Managing Director

Position Title: Managing Director.
Organisation: Mount Mulanje Conservation Trust.
Reports to: Executive Management Committee
Location: Mount Mulanje Biosphere Reserve
Position Level: Head of MMCT Operations
Contract Type: Fixed-term (3 years)

Background:

Established in 2000, the Mount Mulanje Conservation Trust (MMCT) has been dedicated to supporting the Department of Forestry in managing the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve (MMFR). MMCT aims to foster the sustainable management of Mount Mulanje by working collaboratively with the Government of Malawi and the communities within the wider Mount Mulanje Biosphere Reserve (MMBR).

MMCT is currently seeking a dynamic and visionary Managing Director to lead and manage its initiatives in the MMFR. Operating under an agreement with the Department of Forestry, MMCT supports, facilitates, and implements biodiversity conservation actions within the MMBR. These efforts are realised through transparent and accountable partnerships and community engagement, benefiting all stakeholders and ensuring ecological, social, cultural, and financial sustainability.

MMCT is undergoing a transition to improve the effectiveness of its organisational governance and management. The Managing Director will play a crucial role in this ongoing process.

Key Responsibilities:

• Set strategic direction for MMCT, guide its mission and vision.
• Lead and manage staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team.
• Oversee MMCT operations within the MMFR, ensure effective implementation of conservation initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local and government partners, funders, networks, and other relevant stakeholders that support MMCT’s conservation goals.

Core Responsibilities:

1) Leadership:

• Implement MMCT’s strategy and vision in close consultation with its Executive Management Committee, in accordance with the Partnership Agreement with the Government and MMCT objectives.
• Lead and develop MMCT to make a more impactful contribution to biodiversity conservation and the environmental, social, and financial sustainability of MMFR.
• Collaborate with senior management to develop and implement operational strategies that support the organisation’s mission and long-term objectives. Identify emerging trends and opportunities for innovation.
• Develop, revise, and monitor the implementation of the five-year Business Plan & budget.
• Develop and implement an annual activity work plan and budget.
• Ensure operations are planned, implemented, and managed effectively.
• Provide leadership to the operations team; oversee day to day operations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to streamline processes, enhance productivity, and ensure quality standards are met.
• Implement best practices and leverage technology to optimise operational workflows.
• Identify operational risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards. Implement robust internal controls and monitoring mechanisms.
• Serve as a principled and integrity-driven role model, embodying the positive culture of the organisation.
• Understand and navigate organisational dynamics; build strong informal networks.
• Develop a high-performing collaborative team; be inspirational and present.
• Ensure human resource management complies with the highest standards possible and within Malawi law.
• Ensure all operations are conducted in accordance with MMCT policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Provide the Executive Management Committee (EMC) with trusted feedback and advice.
• Be resourceful and willing to take measured risks.

2) Fundraising:

• Assist the Executive Director/Biosphere Coordinator to develop high-performing fundraising strategies which are cost-effectively implemented.
• Drive revenue generation by attracting donor support and developing sustainable tourism and other commercial revenue streams.
• Assist Executive Director/Biosphere Coordinator to ensure fundraising goals are achieved.

3) Financial Management:

• Provide strong financial leadership.
• Ensure financial goals are achieved.
• Ensure financial management systems and fiscal discipline are rigorously applied.
• Ensure financial accountability and transparency that makes MMCT exemplary in the effective use of donor funding.
• Provide oversight to the finance team to develop and manage operational budgets, monitor financial performance, and identify opportunities for cost optimisation and revenue generation.

4) Human Resource management:

• Ensure strong Human Resources Management of the highest standard and compliant with Human Resource policies and procedures.
• Oversee the recruitment, onboarding, and development of operations staff.
• Provide leadership and guidance to promote a positive work culture, employee engagement, and professional growth.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and performance metrics to assess operational performance.
• Monitor progress, provide feedback and implement corrective actions as needed to achieve targets.

5) Communications:

• Ensure there is a clear communications strategy which maximizes opportunities for advocacy and fundraising, and builds MMCT’s brand reputation.

6) Key Stakeholder Relationships:

• Build and maintain strong trusted stakeholder relationships that can be leveraged to help deliver results.
• Build a constituency for conservation.

7) Reputation:

• Develop and maintain a strong positive brand reputation for MMCT.
• Ensure MMCT’s profile is enhanced through media appearances, and top-level engagement with Government, the general public, other NGOs, and stakeholders.
• Fulfil compliance needs of all regulatory and governance frameworks.
• Uphold the highest ethical standards.

8) Other:

• Provide accurate and meaningful reports to the MMCT Board of Trustees and Executive Management Committee, donors, and other stakeholders as required.
• Liaise with the Executive Director/Biosphere Coordinator to ensure operations in the MMFR are compatible with and support MMCT’s strategic work in the wider MMBR.
• Undertake any other duties within reasonable limits, as requested by the EMC.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience for the Role:

• Tertiary Qualification(s) ideally combining business administration, operations management and conservation.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in an executive-level, operations management position.
• Proven track record of driving operational excellence and delivering results in a complex organisation.
• Strong proven financial management experience (in charge of a budget of at least $1 million annually).
• Strong proven human resource management skills; motivational and values driven.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into action.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Able to build, develop, and maintain strong, innovative national and international partnerships to achieve MMCT’s objectives.
• Able to promote MMCT’s work with a wide audience, including the media.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Able to manage teams around key priorities within multiple projects to achieve expected targets, outcomes, and reporting requirements within deadlines.
• Strong ownership of safeguarding and improving MMCT’s quality standards.
• Resilient and flexible, able to operate effectively from remote/rural area.
• Ability to work under pressure, while maintaining high-quality results.
• Honest, highly organised, responsible, self-motivated, and able to take initiative under minimum supervision.