WCS recruits 01 Vice President, Field Conservation

Position: Vice President, Field Conservation

Reports to: Executive Vice President, Global Conservation Program

Location: To be based preferably either at WCS Headquarters in the Bronx, New York, or in one of WCS’s hubs around the world

Department/Division: Global Conservation Program

Position Type: Full-time

Internal Liaison: Regional Directors (direct reports) in addition to the rest of Global Leadership, including Thematic Directors as well as Global Safety & Security Director, International Policy and Species; Global Resources, Public Affairs, Communications.

Expected Travel: Significant travel.

Organizational Background:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes and seascapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

Today, WCS’s Global Conservation Program (GCP) has significant senior leadership that is field-based, implementing conservation on the ground through 14 regional programs, with their respective structures, leadership and authority. Our conservation delivery and impact is further strengthened by our five global priority Thematic Programs, providing critical support to the regional programs, while developing broader scale initiatives to enhance our global impact: 1. Forests & Climate Change; 2. Health; 3. Marine; 4. Rights & Communities; 5. Counter Wildlife Trafficking. The impact and authority derived from WCS’s field and thematic expertise is underpinned, and advanced, by WCS’s long-standing scientific, species and international policy expertise.

Position Summary:

The Vice President, Field Conservation, is a full time position requiring extensive and authoritative knowledge on conservation issues globally, field experience, extensive management and program development experience, strong leadership, partnering and public speaking skills, and an acknowledged standing in the conservation community. The VP, Field Conservation is a key member of Global Conservation Program’s (GCP) leadership and senior management team and will be able to represent all aspects of GCP’s portfolio of regional programs.

Position Objectives

· To oversee the effective implementation of field conservation through WCS’s regional programs that span the marine and terrestrial realms in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, including the field conservation contribution to achieve the WCS 2030 goals.

· To ensure the provision of strategic support to field programs including strategic planning, annual work plan management, the development and dissemination of conservation planning tools and approaches, safety & security planning, and other services from WCS-wide institutional support systems.

· To be responsible for developing and ensuring the integration of inter-regional conservation initiatives with regional programs.

· To provide guidance and input on alignment and integration of Thematic programs and Regional programs.

· To foster partnerships and funding opportunities so as to deliver conservation outcomes more fully and effectively.

· To represent WCS’s field programs in regional and international fora.

· To promote biodiversity conservation among governments, international agencies, and other non-governmental organizations and private sector organizations; direct international attention to important sites and species for conservation; and influence policies that promote their long-term persistence.

Position Responsibilities will include but not be limited to the following:

· Overseeing the management of WCS’s regional programs that span the marine and terrestrial realms in Asia, Africa, and Americas will require the incumbent:

o To have line-management authority for the regional directors (13, at time of writing),

o To ensure a clear set of programmatic goals and measurable objectives,

o To align programs with funding to ensure budgetary sustainability, and delivery of support to field-based conservation activities from other units in GCP and the Society at large.

· Ensuring the provision of strategic support to field programs will require the incumbent:

o To work closely with GCP Senior Management, as well as fundraising, communications, and government affairs departments, and others across the institution to raise the profile of WCS and to ensure sufficient, flexible, and growing financial support for projects, programs and initiatives;

o To work closely with the Global Safety & Security Director to lay out a risk, safety, and security policy framework for field programs, including engaging and coordinating on the development and roll-out of a set of global Standard Operating Procedures, as well as their monitoring and evaluation;

o To work closely with GCP Conservation Operations, Program Development, Global Finance and other departments as relevant to review and build the capacity of regional programs to oversee the full spectrum of program and grant compliance systems.

· Being responsible for the development and integration of inter-regional conservation initiatives, and providing guidance and input on alignment and integration of Thematic programs and Regional programs, will require the incumbent:

o To engage with GCP Leadership, and particularly the VP for Conservation Initiatives, VP Conservation Strategy & Partnerships, Regional Directors, and the Thematic Directors, to develop innovative initiatives at scale (running across multiple regional, thematic and crosscutting programs).

· Fostering partnerships and funding opportunities, and promoting biodiversity conservation globally with governments, international agencies, donors, and other non-governmental organizations and private sector organizations, will require the incumbent:

o To engage with colleagues and institutions in the conservation community through personal relationships, meetings, speaking engagements, media interviews, writing, and general communications.

o To direct international attention to important sites and species for conservation; and influence policies that promote their long-term persistence.

o Develop personal conservation activities that promote conservation globally. Write and publish documents, reports, books, and technical papers. Be active in professional societies, attending meetings, workshops, strategy sessions, etc.

Minimum Requirements:

· A doctorate or equivalent experience in a field related to the conservation of biological diversity;

· At least 15 years’ relevant experience at a senior level, with:

o Strong interest and track record in the development of new approaches to the field-based implementation of conservation across the globe;

o Versed and experienced in the development and management of conservation programs both in the field and at a central headquarters;

· Significant and diverse fundraising experience;

· Excellent communication skills (writing, editing, and oral);

· Inclusive management and leadership skills, including an ability to build a team, encourage innovation, inspire others, and lead across boundaries;

· Strong ability to work with a wide variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures and within a dispersed team that includes both WCS and non-WCS staff;

· English fluency essential, additional language fluency is desirable, particularly in Spanish and French.

· Willing to undertake significant travel;

· A passion for nature, and commitment to saving wildlife in wild places; committed to the mission, vision and values of WCS.

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, should apply by sending an application letter and CV together with the names and contact information of three references at the soonest possible time.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

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