Ridge to Reef Lead

Organization Background

TheWildlife 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.

• Program Background

WCS office for the Southeast Asian Archipelago (SEAA) region is responsible for WCS conservation programs in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The SEAA region contains the third largest expanse of tropical rainforests and the majority of the Coral Triangle, the global centre of marine biodiversity. The region includes over 25,000 islands and comprises the world's second, third, and sixth-largest islands (New Guinea, Borneo and Sumatra). Our current efforts focus on protecting Nature's Strongholds, including the Leuser Ecosystem and Endau Rompin landscape and some of the region's most important coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses, and tidal wetlands, including in the Bohol and Sulu Seas (Philippines), North Sulawesi, North Maluku, Aceh, West Nusa Tenggara (Indonesia), and Sarawak (Malaysia).

Within the SEAA region, WCS has operated for many years in Indonesia and Malaysia. In the Philippines, WCS has recently opened a branch office and, leveraging its historical project-based legacy, is now, together with local partners, designing a conservation program that will complement the many ongoing terrestrial and marine efforts in the Philippines. We are implementing an ambitious site-based conservation program, along with government, civil society, and NGO partners, and building out a knowledge base to inform WCS broader conservation strategy and approach in the Philippines.

WCS initial project-based focus is on marine conservation through the MPAs and small-scale fisheries of the Bohol Sea, adopting an integrated (land-sea) and ecosystems-based approach to conservation, including enhanced protection of endangered, threatened, and protected species. The work will be implemented in partnership with the local community, peoples organizations, and other NGOs/academe and delivered in close coordination with government agencies. Our work also sees us supporting national Philippine government plans for high-quality, evidence-based, inclusive, equitable, and effective area-based conservation.

• Position Summary:

WCS Philippines is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Ridge to Reef Lead to join our team. As the Ridge to Reef Lead, you will play a crucial role in implementing cross-sectoral coordination for the planning and management of freshwater use, sanitation, wastewater treatment, pollution control, sustainable land use, and forestry or land-based practices. Your responsibilities will include balancing local sustainable financial strategies, biodiversity conservation, disaster risk reduction and management, and the adaptation and mitigation of climate change. To enhance community and ecosystem resilience from ridge to reef, you will reinforce a systematic conservation plan and ensure its integrated implementation, addressing natural hazards, and other human threats. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of conservation and applied science, contributing to the sustainable management of natural resources and promoting the inclusive participation of local communities.

• Primary Responsibilities:

• Conservation Planning and Implementation

Identify opportunities, develop and execute comprehensive conservation plans that incorporate WASH principles, pollution control measures, and ridge to reef approaches.

• Apply ridge to reef approaches to ensure integrated management of watersheds and coastal areas.

Design and apply pollution control measures to reduce the impact of agricultural, industrial, and urban and rural activities on ecosystems.

• Ensure that WASH initiatives are sustainable, effective, and appropriate for the local context.

Incorporate plans that focus on nature-based solutions to guide climate adaptation and disaster risk planning

• Develop and implement conservation planning strategies that ensure inclusive participation of local communities and minimize environmental degradation.

Work with partners, consultants, etc. to conduct environmental and social impact assessments and develop strategies to mitigate identified risks.

• Work with government and community partners to monitor pollution levels, evaluate the effectiveness of control measures, and enhance access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.

• Community Engagement, Capacity Building, and Training

Develop joint capacity-building initiatives that enhance the skills and knowledge of staff, community members, and partners in both the conservation and community development sectors.

• Organize joint training sessions and workshops on nature-based solutions, emphasizing the importance of integrating conservation principles into community development programming.

Foster cross-sectoral collaboration by facilitating training opportunities that promote a better understanding of each sector's objectives, challenges, and approaches in addressing land-based threats.

• Support facilitation of meetings, seminars, workshops, and public outreach activities, focusing on promoting sustainable land management practices and behavior change to reduce pollution and enhance community health and ecosystem resilience.

• Science, Monitoring and Evaluation

In coordination with the Conservation Impact Unit, implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to measure the effectiveness of relevant government plans and programs (e.g. comprehensive land use plans, forest land use plans, solid waste management plans, WASH initiatives, etc.).

• Conduct research to support integrated resource use, WASH, and pollution control measures to inform policies, guidelines, and management plans.

Collect, analyze, and report data to guide project improvements and inform stakeholders.

• Prepare detailed reports and presentations that document project progress and impact.

• Other Collaborative and Communication Initiatives

Advocate for policies and practices that promote sustainable water use, pollution control, and comprehensive environmental conservation.

• Stay informed about the latest trends, research, and best practices in conservation, WASH, environmental planning, and ridge to reef approaches.

Establish and maintain strong partnerships and collaborative relationships with conservation organizations, government agencies, research institutions, and community-based initiatives working along the ridge-to-reef continuum.

• Actively participate in conservation-focused forums, conferences, and workshops to promote integrated approaches to ridge-to-reef conservation and community development.

Engage in joint advocacy efforts to highlight the importance of nature-based solutions for both conservation and community development sectors, influencing policy discussions and resource allocation.

• Facilitate knowledge exchange and learning between conservation and community development sectors, sharing best practices and lessons learned regarding the integration of nature-based solutions and ridge-to-reef approaches.

• Other Tasks

Contribute to and provide inputs to work and financial plans, project reports, baseline data, tools and indicators for monitoring and evaluation, collection / sharing of lessons learned, and funding proposals.

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and organizational policies.

Prepare, monitor, and report field activities, cash advances, and liquidation/expenses.

• Support vendor and procurement processes related to the marine program and WASH activities.

Assist in vendor and supplier listing, when necessary.

• Perform any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

• Position Requirements and Competencies:

A master's degree in civil or environmental Engineering, Water Resources Management, Environmental Sciences, Applied Geography or a related technical field.

• Minimum five years of experience in conservation planning and project management, WASH programs, pollution control, and ridge to reef approaches.

Proven track record of managing integrated conservation projects.

• Licensed scuba diver, good tracking and navigational skills.

Good working knowledge of the field of protected areas, natural resource management, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Territories and Areas (ICCA), Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and/or other relevant conservation approaches.

• Highly competent in conservation planning tools and methods (e.g. GIS, statistics, Marxan, etc).

Strong knowledge of nature-based solutions and their application in WASH programs.

• Familiarity with WASH standards, water resources management, solid waste management guidelines, and best practices.

Proven experience in project management, including planning, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation.

• Ability to conduct relevant assessments and surveys.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Demonstrated ability to work effectively and build relationships with a variety of partners and stakeholders (including government and local communities), and to collaborate on solving complex issues.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and proficiency in spoken and written Filipino and English.

Preferably can speak and understand Bisaya.

• Willing to be based in Siquijor Province and travel internally/locally and within project sites in the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape.

Must demonstrate good coordination, organization, and time management skills.

• Strong problem-solving skills. Comfortable in participating as an effective individual contributor, leader, and listener.

Start-up and service-oriented mindset, willing to support a dynamic team and a variety of tasks to ensure program growth and sustainability.

• Must have significant attention to detail, be well organized, self-motivated, honest, resourceful, effective, and efficient with the ability to prioritize.

Receptive to building and maintaining positive relationships with people from all backgrounds, genders, cultures, and viewpoints.

• Flexibility to work overlapping hours with teams located in different time zones.

* Willing to travel and work in conservation sites within the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape.

• Alignment to WCS Core Values of respect, accountability and transparency, innovation, diversity and inclusion, collaboration, and integrity.

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WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labour laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on, colour, disability, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.

Job Type: Full-time

Application Deadline: 08/10/2024