Location: Maputo, Mozambique
Reports To: Country Director, Mozambique
Direct Reports: Finance Director; HR Director; Site Directors
Start date: Immediately
Duration: Minimum 2 years

Job Summary

Organization 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, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to 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. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

The Wildlife Conservation Society is seeking a highly experienced Deputy Country Director for our program in Mozambique. The main purpose of this role will be to successfully manage program operations and improve the efficiency of implementation of program goals in Mozambique and to ensure direct financial and operational support to Niassa Special Reserve and the Marine Program in Nacala. The Deputy Country Director is responsible for the overall financial and operational management of the Mozambique program, ensuring sound financial systems are in place and operations are efficiently carried out.

We are seeking a dynamic and results-focused individual to anticipate and address problems and challenges as they arise. The position will directly manage the operational and financial support office in Maputo, and there will be frequent travel to the protected areas in northern Mozambique to support the field-based finance and operations teams. This position reports to the Country Director in Maputo and is the country program Finance and Operations focal point liaising with the Regional Office in Kigali, Rwanda, and the African comptroller based in New York.

Primary Responsibilities

Staff Management:

• Supervise the performance evaluation process identifying capacity development opportunities
• Develop and harmonize policies and procedures in coordination with country program senior management and regional office
• Work with the Country Director and Human Resources to recruit and retain a high-performing and motivated team

Operational Management:

• Develop and implement strategic operational plans for field sites and the country program in collaboration with field managers and the Country Director
• Ensure coordination across the field sites to capitalize on cost advantages and efficiencies
• Anticipate and mitigate risks and implementation delays in the protected areas by finding solutions to eliminate blocking points
• Provide ongoing problem-solving guidance for country program staff regarding programmatic issues, planning issues, and difficulties encountered with local authorities, authorizations and permits, and partners

Financial Planning and Grant Management:

• Ensure the Country Director, Protected Area Directors, and Regional team have the financial information they require to manage budgets and fundraise for Mozambique
• Oversee the preparation of e short- and long-term financial plans for each protected area updating them as appropriate for changes in assumptions
• With inputs from the Mozambique Finance Director, provide regular key financial performance indicators for each protected area
• Ensure alignment of grant proposal budgets with a long-term financial plan for the country program by WCS policies

Qualification and Requirements

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required with at least 8+ years of professional experience in non-profit organization management
• Proven leadership qualities including staff management and management of annual multi-funder budget >$ 10 million
• Proven financial and operational management experience in an international organization with progressive leadership responsibilities
• Proven experience of working in a multi-cultural team
• Proven experience in field operations, trouble-shooting and systems planning in challenging environments
• English and Portuguese fluency are required.
• Experience and knowledge of working in a non-profit context
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to remote sites.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Additional qualities that will make you stand out as a candidate

• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, team building and communications skills
• Strong demonstration of leadership skills in challenging environments
• Professional experience in Africa particularly Mozambique.