Uganda: Conservation Programs Manager

Mission of the Department: To ensure the implementation of the WWF Uganda strategic plan (2015-2020) to the highest standards with efficient operating systems, professional and skilled staff, and strong financial resources, delivering conservation impact at scale on issues and in places that are key for WWF’s Network Initiatives and other global conservation priorities.

I. Major Functions

• Ensures that the WWF Uganda Conservation Strategy is implemented through effective project implementation and development in line with Uganda conservation requirements;


• Provides advice and collaboration to the Country Director, WWF program teams; including supervision of conservation staff, providing technical assistance as required, in accordance with WWF policies, procedures, and standards;


• Within the sub region, the Conservation Programs Manager will contribute to the development and implementation of coherent regional transboundary programs and conservation programs embedded in the UCO;

· Promotes the vision and objectives of the WWF Uganda Conservation Strategy to external and WWF stakeholders, and participates in strategic partnership-building / fundraising approaches to them;

• Establishes, reviews and implements effective programme organizational/ management structures, policies, and processes in collaboration with the relevant UCO staff;

· Makes sure all technical standards and reporting requirements are met including all Monitoring Tools, namely the APMS/SPM, Dashboard, C2G, and others are delivered on time and with due quality.

II. Major Duties and Responsibilities

· Ensures that a Conservation Strategy relevant to national policies, constituencies, civil society aligned with the Global Program Framework, Global goals, Global practices and Africa Ecological features, is developed and implemented;

• Is responsible, in line with the Conservation Strategy, financial sustainability plan, in consultation with program staff and all relevant contacts, for the development and submission of program, project, concepts and proposals, and for continuity of program implementation, to ensure best practice in conservation and the growth of the conservation program;


• Coordinates the contribution to the Global Practices and the work of the Focal Points;


• Hold the portfolio of the Freshwater Coordinator and develop the freshwater program till the substantive Freshwater Coordinator is hired;

· Initiates, investigates, evaluates and develops annual workplans, operating plans for conservation program, with clear priorities for members of project teams, and oversees their efficient implementation; and assist with the preparation of TOR’s for specialists engaged, in line with the Conservation Strategy, financial sustainability plan, in consultation with program staff and all relevant contacts;

· Acts as team leader and coordinator of all project and technical personnel in line with the Conservation Strategy, such that projects are incorporated into a coherent conservation program;

· Is responsible for all aspects of project management, through program coordinators and their teams, by the appropriate application of support and advice;

· Develops and maintains a monitoring and reporting system for projects that ensures the best practice in program management and that provides timely reports according to the formats and schedules of partners and WWF Network;

· Ensures regular technical/conservation and other meetings for the conservation program;

• Ensures strategic engagement with relevant international and national stakeholders on conservation and technical issues, including strong engagement on policy, advocacy and rights based approaches issues;

· Promotes the vision and objectives of the WWF Uganda Conservation Strategy to government, donor, civil society, corporate, and WWF stakeholders at national- and International-level meetings, conferences, and fora;

· Develops, participates in and oversees strategic partnership-building / fundraising approaches with Government, Donor, Civil Society, Corporate, and WWF stakeholders;

· Develops and maintains a technical communications network for the support of programs, projects and partnerships;

• Ensures compliance to standards, both internal and external, for all programs and conservation activities;

· Participates in Senior Management Team meetings and provides secretariat for the Country office support group, in collaboration with the Country Director;

· Working closely with Finance staff, ensures the development of conservation program budgets for approval by the country director and monitors expenditures against budgets, making sure there are no under or over expenditures and preventing deficits;

· Ensures high-quality staffing of the WWF Uganda conservation program, based upon regular analyses of staffing needs (technical, financial, management, policy, lobbying/advocacy), monitoring staff performance, review of job descriptions for all positions, training, coaching and mentoring of qualified staff;

· Manages conservation staff relationships in a positive and proactive manner, ensuring participative decision-making, conflict resolution within the conservation program and regional programs hosted/embedded in the country office;

· Cooperates with programmatic audits, and implements audit recommendations in a timely manner;

· Works closely with the M&E specialist to ensure that all technical reports and other relevant documents are posted onto the WWF Project Database;

· Promotes the WWF UCO brand and raises the image of WWF within the scope of the conservation program;

· Performs other duties as requested by the Country Director and, in his/her absence, acts as Deputy.

III. Profile

Required Qualifications

· Advanced university degree in an appropriate field (Conservation/ Environment /Natural Resource Management/Forest/Freshwater/Terrestrial Ecology). Additional academic training or a degree in a management field would be a strong asset; PhD in related field is an added advantage;

· Proven track record in NGO fundraising, successfully developing, leading, and managing programs in the field of Conservation, Natural Resource Management, International Development, and/or other related fields;

· At least 10 years professional experience in a Programme/Project Management role, 3 years of which should be in the Eastern/Southern Africa region (preferably Uganda), with demonstrated success in managing multi-disciplinary teams; and

· Knowledge of and experience with monitoring and evaluation of programmes / projects, and;

· Knowledge of the institutional and legal framework of the environment and conservation in Uganda, as well as of relevant policy issues.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Proven leadership and team management skills;


• Leading teams and managing change in the organisation;


• Skilled in negotiation, liaison, and in relationship and conflict management;


• Strong skills in project planning, proposal writing, financial management and implementation, fundraising, evaluation, and experience working with donors;


• Strong organisational and analytical skills;


• Strong vocational interest in nature conservation;


• A working knowledge of financial management, especially of programs and projects;


• Excellent inter-personal skills, with the ability to network and to develop and maintain strong relationships at all levels, both internally and with local communities, government agencies, the not-for-profit sector, the scientific community, the business community, and the WWF Network;


• Adaptable, flexible, able to take initiative and prioritize among competing demands;


• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English; and


• Adherence to WWF’s values, which are: Knowledgeable, Optimistic, Determined and Engaging.

IV. Supervisory Responsibilities

The Conservation Programs Manager is ultimately responsible for the supervision and management of WWF Uganda Program Coordinators and technical staff. Direct day-to-day supervision will be exercised over the members of the Program teams and other technical staff. The Conservation Manager will involve himself/herself as appropriate in the hiring, development, and evaluation of all WWF Uganda Program coordinators and technical staff.

V. Working Relationships

Internal: Interacts with the WWF Uganda program and technical staff on a daily basis, and as required coordinates and interacts with the ROA, WWF International and other WWF Network staff.

External: Interacts with National Governmental Institutions, Non-Governmental Organisations, Academic Institutions, the Media, Donors, Specialists / Consultants, and other stakeholders, in collaboration with the WWF Uganda Country Director. %