Strategic Project Manager

BACKGROUND:

African Parks (AP) is a not-for-profit conservation organisation that takes full responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks and protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. African Parks currently manages 23 national parks and protected areas in 13 countries, covering more than 20 million hectares in Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan and Zimbabwe.

In eastern Central African Republic (CAR), African Parks has been working for over 10 years to restore and manage the Chinko Conservation Area (CCA), which covers over 55,000 km² with a core conservation area of 24,300 km². The CCA is situated at the heart of a larger wilderness with no human settlement, covering 200,000 km² straddling CAR, South Sudan and Sudan, linking the forests of the Congo Basin with Sahelian ecosystems in a single ecotone. Despite the many challenges inherent of the operating context (political instability, cross-border transhumance, deforestation, remoteness), African Parks has succeeded in building robust and resilient management systems within a protected area that is now recognised for the innovation developed in terms of peaceful transhumance management (TANGO teams), land-use planning, fire management, and carbon finance. In this context, the management and development of a substantial and diversified funding portfolio is essential to continue the restoration of key species (elephants, northern lion, wild dog, leopard, chimpanzee, Giant eland, bongo, etc.) and to support inclusive local development based on the sustainable harvest of natural resources.

JOB OVERVIEW:

African Parks – RCA, engaged in the protection and rehabilitation of the Chinko Conservation Area in the Central African Republic, is looking for a dynamic Project Management specialist who will be acting in the role of Strategic Project Manager. He/she will primarily assist the General Manager with the overall coordination across the park, including internal and external report writing, grant reporting, proposal preparation, support for various departments with technical and administrative tasks where required, and liaising with regional management and AP Head Office.

KEY FUNCTIONS:

Coordination / Park Management

• In coordination with the Funding and Reporting Manager (FRM), contribute to the preparation of key strategic documents including but not limited to the five-year business plan and annual workplan.
• Compile the Chinko Conservation Area monthly report in English and French.
• Assist the General Manager/Park Manager with various tasks including reporting and communication to ensure the continuity of operations.
• Assure the preparation and coordination of visits, meetings including board meetings and events as needed.
• Responsible for the organization of the Boards Directors meetings.
• Write draft speeches for the Park Manager.
• Act as the liaison between the General Manager/Park Manager and Heads of Departments and other key internal stakeholders, including regional management and AP Head Office on internal procedures and administration matters.
• Inform the General Manager/Park Manager of difficulties or issues within the park that need to be addressed.
• Ensure implementation of Management decisions.
• When applicable and as requested by the General Manager/Park Manager, take over the responsibility of specific issues and report as appropriate to Management.

  Communication

• In coordination with the Communication team at the park and regional levels, contribute to the drafting of external communications including press releases, speeches, social media, and other publications.
• In coordination with the Communication team at park and regional levels, contribute to the preparation of communications events.
• Support the Communication Officer and General Manager/Park Manager in ensuring good internal communication, including in times of crisis.
• Ensure high-level quality content of any written material produced by the park.

  Internal Reporting

• Coordinate with Heads of Department in preparing internal and other required reports, including quarterly operational reviews at the park level with updated core metrics, working together with the FRM and the M&E team as required.
• Coordinate and compile weekly reports, BP tracking, and other similar documents with department heads.
• Coordinate and compile the midterm review to be presented to headquarters.
• Coordinate the APN internal audit and monitor the implementation of recommendations.
• Ensure the timely submission of internal reports.
• Manage the Remote Kocho SharePoint and verify that department heads are up to date with documents, as well as ensure compliance and updating of document formats.
• Internal Calendar management
• Coordinate with department heads the preparation of internal and other required reports, including quarterly operational reviews at the fleet level with updated key indicators, in collaboration with the FRM and the Monitoring and Evaluation team, as needed.
• Ensure the timely submission of internal reports.

   

  Donor reporting and grant proposals

• Coordinate with the FRM and assume an appropriate share of the workload associated with the renewal and management of the grant portfolio, including report and proposal writing.
• Coordinate with the Heads of Departments to ensure their timely contribution to grant reports and proposals.

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply, please email your CV and cover letter with at least (3) references to centralafrica.hr@africanparks.org  by June 22nd, 2025. Please mention the position name in the subject line of the email.

Note:  

ü  We thank you for your interest in working with African Parks CAR. However, only selected candidates will be contacted by email or telephone.

ü  Female applicants are strongly encouraged.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Good qualification in project management and administration;
• At least 5 years of experience in a similar role, experience in conservation in Africa is an asset.
• Strong team player who will nurture, encourage, and develop employees’ cohesion around the park manager.
• Excellent ability to build and manage relationships with a wide variety of people and cultures.
• Fluent in French and English (written and spoken).
• Excellent writing skills in both French and English.
• Rigour and ability to assume full responsibility for the delivery of high-quality outputs.
• Ability and interest to live in a remote location (Kocho station in Chinko Conservation Area).