Head of Conservation, Africa

Application deadline
Friday, 10 May 2024 – 23:45

Location
Dakar, Senegal or Nairobi, Kenya

Full time
40 hours per week

Contract
2 year fixed term

Salary
Gross monthly salary: EURO 5,000 – 5,500 dependant on skills and experience

BirdLife International is seeking a dedicated and visionary Head of Conservation to lead on our Conservation Programmes across the continent. The purpose of this position is to provide high-level strategic leadership and coordination in the development and execution of BirdLife’s conservation efforts in Africa. This role is pivotal in guiding conservation activities in alignment with the BirdLife Strategy in Africa and the specific conservation targets of BirdLife Partners, as outlined in the BirdLife Africa Regional Plan and Quality Assurance System. A key aspect of this role involves ensuring that the delivery of conservation work effectively integrates the distinct roles of the BirdLife Secretariat and BirdLife Partners, adhering to BirdLife Operational Procedures. The job encompasses four main components:

• Leading, coordinating, and monitoring the operations of conservation programmes and large-scale conservation initiatives across Africa.
• Coordinating inputs from the Africa Region into global conservation initiatives, particularly those involving multiple programmes or non-BirdLife organizations.
• Mobilizing resources—including funds, partnerships, and information—to advance BirdLife’s conservation efforts in Africa.
• Promoting the conservation achievements of the BirdLife Africa Partnership at both regional and global forums.

The Key Responsibilities:

Lead the operations of Conservation Programmes.

• Guide and support coordinators in developing and implementing strategies for effective partnership support and delivery of conservation results.
• Enhance information flow and coordinated actions within units and across the wider secretariat.
• Ensure operations reinforce the BirdLife model with appropriate Partner engagement.
• Monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of conservation work and its impacts in Africa.

Coordinate Africa Region’s input into global conservation initiatives.

• Increase BirdLife’s influence on biodiversity conservation in Africa.
• Promote biodiversity considerations in policies and practices, fostering government, private sector, and civil society cooperation.
• Lead in the development and implementation of BirdLife global conservation initiatives within Africa.

Mobilize resources for conservation work in Africa.

• Cultivate relationships for resource mobilization with donors, corporates, philanthropy, and high net worth individuals.
• Lead the development of large conservation projects.
• Manage large conservation projects, ensuring the delivery of high-quality reports and deliverables.

Promote BirdLife Conservation achievements.

• Deliver presentations on achievements at key forums.
• Negotiate collaboration agreements with strategic partners for key conservation outcomes, ensuring BirdLife leadership and recognition.
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Country support.

• Provide focused support to specific countries, aiding Partners in achieving excellence in management and conservation impact.
• Coordinate with Supporting Partners to develop and implement country visions for BirdLife engagement.

Organisational management.

• Offer strategic and operational support to the BirdLife Africa Secretariat as part of the management and coordination teams.
• Contribute to BirdLife Partnership governance through inputs to the Council of Africa Partnership (CAP) and its subcommittees.

Others

• Undertake any other duties as delegated by the Regional Director, Africa.

Required skills, experience and qualifications:

• Education: A Master’s degree in Natural Resources Management, Natural Science, International relations, International law  or a related field.
• Experience: Significant relevant experience, demonstratable at senior management level, in international conservation (with demonstrable experience in Africa) and organisational management.
• Management & Organisation Skills: Strategic management, networking at senior level, negotiation, programme development and management. Ability to act independently and basic financial literacy.
• Knowledge: Design and implementation of complex and multi-stakeholder conservation projects, Excellent understanding of conservation, development and political issues in Africa. Understanding of key institutions driving biodiversity loss and nature conservation in Africa, their mandates and opportunity to influence them, Networking at senior level,
• Communication skills:Ability to promote BirdLife to senior level stakeholders in international organisations, government, private sector and civil society. Ability to write professional articles and give presentations to international audiences
• Analytical Skills: Ability to look at the strategic and operational dimensions of issues and plan accordingly.
• Computer Literacy: Good knowledge of MS Office Suite, presentations, spreadsheets and database management
• Travel: Willingness to travel frequently, up to fifteen weeks per year.
• Languages: Fluency in English is required, and working proficiency in French and/or Portuguese, an advantage

Location:

The position will be based in Dakar, Senegal or Nairobi, Kenya.

Salary & benefits:

Commensurate with experience and qualifications and in accordance with BirdLife International, Africa Division terms and conditions.

• Gross monthly salary: EURO 5,000 – 5,500
• Length/duration of this position: 2 years (renewable)
• Working hours: Full time 40 hours per week
• Date when the job expected to start:  June 2024

Application:

Applications, including a covering letter summarizing the applicant’s suitability for the position, a detailed CV and names and contact addresses of three referees known to the applicant in a professional capacity, should be sent via email before the application deadline of 10 May 2024

to: [email protected]   

Interviews: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.