Manager for Strategy & Development
Regional Director for West & Central Africa
Programmes
This position will lead AWF’s (African Wildlife Foundation)
strategic development framework at country and landscape levels. It will first
address the rationale behind the need for strategies, ensuring that strategy
documents help guide AWF’s decision-making abilities in terms of conservation
impact, resource requirements, and implementation planning while at the same
time help countries to deliver on their development aspirations and align to
the Sustainable Development Goals and African Union’s Agenda 2063. The position
will also be responsible for outlining the process for country and landscape
strategy development within the organization and ensure that any strategies
developed adhere to the defined process as well as AWF’s strategic vision
2019-2029 and its goals.
This is an exciting and dynamic role for the right individual.
A strong ability for rigour, widely knowledgeable- capable of facilitating
processes that bring in a diverse range of views, building consensus among
teams, patience, the ability to listen, and a sense of humor will be critical
success factors for this role. The Manager will interact with individuals at
all levels and departments of the organization, in a unique and high-profile
role firmly placed at the core of AWF’s strategic decision-making process.
Responsibilities
Strategy Process Definition and
Development
- Work
with strategic teams across the organization up to and including
Conservation Science, Species Protection and Planning teams to design
framework, templates, and processes for the development of
geography-specific strategies (countries and landscapes) for AWF, and
ongoing processes for ensuring strategies are updated, current, and
revised for changing contexts.
- Assess
and understand key questions that should be answered in the development
process for strategies. Strategies should become a key component of the
organizational investment/decision-making process, and help guide
allocation of resources within the organization.
- With
support from the VP-Strategy & Knowledge Management, present strategy
model and process to senior leadership for approvals;
- Work
closely with the Country Directors and technical leads to develop criteria
for strategies and strategic investment decisions to be presented to, and
approved by SMC;
- Train
staff on the process and use of strategies in country program and landscape/field
implementation and everyday decision-making.
- Work
closely with the Senior Manager Knowledge Management to articulate and
establish measurable goals, objectives, and metrics for assessing,
reporting, and improving impact at country and landscape levels.
- As
part of an adaptive management process, recommended improvements to AWF’s
Strategic Conceptual Models, based on programmatic monitoring, evaluation
and learning.
- Provide
inputs, analysis and statistics for quarterly, annual and other reports to
management, ensuring the data quality and integrity of all information
being reported out.
- In
close consultation with the supervisor, align departmental goals,
processes and resource allocation with the organizational strategy.
- Working
closely with Senior Conservation Scientist, support the planning,
implementing and managing proposed recommendations and projects based on
prevailing circumstances.
- Establish
review process for regularly checking strategies against developments in
countries/landscapes and in AWF and facilitate country and landscape teams
to undertake informed adaptive management of the strategies.
- Work
with communications team to establish internal and external communications
around the strategies and ensure key audiences are aware of and using the
strategies.
Strategy Development for Landscapes and
Countries
- Working
with senior leadership, develop prioritized list of strategies required by
AWF and timeframe for completion. The strategy “needs list” should be a
living list of priorities, revised and updated to reflect current
contexts.
- Lead
process for development of specific strategies, working with Country
Directors and other departments to research, assess and define strategies,
as per the agreed-upon process. These will be based on best available
scientific fundamentals, including AWF’s SWOT/ GAP analysis and
evidence-based approaches to mitigate identified/ emerging threats,
establishment of conservation & livelihood strategies, and incorporate
other areas influencing implementation such as development and economic
context, Costing & financing, policy, fundraising, operational
context, and risk. Strategies should also articulate desired outcomes,
vision of “success” for a given landscape or country.
- Support
the participatory development of long-term landscape and country
strategies and facilitate the strategic planning process to ensure that
this process is timely, focused, and value adding. S/he also ensures that
the strategy planning process highlights existing
development/conservation/business issues, making certain that these issues
are thoughtfully addressed by the laid-out plans.
- Oversee
the development and implementation of strategies for countries/landscapes
to guide AWF’s approach to engagement, ensuring that each geographic area
is guided by an organization-approved strategy.
- Lead
periodic review process of existing strategies, ensuring that strategies
are current; where significant revision of strategies is required, ensure
adequate internal buy-in and SMC approval.
Qualifications
- Master’s
degree in Economics, Business Administration, with emphasis on strategic
management, Conservation Economics, or Conservation Planning, or other
relevant education.
- At
least 4 years of work experience in a strategy position within a
fast-paced and dynamic business environment in relation to strategy
development; experience working in a conservation environment will be an
added advantage.
- Excellent
understanding of business/organizational operations and procedures in
sub-Saharan Africa especially in ecological, environmental, and/or
development issues.
- Experience
in developing and managing corporate/organizational strategy strategies,
with direct exposure to top management strategy formulation and decision
making.
- Ability
to think strategically, with creative, pragmatic and participatory
approaches to forward planning.
- Demonstrated
skills in working across departments within organizations, balancing a
wide-ranging set of viewpoints, and building consensus among diverse
groups of stakeholders.
- Understanding
of basic financial principles, budgeting, and cost analysis for
organizations.
