, private sector actors, research institutions and local communities. This will involve regular communication and liaison with senior officials from these institutions to communicate the aims and achievements of the programme and ZSL in a professional and engaging fashion to foster collaborations and funding opportunities.
• The post holder must ensure a professional representation of the Society and its work.

Expectations of job holder

• To ensure that the policy for equality of opportunity is adhered to and promoted in all aspects of the post holder’s work.
• To ensure effective quality control and continuous improvement in all aspects of the work and responsibilities attached to this post.
• Demonstrate professionalism towards sensitive and confidential information.
• To comply with and promote Health and Safety policies and procedures and to undertake recommended Health and Safety training as and when necessary.
• To be committed to professional self-development, through participation in in-service training as necessary for the successful carrying out of the job.
• To undertake such other duties as are commensurate with the grade of the post.

NB: This job description is designed to outline a range of main duties that may be encountered. It is not designed to be an exhaustive list of tasks and can be varied in consultation with the post holder in order to reflect changes in the job or the organisation.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Experience

• A higher degree (MSc or above) in a subject related to conservation/natural resource management or work experience in a relevant field.
• Experience in the design, planning, implementation and management of conservation, research and/or related donor funded aid projects, with working experience in Cameroon and/or Central Africa..
• Experience of working in the field of conservation and/or community development would be desired.
• Experience of strategic planning.
• Proven experience of managing multiple people and teams with diverse backgrounds to deliver on objectives, meeting timelines and maintaining a high level or performance is essential.
• Proven experience in managing complex budgets and grants and in financial forecasting and reporting.
• Proven track record of project development and writing successful fundraising proposals and securing funds from trusts, foundations and institutions is desirable.
• Proven experience of engaging with a wide range of stakeholders including international, national, governmental and non-governmental organisations.
• Proven experience in creating project related communication strategies and promotional material to a wide range of audiences.
• Experience of living and working in developing countries, ideally in the Central Africa region, is desirable.
• Understanding and strong experience of working for or with NGOs is desirable.

Knowledge

• An excellent knowledge of the project cycle and project/programme management tools.
• A good understanding of aspects of ecology, social science or other relevant conservation science discipline and applying these methods to ensure scientific/technical rigor of programme activities.
• A good understanding of current international and Africa specific biodiversity conservation issues is desired.

Skills & Abilities

• Fluent spoken and written English and French is essential.
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Must be highly computer literate in particular in MS office packages, specifically Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong organisational skills, with an ability to manage competing priorities and delegate effectively.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Innovative and solution oriented thinking.
• Tact and diplomacy.
• An ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to lead and motivate a team.
• Effective networking and people skills.
• Fundraising skills, with proven track record of developing proposals.
• Excellent report writing skills
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work under different cultural settings.

Other Requirements

• The post holder will work normal office hours but there will sometimes be a requirement to work out of office hours or over weekends to meet deadlines, and to travel over weekends.
• Driver’s license preferred.
• Willing and able to travel to and spend time in project sites in Cameroon.

Applicants should apply through ZSL’s website www.zsl.org/jobs and include a CV and a covering letter detailing relevant experience and skills and stating why they want the position. We regret that we will only be able to contact applicants who have been selected for interview. Closing date for applications is 20^th January.

The Zoological Society of London is a charity registered in England and Wales: no. 208728.