The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation is look for a « program manager » to start and implement a new program we are starting in Guinea.

A new program is started in Guinea to accompany mining projects in the country. The main activities will be about mitigating mining effects, developing and implementing a management plan for chimpanzees and other threatened species in the concession, developing environmental education activities and implementing sustainable offsets in the country to contribute to the long-term survival of chimpanzees. A project manager is searched for this project.

Job description: Project Manager

Reporting to: The Foundation President

Overall responsibility: To manage all of the Foundation projects in Guinea to ensure they are implemented properly, on time, and in accordance with both their contractual basis and local customs and regulations.

Specific duties and responsibilities:

• Manage all of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation's projects in Guinea, West Africa, to ensure their agreed objectives are achieved and they are implemented and administered properly in accordance with best professional practice, including work plans, budgets, technical reports and financial reports in a timely manner.
• Ensure proper communications and collaboration with the African representation of the WCF in Côte d'Ivoire and coordinating joint activities to ensure best implementation of all projects.
• Ensure proper controls are maintained to safeguards funds sent to the fields, as well as ensuring that all expenditure is properly accounted for, and proper supporting documents are kept of all financial transactions.
• Ensure proper working relationships are maintained with local partners and government institutions, local authorities (this includes seeking approval of work plans, co-ordinating implementation of activities and submitting progress reports to government agencies).
• Submit quarterly budget request to the German office in respect of individual projects and the Foundation's own operational requirements.
• Ensure sufficient photographic documentation and field reports of the Foundation's activities are sent to the German office in a timely manner.
• Develop project proposals and specific fund-raising activities.
• Ensure the Foundation's president is informed of all important developments in the field.
• Carry out any duties as required by the Foundation's President or its Africa director.
• Host and co-ordinate official visits from government agencies, donors, partners, journalists, researchers and other approved official guests.

Candidate profile The preferred candidate should have the following skills and experience:

Essential attributes:

• A relevant degree or equivalent experience
• At least 5 years' experience in nature conservation and /or natural resources management
• At least 3 years' project management experience, including financial management and financial reporting
• Proven communication and leadership skills, as well as proven capacity to collaborate effectively with government institutes and work effectively in a team with collaborators and stakeholders
• Fluent French knowledge in writing, reading and speaking
• Demonstrable commitment to conservation issues, initiative and problem-solving abilities.

Desirable attributes:

• At least 5 years' experience of project management
• Experience of working in Africa, preferably in West Africa
• Experience in the following skills:
  • Community education programmes
  • Biomonitoring survey techniques
  • Geographic informations systems (GIS) and mapping

Terms and conditions

Start date: July 2008 or as soon as possible

Duration of contract: One year initially but longer-term commitment preferred

Probationary period: Three months

Starting salary: Negotiable depending on experience

Additional benefits: - 4 weeks holiday per year - Return airfare to place of recruitment once per year - Accommodation in Guinea

Application procedure The closing date for applications is the 20 July 2008. Please send your application, comprising a short covering letter, CV and contact details of two referees to:

Christophe Boesch

WCF President

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

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