- Fluency
in written and spoken English is essential. Fluency in written and spoken
French is a very significant advantage.
- Excellent
communicator with interpersonal skills, flexibility, and cultural
sensitivity and ability to engage variety of people in the course of
delivering an assignment, gathering and sharing information from others
throughout the organization and maintaining strong relationships with
country programs and field implementation teams, technical experts,
managers and leadership.
- Willingness
to travel, sometimes to remote locations within Africa.
- Interest
in AWF’s mission and understanding of issues faced by AWF in delivering
its mission. Familiarity with contemporary conservation issues in Africa,
will be a distinct asset.
How to Apply
Regional Director for West & Central Africa
Programmes
The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is seeking a Regional
Director for West and Central Africa Programmes to oversee the
implementation of AWF Programmes in DRC, Cameroon, Senegal, Nigeria and
Niger as well as any other programmes developed in the region. The successful candidate
will have practical experience in protected area management, land use planning,
offset programs, working with communities and other stakeholders around
protected areas and implementing programmes in Africa. This position will work
with the Senior Director for Project Management and Partnerships to
ensure the effective implementation of its programmes in West and Central
Africa. The position will report to the Senior Director for Project Management
and Partnerships (SDPMP) and will be based in either Nairobi, Kenya or Yaounde,
Cameroon. This position will entail at least 60% travel within the region.
Responsibilities
- Assist
the SDPMD in providing overall leadership, management and accountability
for the activities and performance of the AWF Programmes in West and
Central Africa.
- Spearhead
AWFs’ efforts to improve the effectiveness of programmes being implemented
in West and Central Africa through increasing the capacity of the field
teams, providing them with the necessary logistical support and provide
ongoing technical guidance to ensure programmes are well managed, are able
to deal effectively with challenges.
- Represent
AWF at meetings, events and field visits within the region
- Determine
which tools/approaches will best facilitate effective and sustainable
conservation for targeted landscapes. Provide technical oversight and
adaptive management strategies to ensure the effective and timely
implementation of recommended tools/approaches.
- Within
W&CA, ensure that activities are consistent with donor expectations,
including appropriate reporting and checkpoints, and are realistic and
sufficiently detailed to be actionable by implementing staff.
- Regularly
question programmatic assumptions, plans and pace to ensure that AWF
remains on a good course in West and Central Africa considering changing
operational realities. Encourage similar good-natured analysis throughout
the organization.
- Ensure
strong liaison between field teams, country offices (where appropriate)
and Nairobi on issues of finance, procurement, administration and fund
raising
- Support
the field teams with engagement with bi lateral donors for field visits,
budget adjustments and any programme challenges
- Identify
and develop excellent working relationships with major partners and
stakeholder groups such as local government, commercial institutions, and
communities in Eastern Africa likely resulting in an MOU between major
players as required.
- Participate
in the recruitment of staff and with doing regular staff assessments to
ensure they are achieving their goals; have the resources they need to
carry out their responsibilities and are motivated.
- Work
with the programme management system team to ensure effective
implementation of the programme management tracking system and that the
system provides useful feedback and support to the field managers.
- Establish
and enforce approval workflows to ensure adequacy and completeness of
MOVs.
- Work
with the Knowledge Management team to ensure that AWF strategically expand
its conservation footprint in W&CA
- Represent
AWF in relevant forums and meetings regarding Protected Area management
and other conservation issues and provide support toward influencing
policies that improve protected area management.
- Increase
AWF’s institutional knowledge of protected area management and management
strategies, approaches and challenges across West & Central Africa.
- Formulate
AWF positions on various land-related matters.
- Provide
technical input to fundraising proposals as requested.
- Provide
any other relevant support and undertake assignments as needed by AWF
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s
Degree in natural resource management, or other field related to protected
area management and project implementation. Masters preferred
- 10+
years of direct experience implementing programmes in Africa ensuring
timely, efficient and successful implementation.
- Experience
in protected area management in West or Central Africa.
- Experience
working with Governments and Government agencies
- Experience
working with communities.
- Experience
negotiating with private sector operators.
- Project
management experience
- Familiarity
with land policies, trends in land issues in Africa.
- Familiarity
and successful experience with various land conservation mechanisms, such
as leases, land use plans, conservancies.
- Proficiency
in both French and English (spoken and written) is required.
- Outstanding
interpersonal skills including the ability to work with a variety of
landowners, build coalitions, negotiate, and manage conflict.
- Excellent
communication skills.
- Ability
to produce well written reports, legal documents and agreements.
- Ability
to problem solve in a creative way.
- Commitment
to AWF and its mission
How to Apply
Finance Officer
Job Description
The Finance Officer (FO) is an integral member of the AWF Central
Finance team The FO will support the Classroom Africa program provide
accounting and administration of AWF’s impact investments in two Conservation
Bonds and provide financial management support to the central finance team in
the areas of procurement, payables and general accounting as needed.
This position reports to the Senior Accounting and Compliance
Manager with a matrix reporting to the Vice President, Technology and Innovation
on matters of Conservation Bonds.
