The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) seeks a Marine Technical Director to lead its marine conservation efforts in Madagascar. The program goal is to promote marine conservation in Madagascar by developing and leading science-based, community-driven field conservation and capacity building programs in priority seascapes, which focus on priority species, sustainable fisheries management and adaptive management in the face of climate change. These site-based initiatives will serve as models for affective marine conservation to inform national marine conservation strategic development.

The marine conservation program primarily focuses on: i) working closely with local communities to protect coastal and marine systems, included targeted species and over-all ecosystem integrity; ii) providing specific expertise on adaptation to climate change and sustainable management of coastal fisheries; iii) supporting a global effort to conserve threatened populations of coastal and oceanic cetaceans; iv) training and capacity building in marine conservation within and external to WCS, and participation in overall marine conservation planning and prioritization in Madagascar.

The position is based in the capital city of Antananarivo, and will require extensive travel within Madagascar to priority programs in the northeast (Antongil Bay), the southwest (Toliara Barrier Reef) and the Northwest.

The WCS Madagascar Marine Director position is a full-time position with benefits.

Position Objective:

Overall Responsibilities
The Marine Technical Director provides strategic, programmatic and technical oversight to the WCS/Marine team in the development, implementation and management of the field level activities for WCS/Madagascar marine conservation program. He/she will work as a team with the WCS/NY Marine Director and the Country Program Director in overall strategic development, program planning and budgeting processes.

He/she will be principally responsible for guiding technical orientations and providing specific input for on-site decisions. Marine Conservation Strategic and Programmatic Planning (30%) • In coordination with the WCS Madagascar Country Program Director and marine technical team, further develop a marine conservation vision and strategic plan for WCS’ work in Madagascar that identifies goals, objectives and programs of work for research, conservation and community resource management. Review and refine program priorities, strategy and approaches, and overall monitoring and evaluation system. • Contribute to and support the strategic planning and implementation of WCS’ efforts for the conservation of globally important marine species, or Ocean Giants in Madagascar. Communicate regularly, support and coordinate with Ocean Giants staff focused on the specific programmatic elements of this effort throughout Madagascar with accountability to the Director of the Ocean Giants Program. • In collaboration with WCS/NY Marine Director, represent WCS’ marine conservation work in Madagascar to technical and financial partners, government partners, and other NGOs; present program information at national and international meetings. Establish and maintain strong working relationships with these partners. • In coordination with WCS staff in Madagascar and New York, identify new funding opportunities to support priority marine conservation initiatives. Prepare grant proposals, engage the donor community, and liaise with other organizations. Provide technical support to WCS/Madagascar staff in grant proposal and budget preparation. • In accordance with priorities and available resources, oversee the implementation of marine research activities, including training of national students and staff research. WCS Marine Conservation Program Technical Management and Support (40%) • Ensure that WCS/Madagascar marine field programs/projects appropriately address Global Conservation Program (GCP) marine conservation goals and objectives relating to site-based, species-based and GCP priority issues. • Provide direct supervision to the WCS/Madagascar marine conservation team to reinforce their technical planning, management, and implementation capacity. With the Country Program Director coordinate and facilitate capacity building, training and professional development of current staff and partners. • Prepare performance reviews of WCS/Madagascar marine conservation team. Identify short-term specialists - expatriate and local - and ensure their supervision by, and collaboration with, a member of the Malagasy marine team. • Oversee preparation of annual work plans and periodic reports as required by WCS and financial partners. Ensure compliance with WCS reporting and management policies and procedures including appropriate content and clarity of all reports. Supervise the oversight of any subcontractors or grantees performance, including authorization of payments to subcontractors/grantees • Promote and oversee coordination of WCS/Madagascar marine science, research and conservation initiatives. Ensure appropriate and efficient collection, analysis, dissemination and publication of field data. Publicize WCS/Madagascar marine program achievements through popular and scientific media, and publish project results in scientific journals Technical Oversight of Marine Program Implementation (30%) • Provide technical support to and maintain regular contact with field staff , in program/project workplan development, financial planning and field level implementation through regular team meetings and field visits. • Advise WCS/NY Marine Director and WCS Country Program Director in determining personnel and technical needs to ensure implementation of an efficient, effective, and technically capable marine conservation field program. As needed, oversee the recruitment of new staff, including temporary local and overseas experts. • Ensure that field program/project efforts coordinate with other technical and financial partners within the context of a land/seascape approach. Promote capacity building of local communities as effective and engaged resource stewards. • Prepare recommendations to address any problems or constraints with the implementation of the WCS/Madagascar marine conservation program, and take the lead in implementing those recommendations upon discussion with and endorsement by the WCS/NY Marine Director, WCS Country Program Director and marine team

Qualifications:
• Ph.D./ MSc., or equivalent experience and strong record in marine conservation science, marine ecology or biology, including conservation and project management experience. • Proven ability to achieve successful on-the-ground conservation in tropical developing countries. • Ability to effectively deal with the challenges of field-based tropical conservation and local community and conservation politics. • Ability to work sensitively and effectively with people of diverse cultures, value systems, perspectives and levels of education, and to manage staff in these contexts. • Professional proficiency in French and English. • Ability to build capacity in community-driven natural resource management, field research, conservation biology, conservation advocacy, and project management. Demonstrated success raising funds and managing large projects. • Willingness to travel within Madagascar and internationally.

To apply, please email cover letter and CV with subject “Madagascar Marine Director” to recruitment@wcs.org, and marineprogram@wcs.org, by January 25, 2010.