Landscape Manager – Campo-Ma’an

Position Title: Landscape Manager – Campo-Ma’an

Department: Conservation Strategy, Impact and Learning

Supervisor: Country Director, Cameroon

Matrix Management: N/A

Supervises: Biomonitoring officer, Community development Assistant, Finance and Administration Assistant

Location: Campo Ma’an, Cameroon

Job Summary

The Landscape Manager-Campo-Ma’an (LM-CM) will be responsible for the planning, coordination, and management of the Campo- Ma’an (CM) landscape conservation activities while ensuring its alignment with the AWF Cameroon strategic vision. S/he is responsible for all aspects of program implementation such as planning, people management, financial, and administrative are functional and compliance with financial guidelines, funding agreements, AWF practice, and global standards taking account of the local conditions. S/he organizes program execution consistent with program objectives by engaging multi-stakeholders and promoting the AWF’s Right-based conservation approach. The role will collaborate with other AWF staff, Conservation Service, Consultants, and Local partners, the LM-CM coordinates effective anti-poaching, ecological monitoring systems, community engagement, ecotourism, and administrative support that facilitate program activities implementation in the landscape (Campo-Ma’an and Manyange-na-Elombo Marine National Parks and their peripheries). The LM-CM promotes and supports the capacity development of the Conservator, eco-guards, and indigenous and local community members to improve their effort to protect and manage the resources of the national parks.

This position is based in Campo and reports to the Country Director.

Key Responsibilities

Program Management and Operations

• Manage day-to-day supervision of the Campo-Ma’an Landscape program while ensuring effective and quality planning and implementation of activities to meet agreed program objectives in line with existing management agreements (specific MoU AWF-Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife for Campo-Ma’an National Park).
• Play the lead role in strategic planning, coordination, implementation, reporting, and management of the landscape.
• Ensure that all activities are delivered in line with agreed timelines and budgets, according to each donor’s agreements and administrative requirements, and in compliance with donor and AWF operating standards, policies and procedures, and funding agreements.
• Oversee budget management of the landscape –responsible for the management of landscape budgets by working closely with Finance Managers on budget coordination with accountability to the finance team for smooth implementation of the work plan.
• In collaboration with the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning team, manage processes for the effective monitoring and evaluation of the landscape program, ensuring timely adaptation of activities, as required and following AWF and donor processes for change, to meet project objectives, and timelines, and support the dissemination of lessons learned.
• Ensure that all activities are fully evidenced through excellent record keeping and data storage, in compliance with both AWF and donor requirements, to enable regular monitoring and progression of conservation impacts.
• Responsible for the identification, minimization, and management of safeguarding issues and risks and the implementation of the AWF Complaints and Grievance Management Mechanism setup to support AWF’s Right-based Conservation Approach in the landscape.
• Responsible for implementation of programs/projects in full compliance with AWF policies, donor requirements/standards, and also country law.

Program Development

• In collaboration with the program development department ,provide inputs to proposals development to support conservation initiatives/activities in the landscape.
• As required, support the Country Director with the liaison of donors and networks on program/project implementation.
• Lead the development and regular review work plan for consistency in the landscape program.
• Contribution, when needed, in the development and nurturing relationships with prospective and existing funders and donors.

Grant Management

In coordination with the finance and Grants team based in Yaounde and Nairobi, undertake specific landscape fund management responsibilities where appropriate, including.

• Ensure successful delivery of grant-funded projects within time-frames, and budgets, manage project inputs from relevant technical and operational staff, consultants, and implementing partners and ensure appropriate contracts are in place where relevant.
• Lead AWF and donor technical report writing and editing, coordinate the inputs of team members, cross-cutting teams, and partners, ensuring accurate and timely technical reports as per AWF and donor requirements.
• Oversee effective financial oversight and ensure all expenditure complies with donor and AWF regulations.
• Support the preparation of project financial reports, with support from the Finance and Grant teams, and ensure timely, high quality, and accurate technical, financial, and institutional reporting is submitted to donors.
• Ensure maintenance of project financial records by in-country staff that meets both AWF’s in-country institutional auditing requirements and internal and donor reporting and auditing requirements.
• Timely submission of fund advance requests for activities to Finance Department.

