Terms of Reference
Position : Aceh Program Senior Officer
Job Grade : Band 4 – Class Profesional Core 4 – Step 10
Program : Forest Based in : Banda Aceh
Line Manager : Aceh Program Manager
Period of employment : 1 year with possible extension
Background
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) works in over 60 countries to save wildlife and wild places through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. In Indonesia, WCS has been working for over 25 years to support the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in conserving the country’s biodiversity in many priority landscapes and seascapes. WCS works closely with relevant government agencies, local communities, schools and universities, and the private sectors.
The WCS Indonesia Program (WCS-IP) is structured under five core thematic programs: Forests; Marine; Wildlife Trade and Policy; One Health; and Rights & Communities. This structure reflects the importance of combining our scientific research with broader public awareness and direct engagement with decision-makers. Success will depend on our ability to leverage the interplay between these themes to create larger policy and protection impacts. Under the Forest Program we have been working closely with Technical Implementing Units (UPT) at the Directorate General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystem to strengthen protected area management and wildlife protection through science, capacity development, and community’s engagement. Currently, the Forest Program works in 7 provinces in Indonesia, where the protected area systems provide the best habitats for some of Government’s priority wildlife.
Aceh is one of WCS-IP’s priority province due to its biodiversity-rich landscape and seascape. The province has one of the most intact tropical forests in Indonesia with the Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) and Singkil Wildlife Reserve (SWR) at its core. The two protected area systems provide critical habitat for some of most charismatic and endangered species, including the Sumatran orangutan, tiger, elephant, and rhino. Its coastal area also contains important ecosystems of peatland, mangrove, and seagrass, as well as a marine ecosystem with intact coral reefs and rich biological resources.
WCS-IP operates multiple programs in Aceh that are implemented in close coordination with key government partners, particularly the Gunung Leuser National Park, Provincial-based Division of Natural Resources Conservation (BKSDA), and Provincial Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), as well as local NGOs and universities. This integrated approach is aimed to strategically align our support to protected areas and wildlife conservation with Aceh’s sustainable development agenda. All of our interventions are done in compliance a comprehensive environmental and social safeguards system to ensure our works deliver ecological and socio-economic benefits, while holding the utmost respect to community’s right for fair and just access to natural resources.
Position Objective
This position will provide strategic support to the Aceh Program Manager in oversee project implementation, budgets, staff, and consultant management, and contribute to project sustainability, effectiveness, and impact monitoring. The Aceh Program Senior Officer will report directly to the Aceh Program Manager and work with other Managers, Coordinators, and a Technical Advisor as required. Other tasks will involve creating and overseeing relationships with governmental partners, non-governmental organizations, and private companies within the province.
Specific Tasks
The Aceh Program Senior Officer is specifically responsible for supporting the Aceh Program Manager in:
- Providing management support for implementing, monitoring, and reporting on the Forest Program in Aceh.
- Ensure the development and oversee the project implementation schedule with concrete targets, project monitoring, evaluation, and lessons learned framework, including monitor ongoing operations support in the field sites.
- Oversee the work of the field staff, especially senior staff to ensure high-quality implementation including the development of the project documentation and reporting, and review of field staff reports, and publications, in a timely manner.
- In close coordination with the Program Manager, Landscape Manager, and related staff support the development of the Aceh program implementation strategy, including exploring the potential integration approach or leverage of best practices in landscapes.
- Responsible for developing WCS support in designing engagement and communication strategies and approaches to maintain strong relations with GLNP, BKSDA, and related government agencies, including giving inputs to relevant policies to support WCS conservation targets and strategies.
General provisions:
Project Management
- Working with Aceh Program Manager and other related staff in designing project work plans and budgets and oversee their implementation, including their timely and high-quality delivery, which is in line with budgets.
