Marine Technical Advisor, WCS Equatorial Guinea

The Wildlife Conservation Society seeks a full-time experienced and qualified applicant to coordinate the Equatorial Guinea Marine Program and provide technical support to key government stakeholders in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, with a particular focus on strengthening capacity to protect marine biodiversity and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources.

POSITION OBJECTIVES

The Equatorial Guinea Marine technical advisor will be responsible for coordinating project partners and key stakeholders to design, evaluate and implement a national marine spatial plan and MPA action plan. As such the Equatorial Guinea Marine technical advisor will serve as the focal point leading on the coordination, implementation, reporting and evaluation of project activities (e.g. training, marine/fisheries research, stakeholder workshops) designed to strengthen national capacity and increase collaboration between partner institutions and government agencies. The Equatorial Guinea Marine technical advisor will also be responsible for enhancing existing relationships by responding to requests to provide technical, analytical and operational support to Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, INDEFOR-AP, and MPA’s planning committee. The Equatorial Guinea Marine technical advisor will be involved in a broad portfolio of activities with particular focus on project management, coordination of partners, research, and fundraising in the Equatorial Guinea.

The position will be based in Bata (coastal city in continental EG and WCS-EG HQ) with regular travel to Malabo and will report to the WCS-EG Country Program Director. The position will work closely with key stakeholders and project partners.

The key governmental partners include the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry and Environment (MALFE), Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MFA) as well as established local non-governmental organization and research institutions in country and international.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Equatorial Guinea Marine technical advisor will be expected to:

• Provide management support and oversight for WCS marine and conservation programs initiatives in Equatorial Guinea;
• Develop program priorities, strategies, and approaches for marine conservation including MPA processes
• Oversee and build the WCS marine conservation portfolio, liaising with local stakeholders and other WCS programs; notably Ministries of Fisheries, Forestry, and Hydrocarbons.
• Maintain regular communication between all project partners and strengthen the relationship and collaboration between WCS and government agencies
• Identify, and coordinate training and workshops for key stakeholders to build national capacity, and support more effective marine spatial planning, fisheries resource management and enforcement efforts.
• Develop work plans, budgets, and terms of reference for project staff as needed.
• Provide regular technical and financial reports related to delivery of project activities.
• Develop suitable partnerships to assist in implementing and supporting the research and monitoring program.
• Representing the WCS Equatorial Guinea program nationally and internationally, by participation in relevant marine conservation events
• Maintaining linkages to WCS regional initiatives in Central Africa and to the WCS Marine Program in New York
• Participate in the search of additional funding sources to ensure the sustainability of the marine program in EG

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

Applicants should be able to demonstrate that they have the following:

• Masters or PhD degree, and experience in conservation biology and/or natural (fisheries) resource management.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience working in Africa or other developing nations on resource management projects.
• Excellent command of Spanish and a good grasp of English are essential, French is desirable.
• Proven experience and technical competency in up-to-date scientific approaches and methodologies, such as marine spatial planning, marine governance, fisheries, or participatory techniques.
• Fully computer literate and familiar with advanced statistical, GIS and database management software packages, such as Microsoft access, QGIS.
• Proven experience in project management and implementation (e.g. managing budgets, staff, and liaising with government).
• Strong communications and presentation skills are essential, including strong technical writing skills and demonstrated ability to communicate to a wide range of audiences across different cultures.
• Excellent organizational capacity, excellent interpersonal and networking skills, and a willingness to work as part of a dynamic team that includes government, industry, local NGOs and research institutions in a multicultural context.
• Proven experience of writing and receiving funding/research grants in the fields of conservation biology and natural resource management.
• The candidate must be flexible and able to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Applicants should be committed to conservation and to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience, should apply by emailing a detailed application/cover letter and CV together with the names and contact information of three references to: wcseguinea@wcs.org. Please include “Equatorial Guinea Marine Technical Advisor” in the subject line of your email. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. If you have any queries related to this position please contact: cbarrientos@wcs.org.

Application Deadline: 15^th April 2018

WCS PROGRAM BACKGROUND

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has played an active role in biodiversity conservation in the Central Africa since 1980’s. For over 30 years, WCS have assisted the Government in protecting wildlife and managing key habitats in national parks, reserves, and buffer zones. WCS recently started operation in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. The primary purpose of WCS’s work in the region is to develop and implement science-based conservation programs to conserve marine ecosystems and wildlife.

Over the past 18 months, WCS Equatorial Guinea has expanded its operations to provide technical support and increase national capacity to deliver a more coordinated approach to the management of marine biodiversity and natural resources, with a particular focus on Marine Protected Areas through an Equatorial Guinea Marine Program (EGM). EGM aims to bring together key stakeholders – government, industry, and local and international non-governmental organizations and research institutions with the primary objective of developing a marine spatial plan that accounts for multiple user-groups, addresses commitments to reduce biodiversity loss, promotes sustainable use, and improves the status of ecosystems and their benefits to people.

Elsewhere in the Gulf of Guinea, WCS has been the largest and longest-serving international conservation NGO in neighboring Gabon, having worked in the country for over 30 years, and is the also operating in Congo since 20 years ago. WCS also operates a regional program in Central Africa that will greatly facilitate a lessons-learned approach, and benefits from on going technical support through its Global Marine program. These included the expansion and creation of a new network of marine protected areas (MPAs), improved fisheries management and the reduction in illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the protection of local livelihoods.