Technical Support to Activities

• Provide direct support to key program thematic areas; including biomonitoring, law enforcement, community development, ecotourism, and private sector engagement.
• Provide direct support to the Campo-Ma’an National Park Conservation Service (Conservator and Eco-guards) Service de la Conservation) to build capacity and support their leadership and responsibilities in the parks and the landscape as a whole.
• Ensure the system to strengthen the capacity of eco-guards and community members in the use of data collection tools (CyberTracker/SMART, GPS, camera traps), and download, manage, and analyze data for reports.
• Support the development and management of the Campo-Ma’an Operations Control Room, and assure the function and training of Conservation and AWF staff as appropriate.
• Ensure AWF collaborates with MINFOF and other Partners to develop and implement Campo-Ma’an National Park Management Plan, and other initiatives.
• Facilitate the activities of the Campo-Ma’an Technical Operation Unit Actors’ Forum in support of the Conservation Service and other conservation actions.

Staff Management and Partner Relations

• Supervise relevant staff through providing induction, reviewing individual work plans, objective setting, continuous performance management, training, coaching, and personal development planning to ensure efficient, effective delivery of the landscape program.
• Co-lead the recruitment and selection of staff under your supervision and consultants when required.
• Establish and actively maintain a positive and productive working relationship with key stakeholders such as government, indigenous and local communities, NGOs, and the private sector both at the landscape level and in Campo.
• Ensure effective collaboration with sectorial or departmental ministries (MINFOF, MINAT, MINAS, MINDEF, MINADER…), and related government offices for smooth implementation of the program.
• Ensure alignment of activities and good relations upheld between field teams, AWF program staff, and with partners, ensuring any conflicts arising are managed efficiently and positively.
• Identify and work closely with local community-based organizations that can effectively contribute to and benefit from this program.

Communications and Representation.

• Encourage a culture of excellent communication, sharing of knowledge, lessons learned, and best practices, and collaboration between project staff, wider AWF team members, implementing partners, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• In liaison with Communications and Program Departments, ensure the landscape provides materials (e.g. text and images…) for the production of up-to-date communications and fundraising material (e.g. web pages, articles, reports) to ensure the visibility of AWF’s work in the landscape.
• Ensure AWF is adequately represented at various partner and stakeholder coordination
  platforms for the successful implementation of landscape activities.
• Represent AWF and the CM landscape program, in developing its profile and promoting
  its work to third parties, including diplomatic and government agencies, communities, NGOs, academic institutions, funders, and media.

Others

• Work as an active member of AWF Cameroon and the wider AWF team and attend Cameroon meetings and work planning sessions as required.
• Provide technical input, where appropriate and requested, on other work undertaken by the AWF Cameroon program.
• With the agreement of the Country Director, perform any other tasks that may be requested from time to time as required.

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in natural resources management, environmental or conservation management, development studies, or any relevant fields or a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in, Natural resource management, or another field directly related to conservation with relevant experience.
• At least 7 years of practical experience in leading and managing conservation program programs in Cameroon and or Africa with knowledge and direct experience in landscape and protected area management.
• Proven experience in managing program funds including strategic planning and budgeting funds from diversified sources including governments and aid agencies, and private sector donors with annual budgets of a minimum (of 500,000 USD plus).
• Knowledge of the policy/institutional context related to conservation and the government agencies, development partners, and donor institutions and experience working in a multicultural environment and international organizations.
• Ability to lead and design biodiversity survey methodologies including managing field research and biomonitoring, including camera trapping.
• Experience in the use/implementation of SMART or similar ranger-based monitoring tools such as CyberTracker, GPS, and ArcGIS.
• Experience leading in awareness-raising and/or environmental education activities.
• Experience in implementing and monitoring community livelihood activities.
• Experience using FPIC (Free, Prior, Informed Consent) processes.
• Strong Project Management ability – planning, time management, and coordination
• People Management – ability to build, motivate and develop cross functional teams, networking,. and Financial Management – costing, budgets, and cash flows.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and diplomatic skills with the ability to manage and interact at all levels of an international, multicultural, and multilingual organization.
• Report writing, networking, coordination, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to create a culture of mutual respect and high performance.
• Knowledge of M&E systems is preferred.
• Fluency in French and English.
• Willingness and ability to work in remote and physically challenging locations.

How to apply

Interested candidates, who meet the above requirements and skills, should apply through the link by October 18, 2024