Occasional trips to the field may be required.
Responsibilities
Classroom Africa Program
Financial Management
- Monitor
all financial transactions for Classroom Africa;
- Work
with Treasury team to ensure prompt payment of invoices; and
- Quality
check all financial transactions to ensure proper coding and recording.
Program Reporting
- Prepare
monthly Classroom Africa financial reports including analysis on actual
expenditures versus budgets, year-to-date status, and life-of-project
reporting per established reporting guideline;
- Prepare
monthly Classroom Africa financial statements for the program, including
revenues vs. expenditures and net cash positions;
Donor Financial Reporting
- Work
with Budget and Grants team to ensure proper set-up of new grants;
- Working
closely with the Budget and Grants team, support development of financial
reporting for donors and project-related sponsors.
Contracting and Contract Administration
- Monitor
all invoices and payments to Classroom Africa contractors to ensure
compliance to contracts and reconciliation of payments vs budgets.
Data Analysis, Forecasting and Budgeting
- With
Program Manager, develop quarterly cash flow projections for submission to
Treasury team;
- Support
Program Manager with development and submission of program financial
metrics;
- Work
with team in budget preparation for new sites and projects; and
- Develop
and run ad-hoc reports as required.
2. Conservation Bonds
Accounting
- Work
closely with AWF’s Director of Finance, maintain an accounting and control
system, manage information system and books of account and other records
that adequately and fairly present the financial condition of the
companies in accordance with IFRS.
- Work
closely with AWF’s Director of Finance and AWF’s external administrators
in Mauritius, ensure financial and reporting compliance with Mauritius
regulations.
- Produce
routine monthly financials reports for management and external
stakeholders.
- Facilitate
audit process including securing sign off from all stakeholders, and
liaising with auditors, Mauritian accountants and AWF to clear audit
queries until the accounts gets sign off.
- Liaise
with investment manager and investees to ensure accuracy of accounts;
obtain documentation for any variations from contractual obligations.
- Work
closely with AWF’s Chief Investment Officer for impact investing, maintain
the Conservation Bond financial model.
3. Payables Support
- Review
and post all invoices generated from purchase order in a timely manner
ensuring all the appropriate supporting documents are attached in the
system.
- Input
and submit any direct invoices with adequate documentations and follow up
with staff on any delayed approvals.
- Manage
Travel Advances: Review and Process advance requests/ reimbursement and
disburse cash by ensuring all the supporting documents are attached as per
the AWF Travel Policy.
- Review
and process credit card expenses from portal by ensuring all the necessary
supporting documents are attached as per AWF Credit Card Policy.
- Reconcile
employee vendor cards and travel advance holding account on a regular
basis. Apply open vendor ledger entries.
- Administer
petty cash float, initiate top ups and process cash payments. Maintain
optimal cash balances and ensure established cash limits are observed.
- Perform
petty cash reconciliation for monthly close.
- Write
and dispatch manual checks and post the check payments to cash book.
- Organize
deposits to appropriate AWF bank accounts for all cash and checks received
in HQ and post them to the cashbook.
- Provide
excellent customer service to vendors and staff by providing prompt and
accurate responses to questions/requests from any AWF staff or vendors.
- Liaise
with Admin team on VAT Exemptions and update vendors on the same.
- Manage
Manual and Electronic documents filling.
- Assist
the Finance officer to perform supplier statement reconciliation and
attend to vendor queries.
- Assist
Finance Officer with monthly close process by ensuring all the invoices
and other treasury monthly tasks completed as per set deadlines
4. Procurement Support
- Assist
with processing of staff purchase requests in the accounting system
- Assist
with maintaining all vendor records, terms, contact information, etc., in
AWF’s accounting system. Periodically analyze vendor purchase activity and
trends.
- Support
high degree of internal customer service.
- Assist
with the annual pre-qualified systems for vendors.
5. Other Duties
- As
assigned by the Senior Accounting and Compliance Manager and Director of
Finance.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s
degree in Finance or Accounting, Certified Public Accountant designation,
or related relevant degree required;
- At
least three years of work experience in accounting, auditing, budgeting,
grant financial management, cash management, or related duties;
- Knowledge
of, and prior experience with, financial management software
- Basic
understanding of fund account management preferred;
- Intermediate
to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel required;
- Prior
experience within a finance department of a non-governmental organization,
non-profit, or other grant-based institution;
- Excellent
English oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills,
flexibility, and cultural sensitivity. Knowledge of French and/or local
languages preferred;
- The
entrepreneurial drive and passion to maximize the potential AWF;
- Willingness
to travel, sometimes to remote locations within Africa; and
- Demonstrated
commitment to conservation in Africa.
- Ability
to manage competing priorities, exercise good judgment, and quickly
identify and resolve problems with minimum supervision;
- Excellent
organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to multitask in a
fast paced environment;
- Ability
to manage sensitive and confidential matters with the highest level of professional;
- Ability
to provide good customer service with patience and a sense of urgency;
- Ability
to work as part of a team in a multicultural environment;
- Must
have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact
professionally with staff, partners and stakeholders
How to Apply
