Reports to : Park Director, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park
Location : Bomassa, Republic of the Congo
Country Program/Sector : Central Africa
Start date : January 2021
Position Type : 3 years (dependent on funding being secured)
Application deadline : 09 October 2020
Internal liaison : The Tourism Manager will report to the Park Director, while working closely with the Project Manager for the Ndoki Tourism EPP program.
Expected travel : Regular travel between Park tourism sites (Mombongo, Mondika, Mbeli, etc.). Travel to Brazzaville (once every two to three months).
Organization Background :
The Wildlife 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.
Congo Program Overview :
WCS is the largest international conservation NGO in the Republic of Congo and has been working with government, community and private sector partners to achieve conservation in multiple landscapes across the country for nearly 3 decades. In 1991, WCS signed an agreement with the Congolese Government to provide technical advice on the creation and management of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) through the Nouabalé-Ndoki Project, which has now developed into a public-private-partnership. WCS Congo has also been internationally recognized for its innovative work in collaboration with the forestry companies working in the peripheral zone of the NNNP (through PROGEPP – Projet de Gestion des Ecosystèmes de la Périphérique au Parc National de Nouabalé-Ndoki) in order to promote the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources outside of protected areas. WCS has been working with the Lac Télé Community Reserve since 2003 and coordinate the implementation of bush meat consumption and trafficking reduction orientated projects.
Job Summary :
The Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park Tourism Manager will have responsibility for coordinating all tourism activity in and around the Park. The focus will be the day-to-day management of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) field activities under a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded tourism development project. The goal of this Environmental Partnerships Program (EPP) project is to create the enabling conditions for NNNP to become a world-class tourism destination, with wildlife-based tourism products run by professional, ethical and profitable tourism operators. WCS will implement this project in partnership with the Congo Conservation Company (CCC), a private tourism operator.
The Tourism Manager’s top priority will be to act as a primary point of contact between WCS and CCC’s field teams. They will ensure the smooth management of this on-the-ground relationship, facilitating collaboration and cooperation to achieve project outcomes, while making sure that CCC comply with their concession agreement. Secondary priorities will include supporting new community tourism projects in Park villages and managing existing Park hospitality activity.
Major Responsibilities :
The Tourism Manager will deliver on the following principal responsibilities in full coordination with, and supported by, the WCS Congo and NNNP management teams:
Coordinate day-to-day tourism activity in Nouabalé-Ndoki :
- Maintain a positive and productive relationship with the CCC operations / field team, facilitating cooperation wherever possible and practical :
- Particular attention to coordination of activities and management of the relationship will be required when there are overlapping needs by CCC and the Park management team (for example in regard to local recruitment and local procurement of materials, particularly during project phases that involve infrastructure construction) ;
- Once it has been signed, Tourism Manager will ensure that both the Park management team and CCC comply with the terms of the tourism concession agreement.
- Maintain a close working relationship with all members of the Park management team, ensuring the tourism program’s activity is integrated with the day-to-day management of the Park ;
- Ensure that the Ndoki Tourism EPP Project Manager is kept regularly up to date on project activities and events in the Park.
Support the implementation and administration of the Ndoki Tourism EPP project :
- Collaborating with the Ndoki Tourism EPP Project Manager, the Park management team, CCC and local communities, support the implementation of the project’s technical activities in accordance with the project work plan. Including activities such as, but not limited to :
- The development of new tourism products ;
- Identifying media and marketing opportunities to promote tourism to the Park ;
- Engaging with local communities on tourism matters, etc.
- Collect data on the progress of project activities to enable the monitoring and evaluation reporting requirements for USAID and other donors to be fulfilled ;
- Make contributions to technical project documentation (work plans, performance reports, etc.) for USAID and other donors.
Support the development of community tourism projects in Park communities :
- Engage with local community tourism groups, supporting their operations and providing technical advice to community tourism businesses and tourism governance groups ;
- Develop and implement training opportunities that build capacity in local communities, enabling them to more fully engage with emerging opportunities in the tourism sector.
Manage existing Park hospitality services :
- Coordinate the provision of hospitality services for visitors to the Park (visitors will include VIPs from the RoC Government, WCS and donors, as well as visiting researchers and small numbers of tourists prior to the concession agreement being signed). Working with Park staff, delivery of well-planned and well-executed experiences, that pull together accommodation, provision of food and tourism experiences (such as trips to view habituated gorilla groups) will be required ;
- Maintain a booking system for gorilla viewing permits and for Park accommodation (at Park HQ in Bomassa and at the Mondika gorilla camp) ;
- Support the finance team in tracking hospitality related costs and revenue (i.e. Park entry fees).
Experience / Training :
The experience and capabilities of the Tourism Manager should include :
- Qualifications and experience – A higher-education level qualification in tourism, hospitality or business management, or other relevant field experience in tourism and/or wildlife conservation is required ;
- Preparedness to work in remote field locations with poor access to basic amenities is required. Experience working in the Central Africa region would be an advantage ;
- Project management experience – Experience working in inter-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, managing several project activities simultaneously, delivering quality work on tight deadlines is required ;
- Understanding of tourism and business practices and principles – Experience working in the private sector (particularly for tourism operators) would be preferred. Experience working with start-up businesses would be an advantage ;
- Excellent communication skills – Demonstrated people skills, with an ability to interact with guests and other stakeholders to maintain favourable public relations is required ;
- Language skills – Fluency in French and professional competency in English is required. Skill in writing contributions to technical reports and other written products would be preferred.
How to apply :
Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, should apply by emailing an application letter and CV together and the names and contact information of three references to : [email protected] by 09 October 2020 as the deadline. Please include “Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park Tourism Manager” in the subject line of your email.
In addition, please note that all candidates must also apply online via the WCS career portal at: http://www.wcs.org/about-us/careers
WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor 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 age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.
Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.