Summary
Date Posted: Friday, November 20, 2020 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
The African Wildlife Foundation, together with the people of Africa, works to ensure the wildlife and wild lands of Africa will endure forever.
The AWF Kenya Country Director will be responsible for providing overall leadership, strategic focus, management and accountability for AWF’s programs in Kenya. This position reports to the Vice President Conservation Strategy, Knowledge Management and Impact but will be expected to maintain strong lines of communication with several other senior management positions, particularly on program (i.e. species), policy, strategy, fundraising, M&E/impact, and strategic communications. The Country Director will help to design new programs and grow AWF’s conservation and development project portfolio in Kenya.
The Kenya Country Director is expected to be a highly visible individual in the country’s conservation sector maintaining relationships with decision makers in government, donor agencies and sectors shaping land and resource use. The Country Director must also possess the capacity to manage programs with social, political, cultural and economic complexities. He/she is expected to be results oriented and able to provide leadership to a team of highly qualified professionals to achieve results and meet program targets and goals. He/she will be expected to exercise a high degree of decision making and sound judgment. He/she will be expected to host international delegations – donors, policy makers, etc. – to learn about AWF’s work and witness the impact we are achieving. .

Essential Duties
General Management, Leadership, Government Support and Policy
• Participate in the recruitment of relevant country program staff in Nairobi, Tsavo and any new landscapes in Kenya.
• Increase number of influential Africans who speak on behalf of wildlife conservation
• Establish a high level of credibility and manage strong working relationship with both internal and external stakeholders
• Enhance effectiveness and prominence of African conservation leaders
• Increase engagement of women and youth in conservation
• Drive the adoption of innovative development policies and investment plans that preserve and restore wildlife and wildlands
• Support government leaders with policy analysis, development and implementation at national and international levels including support for key international treaties including Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
• Promote AWF as the institution that assists the Kenyan government and other partners in creating solutions that deliver on conservation and development ambitions
• Ensure a collaborative approach to position AWF as a thought leader and draw on capacities within and external to AWF to achieve our country strategy
• Develop excellent working relationships with major stakeholder groups, national governments, protected area authorities, local government, community and private sector, in the region.
• Identify, engage and recruit potential candidates for the AWF Board of Trustees
Program Development & Growth
• Lead the development of the Kenya Country Strategy in collaboration with key stakeholders, AWF HQ and landscape staff, Strategy teams and other AWF departments.
• Support the expansion of AWF’s conservation and development project portfolio in Kenya.
• Engage donors, providing donors with updates on AWF programme priorities, insights from implementation, and facilitate connection to host country processes and people to raise profile of how wildlife and wild lands fit into donor programming
• Inform the International Policy & Government Relations team of developments in country related to donor priority areas and collaborate to engage donors and facilitate alignment between donor and Kenya government priorities; and
• Collaborate with fundraising, communications and technical teams to prepare materials for in-country donor engagement help design, develop and build new programs in Kenya that meet AWF’s objectives and mission.
• Participate in and support the development and design of funding proposals for submission to key donors for support of the program.
• Cultivate and steward donors – prospective and existing - in key fundraising markets.
• Keep abreast of relevant programs and opportunities in Kenya for AWF involvement, including funding opportunities, and link as appropriate relevant staff to opportunities such as Program Design and Philanthropy.
• Represent AWF at national and County government levels and with other donors to ensure effective collaboration and maintenance of AWF’s reputation and role as a conservation leader in Kenya.
Program Oversight and Implementation
• Provide technical/functional support to the project managers and their teams for the development, management and successful implementation of programs in Kenya.
• Ensure program activities are in line with Government objectives and are compliant with national laws and regulations.
• Support project managers to ensure full compliance with any donor agreements and AWF policies and procedures.
• Establish a high level of credibility and manage strong working relationship with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Promote teamwork, professionalism, and integrity.
• Provide leadership in tracking and reporting of program performance against prescribed criteria to AWF and partners in a timely manner.
• Work with AWF’s Finance Department to develop and track working annual budgets, ensure efficient use of resources and eliminate fraud.
• Support an operational data collection, management, reporting and learning framework (M & E).
Public Relations, Corporate Communications and Marketing
• Be the focal point for all AWF communications within Kenya.
• Work closely with the AWF global communications teams to ensure consistent and coordinated messaging and branding within Kenya
• Collaborate with global communications team in promoting AWF programmes and highlighting both successes and challenges within country and globally.
• Track and provide timely updates to global communications teams regarding news, issues and events of importance to AWF’s reputation as Africa’s conservation leader.
• Ensure strong internal communications for AWF staff within the country.
• Ensure a collaborative approach to position AWF as a thought leader and draw on capacities within and external to AWF to achieve our country strategy
Supervision
• Functionally (matrix) supervise the Tsavo/ Mkomazi Landscape Manager
• Develop and motivate team members to contribute to their full ability to AWF’s mission, vision, and strategic plan
• Promote teamwork, professionalism, and integrity.
• Ensure that AWF values and culture are imbedded within and upheld by the Kenya Landscape team; ensure roles & responsibilities are clearly defined and performance is managed with the required focus and discipline.
Others
• Represent AWF globally at key fundraising meetings, events, international meetings, policy discussions, etc.
• Undertake any other relevant duties as may be requested

Job Skills: Not Specified

Requirement
• Post graduate qualification (MSc or PhD) in natural sciences, social sciences, economics, etc.
• Minimum 12+ years of proven leadership, managerial and program experience in conservation, development and/or business.
• Experience in leading implementation of large and complex projects with a solid understanding of conservation in Kenya and how to deliver effective sustainable conservation programs that benefit wildlife and communities
• Results focused orientation with proven track record of delivery
• Ability to manage and motivate a highly qualified team of professionals in different fields
• Solid understanding of financial management and budgeting
• Proficiency in English and Kiswahili (spoken and written)
• Experience leading and managing large complex projects budgets, delivering and reporting results, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements
• Outstanding interpersonal skills including the ability to build coalitions, negotiate, and manage conflict situations
• Outstanding communication skills with ability to clarify vision and strategy
• Experience working on policy initiative with different levels of government (especially senior levels) and partners in Kenya
• Genuine respect for the skills and perspectives of communities, partner organizations and the private sector

Job Education Requirements: Not Specified

Job Education Experience: Not Specified

Work Hours: 8

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