Background :
African Parks Network is a non-profit organisation that takes on direct responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks and protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. By adopting a business approach to conservation, supported by donor funding, we aim to make each park sustainable in the long-term, thereby contributing to economic development and poverty alleviation. We currently manages 22 parks in 12 countries โ Angola, CAR, Chad, Republic of Congo, DRC, Malawi, Rwanda, Benin, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia, South Sudan - with a combined area of more than 20 million hectares.
Base: ENCR headquarters at Fada, West Ennedi Region, North-East Chad
Job overview:
The Conservation Manager is in charge of developing, managing and implementing all conservation and habitat management strategies within the ENCR, and to efficiently inform park management decisions.
Key functions:
Advise and support the park management on anti-poaching planning and areas to implement patrols in the park and its periphery;
- Manage the biodiversity and conservation department as described in the business plan. Ensure sound budget follow-up (no over nor underspending). Ensure the compliance with AP SOPs in all activities.
- Plan, implement and monitor all conservation activities / ecological monitoring across the reserve, including aerial surveys, camera trap surveys, ornithological monitoring, botanical surveys, animal trapping and collaring, meteorological monitoring etc.
- Work closely with the community department to examine the relationships between humans and their environment across space and time. Focus specifically on grazing and water access management in coordination with relevant partners (PASTOR, PREPAS, Ministry of livestock).
- Plan and implement the required conservation studies to support other departments (Law Enforcement, Tourism & Commercial Development) as described in the business plan.
- Plan and manage species reintroduction projects (red-necked ostrich, addax, scimitar-horned oryx).
- Improve the conservation of the relict population of west African crocodiles.
- Maintain and improve the ecological database of the reserve.
- Develop and manage the geomatics (GIS + remote sensing) unit falling within the biodiversity and conservation department, and use geomatics tools to provide support to other departments.
- Cultivate existing research and conservation partnerships, and develop new ones at national level.
- Deliver monthly reports of the activities of the department to park management. Deliver scientifically sound reports for all key activities mentioned in the business plan.
- Publish popular and peer-reviewed articles promoting the reserve and conservation.
Skills, Competencies and experience required for the position
- University degree in relevant fields (conservation biology, desert ecology, environmental anthropology, etc.)
- Strong proven experience in conservation management and research, ideally in Central Africa and arid environments.
- Strong team and project management skills.
- Strong GIS skills.
- Good statistical analysis skills and writing skills.
- Experience working in multi-cultural environments.
- Adaptability to changing environments.
- Highly resilient โ must be able to work in remote and challenging environments.
- Fluency in English and French (written and spoken).
- Administrative and computer skills.
- Diplomacy and ability to build good relationships.
- Good communication skills.
- Good analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Good logistics skills.
- Results oriented.
- Ability to make decisions.
- Ability to teach and mentor.
- Unwavering work integrity.
- Strong willingness to live in a rural setting and very remote area.
- Chadian Arabic and/or Daza are highly beneficial.
- French/ English: Spoken, written (Required)
What we offer:
Competitive salary;
Unique experience of working in one of Africaโs most remote and culturally interesting areas;
Possibility for training and exchanges in an Africa-wide network of conservation projects.
Key relationships:
- Park Manager
- Park Management Unit
- AP Head of Science support
- Technical partners and government agencies
- Other AP conservation managers