Regional Program Manager, Southeast-Asia Pacific (SEAP)

Organizational Background:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, field presence in 56 nations, and experience of helping establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities.

Program Summary:

The Southeast Asia-Pacific (SEAP) Region comprises six country programs: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji, reporting to a regional management and fundraising office in Singapore. This has recently been created as a new ‘super-region’, following the merger of two former regions of Southeast Asian Archipelago and Melanesia.

Position Objectives:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) seeks a dynamic and motivated individual with excellent communication and organizational skills to support the regional management of WCS’s SEAP program. This is a rapidly evolving and growing program with a diverse and expanding portfolio of donors, partners and projects.

Job Summary:

The Regional Program Manager (RPM) will directly support the SEAP Regional Director and work in close coordination with the Regional Business Manager and Grants Manager, and field program leadership. The primary objective of the RPM position is to ensure central coordination support to the regional and country programs in grant proposal, management and report development, donor compliance, knowledge management, implementation tracking and internal communications.

Responsibilities:

Overall responsibilities:

• Provide effective coordination and operational support to the SEAP Regional Director and team to successfully manage a growing portfolio of grants.
• Support the SEAP Regional Director and team in building collaborative relationships with central WCS Global staff.
• Support strategic partnership-building with government, donors, and WCS stakeholders.
• Support project teams to prepare on-time grant reports, proposals, and communications with donors.
• Work closely with the country teams to coordinate and support implementation of cross-cutting technical support.
• Identify and pursue agreed fund-raising opportunities.
• Assist the Regional Director with cross-regional strategic prioritization work.

Specific Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Support the SEAP Regional Director and team in building collaborative relationships.
• Work with the SEAP Regional Director and the central Global Resources and Grants, Management & Compliance team to review and implement funding strategies.
• Communicating regional program priorities and interests to the global program and partner departments.
• Provide effective coordination and operational support to the SEAP Director and regional team.
• Conduct research and analysis of suitable mix of conservation donors.

Program Development and Management

• Support field teams with the development of funding project workplans.
• Oversee a Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning (MEAL) approach to support program implementation.
• Provide support to various WCS departments to ensure alignment of and communication of policies and procedures.
• Assist HR teams in the development of Terms of References and contract review.
• Support Regional Business and Procurement Managers in the development and review of contracts.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Requirements:

• A Bachelors or Master's degree in a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum 8+ years professional experience.
• Proven successful grants management skills.
• Proven effective coordination skills, with excellent communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multi-task and deliver high quality outputs.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Willingness to travel to sites across the region.
• Interest in conservation and committed to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Preferred:

• Demonstrated experience working as an effective member of a multi-cultural team.
• Proficiency in a language, other than English, from a country within the region.