Jobs at African Wildlife Foundation, Kenya

Position: Tsavo-Mkomazi Landscape Manager

Position summary

This position will be responsible for providing leadership, management, and accountability for the activities and performance of the African Wildlife Foundation’s (AWF) conservation program in the Tsavo Mkomazi in Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania.

In particular, the position holder will be doing the following duties

• Coordinate implementation of AWF’s landscape conservation program in the Tsavo-Mkomazi landscape and engage with Wildlife authorities in both Kenya and Tanzania, County Governments and Local government authorities, conservation partners working and investing in the landscape.
• Provide technical oversight to the Landscape by focusing on the application of sustainable natural resources management; strengthening natural resource governance, participatory land, and resource use planning, and working with M& E officer to implement a resource monitoring system for the landscape.
• Help to develop and grow AWF’s program in the landscape
• In consultation with the supervisor, further, develop strategic partnerships in the landscape.
• Supervise the team on the ground to improve and strengthen stakeholder forums for ongoing dialogue between Wildlife Authorities, CBOs, and private sector stakeholders.
• Work with AWF experts on community aspects of conservation to ensure programmatic guidance in designing and strengthening community livelihoods programs; also ensure proper participation and that livelihood support has a link with wildlife and biodiversity conservation in this landscape.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the Tsavo Landscape program, which includes: effective administration, human resources, tracking of the Landscape project/program finances, program monitoring and evaluation, timely accurate and verifiable donor reporting, and effective coordination and cooperation between project partners and key government depts. and wildlife authorities.

Additional duties 

• Work with the Strategy team to implement AWF’s next 5-10-year strategy for the landscape.
• Represent AWF at County and Local government level, and development of local-level policies, with emphasis on wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
• Work with the Finance Department to develop and track working budgets.
• Similarly, s/he will work with the Program Management and Grants Management teams to ensure annual work plans and budgets are produced in a timely way and are uploaded in AWF project management systems.
• Work with the Program Design team to generate project concepts for funding proposals to support the implementation of AWF’s strategy in the Landscape.
• Engage with the Communications and Marketing teams to communicate AWF messages through newsletters, reports and regular updates.
• Represent AWF at County and Local government level, and development of local-level policies, with emphasis on wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
• Work with the Finance Department to develop and track working budgets.
• Furthermore, s/he will also work with the Program Management and Grants Management teams to ensure annual work plans and budgets are produced in a timely way and are uploaded in AWF project management systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Conservation Related Field. However, a master’s degree will be an advantage.
• In addition to that, at least years of proven managerial, administrative and field experience in conservation.
• Following, experience managing multi-disciplinary teams.
• A task-oriented, result-focused and collaborative leadership approach with a thorough understanding of project management disciplines.
• Experience and a proven success record in working and implementing projects. Similarly, experience in successfully managing large projects and delivering timely and verifiable results.
• Demonstrated knowledge and mastery of global standards and practices for conservation including in protected area planning and management, participatory land-use planning, community conservation, rights-based approaches, and integrated conservation and development.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written), Swahili will be an added advantage.
• Also, the ability to build the capacity of multiple stakeholders and facilitate multi-stakeholder processes to engage in landscape planning and management.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills including the ability to build coalitions, negotiate, and manage conflict; familiarity with protocols associated with working in both Kenya and Tanzania.
• Genuine respect for the skills and perspectives of communities, partner organizations, and the private sector.
• Conservancy management experience a strong advantage
• Good report writing skills and working knowledge of computers and MS Office software package.
• Unwavering integrity as well as experience working with Government agencies.
• Furthermore, commitment to AWF and its mission.

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), is the leading international conservation organization focused exclusively on Africa’s wildlife and wildlands. Moreover, AWF’s programs and conservation strategies are designed to protect the wildlife and wildlands of Africa and ensure a more sustainable future for Africa’s people. AWF protects Africa’s wildlife, its wildlands, and its natural resources.