Manager, Biodiversity and Social Monitoring

About Wildlife Works

Wildlife Works is the world's leading REDD+ Project development and management company with an innovative, market-based approach to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Over its 20+ year history, Wildlife Works established a successful model that uses the emerging carbon offset marketplace to protect threatened forests and wildlife, while funding indigenous and forest-dwelling communities. REDD+ allows us to partner with stakeholders from tropical forest countries to monetize their forest and biodiversity assets, whether they are communities, land ownership groups or governments. Wildlife Works manages a portfolio of current and prospective REDD+ projects throughout the tropics and is growing to meet market demand and interest in our innovative approach.

Position Summary

Wildlife Works seeks to recruit a Regional Manager (Asia)in charge of Biodiversity and Social Monitoring who will work closely with the Regional Director for Asia, Country Managers and/or project-level research staff under the functional guidance of the Global Director of Conservation. The Regional Manager will primarily spearhead, provide guidance and support on issues related to biodiversity and social research for Wildlife Works’ growing REDD+ portfolio across Asia. The successful applicant will be responsible for designing and overseeing the implementation of Wildlife Works’ Biodiversity and Social monitoring strategies for all REDD+ projects in the region. S/he will also support the Global Director of Conservation in activities related to research, documentation, dissemination and outreach, and policy development on these matters. This role requires a dynamic team player with good project management skills, the ability to run and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously as well as experience working globally across cultural, geographic and time zone boundaries. S/he shall be expected to be flexible and work within the existing structures, professionally and ethically with competence, accountability and integrity.

Responsibilities

The role of the Regional Manager will include the following activities:

• Define, design and execute Wildlife Works’ Biodiversity and Social monitoring strategies for all REDD+ projects in Asia, under guidance from Wildlife Works’ Global Director of Conservation and the Regional Director for Asia. This involves evaluating various methods and monitoring protocols to determine the most appropriate ones for each project setting or objective, whilst balancing scientific rigour, cost, ease-of-execution, and replicability
• Support Wildlife Works’ REDD+ projects’ validation and verification audits, particularly ensuring delivery of accurate and complete information for reporting requirements, both for validation or verification bodies and financial partners, plus resolving biodiversity and social impact-related questions from clients or auditors under guidance from the Global Director of Conservation and VP for Carbon Development
• Write, and/or support writing of, concise and informative internal reports plus scientific, peer-reviewed publications, including dissemination of lessons learned and contributions to best practices from all Wildlife Works’ projects in Asia for research, knowledge and learning purposes
• Link with relevant REDD+ policy processes nationally, especially on REDD+ nesting and safeguards, to ensure Wildlife Works’ interests, opinions and positions on MRV are articulated in the best way
• Develop and maintain professional networks, including research and Government, build research partnerships and propel research and monitoring excellence at Wildlife Works
• Work with or train partners on the ground to develop and implement Biodiversity and Social monitoring plans that are adequate for compliance with key standards such as CCBA, and reflect company’s ethos
• Conducting desk research and/or rapid reconnaissance field visits to prospective REDD+ projects in Asia whenever needed, describing their biodiversity and community (social) profiles including key drivers of forest loss and potential impacts
• Provide in-house expert guidance and support for the screening of prospective Wildlife Works’ projects for potential environmental and social impacts and risks, plus identification of risk management opportunities or mitigation strategies
• While Wildlife Works commits to fund core monitoring budgets fully, solicit co-funding and grants for undertaking offshoot or student biodiversity or social research that augments core research work
• Represent Wildlife Works in various local and international meetings and forums.

While the description above covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the tasks anticipated for this position, other tasks may be assigned as necessary in line with organisational needs.

Requirements

• Master’s or higher degree in environmental- or social-related field including policy, natural resources, sustainable or community development, wildlife management, environmental science and management, or other relevant fields
• A minimum of five years’ work experience post-MSc (preferably international and/or with clear application) in academia, the private sector, a development research organisation or other institution undertaking research, monitoring and/or impact assessment.
• Experience with managing research projects and interfacing with external partners, such as multi-laterals or other bilateral development or public agencies in Asia
• Good understanding of monitoring, impact assessment and risk-based approaches to managing projects and programmes
• Demonstrated familiarity with the environmental impacts of various drivers of forest loss, including social and economic issues and mitigation options including Payment for Ecosystem Services
• Demonstrated ability for organising, carrying out and guiding biological and social fieldwork in remote locations, involving long-term engagement with indigenous and local communities
• High level of proficiency with MS Office Suite (including Access) and other core research programs like mapping (ArcMap or QGIS), statistics (SPSS, R or similar), project management tools and other specialised tools (like SMART, Distance, Wrike, MIRADI etc)
• Experience with undertaking systematic reviews, meta-analysis or other forms of evidence synthesis
• Excellent research, analytical and writing skills, both popular and scientific, with high levels of attention to detail
• Fluency in English is required; Bahasa Indonesia, or other major Asian languages is a strong added advantage.
• Strong organisational skills, with a high degree of cultural sensitivity and creative ability to navigate unforeseen complexities
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to communicate with interdisciplinary colleagues and external stakeholders and partners, across a multicultural professional environment

• Good leadership skills, assertiveness, ability to take initiative and work within deadlines

• Ability to work productively on both independent research assignments and in a team

• Sound judgement and decision-making skills, including proactive problem-solving

• Flexibility to work long hours, including weekends and public holidays, especially when working with colleagues and partners across different time zones

• Willingness to travel.

Terms of Employment

• Successful applicant will be employed as the Regional Manager (Asia), Biodiversity and Social Monitoring, guiding and supporting project-level research teams in all Wildlife Works’ REDD+ projects across Asia. They will report to the Regional Director for Asia (operationally) and the Global Director of Conservation (functionally)
• This is considered a full-time position according to the Wildlife Works’ scheme of service and after a three-month probation period

• Unless on mission to the field, the position will be based at Wildlife Works’ Asia Regional Office in Jakarta, in Cambodia, or any other location that will be agreed upon with the Regional Director for Asia.
• Remuneration: A competitive salary and benefits package will be offered, commensurate with the successful applicant’s experience.