- Support the WCS-IP in recruiting, managing and supervising field staffs, with the Program Manager, Landscape Manager, and HR Manager, including development of Terms of Reference, development of individual work plans and conducting performance evaluations, planning, and monitoring work and travel schedules especially for staff under his/her direct supervision.
- Working with the Aceh Program Manager in managing and supervising partners, sub-contractors, and sub-grant to implement activities and produce deliverables in timely fashion, including developing Terms of Reference, providing assistance in their selection and recruitment process, coordinating sub-contractor work, and monitor and evaluate their deliverables, and ensure that they are submitted in a timely manner and to a high quality.
- Coordinate with the Aceh Program Manager, Landscape manager, and Grant/Administration team to oversee and manage the sub-grants and contracts. Ensure excellent communication with senior staff to ensure that outputs are delivered on time and to a high standard.
- Provide support in preparation of reports and assisting in preparing financial reports as required by donors and/or stakeholders, in Indonesian and/or English, written or verbal, as well as a technical report.
- Document lessons learned from project implementation and developed briefing notes to improve implementation and coordination of project activities, support decision-making processes and knowledge management.
- Ensure strong teamwork and cohesion among staff in WCS, oversee and promote collaboration and integrated approach within Aceh staff and other WCS staff.
- Identify staff training/capacity developments and options to enable their professional development.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
- Liaise and establish good working relationships and/or strategic partnerships with key stakeholders including GLNP, BKSDA, local government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector (ie. tourism, traders), to ensure the successful coordination, implementation, and follow-up of project activities, as well as the mobilization of additional resources to the projects.
- Provide technical and facilitating support to meetings, seminars, workshops, and management bodies, donor visits, and formally represent WCS as necessary in such meetings, workshops, and conferences.
- Deliver regular updates on the project activities, including news flashes and updates for the WCS-IP website and other social media postings, and articles for brochures, leaflets, and printing media which bring attention to conservation issues that are important to WCS-IP’s work and give appropriate recognition to WCS-IP’s partners for their achievements, and with appropriate reference given to relevant donors.
Others
- Apply and promote WCS’s values on respect, transparency and accountability, innovation, inclusion and diversity, collaboration, and integrity in daily work.
- Act as an exemplary model to other staff in the application of organizational values and compliance.
- Participate wholeheartedly in the general activities of WCS-IP particularly events and activities that require the full support and participation of all staff members.
- Undertake any other duties as assigned by the supervisor and line management coordination if required.
Deliverables:
The Aceh Program Senior Officer will work with the the Aceh Program Manager to produce the following documents:
- Project implementation strategy document and annual work plan
- Provide inputs in donor reports, MoEF (GLNP and KSDA) reports, proposal, and other document as requested
Requirements:
- Have a Bachelor's or Master Degree in environmental sciences, biology, management, or relevant academic majors, with at least 7 years’ experience in conservation or environment management or other relevant subjects (a Master's Degree is preferable).
- Have strong knowledge and experience in project management related to forest and biodiversity conservation, protected area management, and project management.
- Minimum 3 years of successful experience working in a similar position or role with conservation NGOs (local or international).
- Excellent understanding of field project management.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, leadership, and teamwork.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in Bahasa Indonesia.
- Good oral and written communication skills in English.
- Good analytical and interpretative problem-solving skills.
- Self-motivated and resourceful, with the proven ability to multi-task and operate successfully under tight deadlines and time pressures.
- Good working computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office and other communication applications.
- Willing to be based in Aceh.
- A strong commitment to wildlife conservation and environmental issues is essential.
The position is for Indonesian nationals only. WCS encourages people to apply with management experience in sectors other than the non-governmental and/or conservation sectors. Remuneration will be commensurate with skills and experience and the position comes with a full set of employment benefits. WCS is an equally opportunities employer.
Please send a cover letter and CV in English to idrecruitment@wcs.org stating in the subject line “Position applied_(name)” at the latest on 04-05-2024. No correspondence as only short-listed candidates will be notified.