AWF is seeking a highly motivated individual to be responsible for overall project management, performance and administration of the AWF’s Programs in Samburu Landscape. This position will report to the Country Director, Kenya and will be based in Nanyuki, Kenya.
Responsibilities
- With the Country Director, Kenya, Technical Directors and other program leads, design landscape strategies, defining conservation actions that will deliver sustainable conservation and improved livelihoods
- Provide leadership to implement field-based conservation actions in the landscape, focused on strengthening the management of Protected Areas, and increasing livelihood opportunities in community areas with increased productivity in agro-pastoral zones
- Promote and support landscape–wide activities/functions to deliver program objectives; with technical support and inputs from the Technical Directors, oversee and guide the implementation of the thematic activities such as habitat conservation, participatory land-use planning, species conservation and conservation enterprises
- Identify and develop excellent working relationships with major land-holders and other stakeholder groups (local government, commercial, community, private sector and other local organizations) in the region to partner in field implementation
- Represent AWF at County and high level government forums and support individual components and landscape level activities including partner interactions to ensure effective collaboration with donors and other partners
- Develop excellent working relationships with major stakeholder groups, county governments, protected area authorities, community and private sector in the region
- Manage day-to-day operations of the program, which includes: effective administration and tracking of project finances, program monitoring and evaluation, timely internal and donor reporting, and effective coordination and cooperation between program partners
- Build and manage a team of professional staff; ensure roles & responsibilities are clearly defined and performance is managed with the required focus and discipline
- Work with the program team and the Project Management Director /Headquater to develop working annual budgets and ensure an optimized utilization of Inloox and Project Management methodologies
- Participate in the development and design of proposals for submission to key government and other donors for support of the program
- Report to the Kenya Country Director through AWF’s established performance reporting mechanisms
Qualifications
- Post graduate qualification (MSc or PhD) in natural sciences, social science, economics or another field directly related to conservation.
- 5+ years of proven managerial, administrative and field experience in conservation
- A task oriented, result focused leadership approach with a thorough understanding of project management disciplines
- Experience and a proven success record in working and implementing projects in Kenya or the wider East Africa
- Ability to substantiate tangible examples of managing sizable projects and delivering timely results
- Proficiency in both English (spoken and written) is required
- Experience managing large complex projects budgets, delivering and reporting results, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements for implementation
- Demonstrated ability to build capacity of multiple stakeholders 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 Kenya
- Genuine respect for the skills and perspectives of communities, partner organizations and the private sector
- Awareness and experience implementing landscape-level conservation approaches; familiarity with innovative methods, including community conservation and conservation enterprises
- Good report writing skills and working knowledge of computers and MS Office software package
- Readiness to relocate to other landscape, as may be required, throughout the continent
- Understanding and motivational fit in conservation
