Democratic Republic of the Congo: General manager – Greater Garamba area, DRC

Background

African Parks is a non-profit organisation that takes on direct responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks, 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 manage ten parks in seven countries – CAR, Chad, Congo, DRC, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia.

African Parks has been managing Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, since 2005 in partnership with the Institut Congolais pour La Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), the DRC’s official wildlife authority. The park is 4,900 km² but is part of the larger Garamba Complex of 12,500 km² and is the last stronghold for elephants and giraffe in all of Congo.

African Parks will be receiving funding to develop the greater Garamba area as part of the EU 11^th EDF funding. The greater Garamba development will be based on conservation led economies for the benefit of the local communities in the periphery of Garamba National Park.

African Parks has renewed its management agreement with the ICCN to manage Garamba NP and it periphery for an additional 10 years and is on the lookout for a good French speaking General Manager to lead its team. The General Manager’s role is based in the greater Garamba area, living permanently on-site at the park headquarters in Nagero. The project is large and complex with an annual budget in the $ 3 - 4 million range and a staff complement of more than 300 people. Candidates must therefore have relevant experience to handle the management of such a project.

Key responsibilities

• Taking total financial and operational responsibility of the greater Garamba area, including preparation of a 5 year business plan and annual budget

• Set the regional law enforcement strategy in cooperation with the park manager and the head of law enforcement. The regional security situation in the greater Garamba area is complex with an international influence from wanted terrorist organizations like the Lord’s Resistance Army, Janjaweed mixed with nomads out of Sudan as well as lawless elements out of South Sudan. Various international partners are also involved in resolving the security situation and the law enforcement strategy needs to involve among other; regional NGOs like Invisible Children, The Resolve and the Enough Project as well international organizations like the United Nations and regional organizations like the African Union Regional Task Force

• Manage all other stakeholder relationships, including government partners

• Managing a management team that will comprise the park management unit as the core together with a Financial Controller and Community Coordinator to support both the park and the greater Garamba area

• Overseeing a staff complement of over 300 full-time staff, including active anti-poaching rangers

• Liaise with the Board of Directors

• Building and maintaining relationships with Government and Community partners, and other key stakeholders in the project

• Monthly and annual reporting to African Parks

• Oversight of all financial management and reporting

• Set the community development strategy for the greater Garamba complex including oversight of all development projects, community activities and environmental education initiatives with local schools

• Oversight of all park activities in cooperation with the park manager.

Requirements

As African Parks takes over total management responsibility for its protected areas, candidates with a wide range of management skills and experience are required. For this particular position, African Parks will consider candidates with:

• A strong military or police background

• Previous experience with international organizations

• At least 5 years of management experience

• Fluent in French and English language

• Previous development, especially community development, experience will be beneficial.

Reporting structure

The Garamba general manager reports to the African Parks Operations Director as well as the local board.

Start date

As soon as possible.

Contract duration

Typically 3 years with a 6 month probation period.

What will success look like at the end of the contract?

A fully functioning project with:

• Effective Community Development Plan in place

• An effective regional Law Enforcement strategy in place with a minimum of key species like elephant and giraffe killed by poachers

• Sufficient staff recruited to manage the park and its periphery

• Necessary infrastructure in place to support the park operations.

All applications for the park manager position should be submitted in writing in English and should comprise the following:

• A motivation letter including, among others:

Salary expectations

• A detailed CV including, among others:

Education

Training Experience

Age Languages

At least 3 references.

All applications must be submitted by email to the African Parks Joint Operations Director, Leon Lamprecht; leonl@african-parks.org.

Candidates will be evaluated according to experience and only short-list candidates will be contacted.