AWF has an excellent career opportunity for a high performing Land Conservation Director (LCD) with practical on-the-ground experience conserving and managing land in Africa . This position will lead AWF’s land and habitat conservation program. The LCD will report to the Vice President for Conservation Strategy, and work to increase the amount of land under conservation and to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of management systems for conservation land in Africa.
Responsibilities
• Help AWF increase conservation land through the establishment of conservation areas.
• Determine which tools/approaches will best facilitate effective and sustainable conservation for targeted landscapes. Provide technical oversight and adaptive management strategies to ensure the effective and timely implementation of recommended tools/approaches.
• Establish AWF’s tools and systems around management of conservation properties across a variety of land uses, such as wildlife conservancies, protected areas, livestock and wildlife ranches.
• Oversee the recruitment and supervision property managers for conservation properties managed directly by AWF.
• Work with partners to ensure effective and efficient conservation management and ensure proper management systems are in place for other conservation properties of interest to AWF but not managed directly by AWF.
• Represent AWF in relevant forums and meetings regarding land conservation issues, and provide support toward influencing land related policies.
• Increase AWF’s institutional knowledge of land protection and management strategies, approaches and challenges across East, West, and Southern Africa.
• Formulate AWF positions on various land-related matters.
• Provide technical land management and conservation input to fundraising proposals as requested.
Qualifications
• MSc, JD or PhD in natural resource management, law, business or other field related to land conservation.
• 8+ years of direct experience in land conservation in Africa.
• Experience overseeing management of a conservancy, conservation ranch or other relevant conservation land.
• Experience negotiating land transactions for conservation purposes
• Experience working with landowners, communities and private sector operators.
• Experience implementing a portfolio of projects, ensuring timely, efficient and successful implementation.
• Familiarity with land policies, and trends in land issues in Africa and successful experience with various land conservation mechanisms, such as leases, land use plans, conservancies.
• Proficiency in both English (spoken and written) is required, French is a plus.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills including the ability to work with a variety of landowners, build coalitions, negotiate, and manage conflict.
• Ability to produce well written reports, legal documents and agreements. Ability to creatively solve problems.
How to apply:
Only candidates that have direct experience protecting and/ or managing land will be considered Interested candidates are invited to apply through http://www.awf.org/about/careers/ . Please send a cover letter and your detailed CV indicating daytime telephone numbers, address and names of three referees with the Job Title in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates shall be contacted.
For further information on the position and AWF, please visit www.awf.org
