Senior Manager: Wildlife Programme at WWF South Africa

Description    

• Based in WWF offices in Newlands (Cape Town), Braamfontein (Johannesburg) or White River (Mpumalanga)
• WWF is the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisation, with over 6 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
• WWF South Africa is a national office that is part of the WWF network. We are a local NGO that has worked for 50 years with the aim of inspiring all South Africans to live in harmony with nature, for the benefit of our country and the wellbeing of all our people. WWFs work is for nature, for you.
• Our work is challenging and exciting and we love what we do. To join our team, you need to be brilliant at what you do, passionate, results-orientated and have a positive attitude.

Wildlife Programme

• South Africa is recognised as home to iconic wildlife species including the largest land mammals – the African elephant and rhinos. In recent years, these species have been threatened due to reduced habitat and changes in demand for ivory and rhino horn with such pressures exacerbated by climate change.
• In South Africa, WWF has been involved in species conservation and addressing the threats to wildlife since the 1960s. More recently we work closely with rural communities who live near to major wildlife areas to attempts to balance their threats with potential benefits. Our influence in wildlife conservation policies further assists in balancing environmental goals against social, political and economic needs.
• In all we do, we take a holistic approach towards ensuring that wildlife is valued by people and able to thrive within functioning well-managed landscapes. The approach is to ensure we enable species recovery through range expansion, protect habitat by preventing degradation and loss, address impacts of illegal wildlife trade and over exploitation, support improved governance within communities through capacity building, enhanced beneficiation and conservation stewardship.
• The promotion of the wildlife / biodiversity Economy, particularly the concept of sustainable use is of the topical issues that WWF aims to drive to ensure best practice towards benefit for nature and people. In this regard, we support research, drive policy analysis and advocacy to improve the economic and ecological sustainability of priority wildlife species and their benefits to nature and people.

Background

• WWF is looking for a highly results-oriented leader to drive vibrant engagement in the wildlife sector and deliver WWF’s intended conservation impact. The successful candidate needs to be able to oversee and build on our current portfolio of work, maintain and develop productive and lasting partnerships, lead a diverse and dispersed team and co-develop innovative approaches across sectors at the interface of wildlife conservation.  We are looking for a technical expert with a deep and proven understanding of threatened species recovery and management, sustainable use of natural resources, wildlife economy development and inclusive purpose driven community engagement. The Wildlife Programme is composed of highly competent and dynamic individuals working in dispersed teams across multiple themes. The Senior Manager Wildlife will function within the organization’s broader Environmental Programme and will be based from one of the WWF South Africa offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg or White River. The position will require extensive national and some regional / international travel.
• Our work environment is both challenging and exciting and we love what we do. To join our team, you need to be exceptional at what you do, passionate, results-orientated and have a positive attitude.

Minimum Requirements    

• Postgraduate qualification (PhD level preferred, but master’s as the minimum) in wildlife management, conservation biology, landscape ecology, resource economics or related discipline.
• A demonstrated understanding of the complexities of the different sectors of wildlife conservation in South Africa based on at least 10 years of experience.
• Working knowledge of the international NGO wildlife conservation sector, with proven exposure and productive networks within government, private and additional civil society partnerships.
• At least 7 years’ experience in managing staff and overseeing operational responsibilities of a team coordinating both professional and administrative staff members.
• Demonstrated track record of successful project management and oversight.
• Widely acknowledged as a thought leader and strategist.
• Demonstrable technical experience in most of the following areas: species management, illegal wildlife trade, sustainable use, biodiversity and wildlife economy, and the inclusion of communities in natural resource management.
• Proven ability to secure project funding including successful proposal development and maintaining strong reporting relationships with international government partners including US, UK, EU and other key partnerships.
• Understanding USAID or other public sector funding processes would be highly advantageous.
• A clear understanding of the contemporary national and international policy imperatives to South Africa’s environmental challenges and specifically related to the wildlife sector.
• Ability to inspire people (in government, business and civil society) to act on the challenges facing wildlife conservation.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to convey complex environmental issues in a powerful way to diverse audiences.
• Capacity to act as a spokesperson on wildlife conservation for WWF South Africa including proven experience in radio, television and print interviews.
• A strong command of English as a working language is essential with an additional South African language.

Duties and Responsibilities    

• Provide strategic thought leadership to WWF South Africa’s Wildlife Programme (and WWF International Wildlife Practise).
• Maintain key networks and participate in partnership processes underpinning wildlife conservation in South Africa.
• Manage the proper functioning of the Wildlife Programme in line with set organisational policies, procedures and delegated authority.
• Assist with staff development, mentorship and transformation of the staff and, where relevant, partners linked to the Wildlife Programme.
• Build sustainable funding streams to continue implementation of the Wildlife Programme of work towards WWF Strategy 2025 and WWF International Wildlife Practise Goals.
• Work with the Strategic Communications team to develop internal and external communication material regarding the Wildlife Programme to meet Programme goals and broaden and engage constituencies.
• Serve as WWF-SA’s spokesperson in engagement with media on matters of Wildlife.
• Perform further duties as required to achieve key outcomes.