Protected Area Manager

WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
WWF has a long established presence in the Mekong region, starting in Vietnam in 1990. Since then, WWF operations have grown to four Country offices based in Cambodia (Phnom Penh), Laos (Vientiane), Thailand (Bangkok) & Vietnam (Hanoi), including a Regional team in the Hanoi, Vientiane and Bangkok offices. The ‘Greater Mekong Programme Office’ was officially formed in November 2005 merging WWF Indochina (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam) and WWF Thailand.

WWF is implementing a comprehensive programme of conservation activities in the Central Vietnam-Southern Lao landscape. It is part of the Greater Annamites priority ecoregion, containing many significant populations of globally threatened and flagship species. WWF aims to protect and restore these species and their habitats and a large part of this work involves strengthening the management of key protected areas.

The project Avoidance of deforestation and forest degradation in the border area of southern Laos and central Vietnam for the long-term preservation of carbon sinks and biodiversity (CarBi project) running from January 2011 to December 2014, is a cornerstone of the landscape programme and comprises four components:
a) Improving Protected Area management, in Xesap National Protected Area (Laos) as well as Saola Nature Reserves in Hue and Quang Nam and Bach Ma National Park extension.
b) Forest restoration of biodiversity corridors in Vietnam.
c) Reducing cross-border timber trade between Laos and Vietnam
d) Preparing the project area for REDD funding, by developing a Project Design Document, as well as providing landscape level forest carbon lessons learnt into national REDD processes.

WWF Vietnam Country Programme is seeking to recruit a well-qualified and experienced candidate for the full-time position of PROTECTED AREA MANAGER for CarBi project (based in Quang Nam, with frequent field travel through the Central Annamites and Laos)

Main responsibilities:
- The PA Manager will lead the on-the-ground implementation of the result area 1 of the Annamites Carbon Sinks and Biodiversity project in Vietnam. Works with the Landscape Manager and Technical Advisor, Protected Area Management to develop and monitor the result area 1, in close cooperation with government counterparts and WWF Vietnam field project teams;
- Facilitate participatory and consultative processes, agree and adopt participatory management plans within Protected Areas. S/he will assist with training provision, participatory workshops and meetings with individual stakeholders and other activities to ensure that all stakeholders are actively engaged in the Project, and that the Project is responsive to stakeholder concerns and issues.  S/he will also manage the WWF Forest guards teams to fulfil their tasks

Qualifications and Experience:
- Masters degree or equivalent in conservation, natural resource management, wildlife management, or similar;
- 7 years practical experience in protected area management and managing conservation programmes or projects;
- Experience in the area of  Biodiversity and law enforcement in PA in Vietnam
- Substantial work experience in the Mekong Region and familiarity with key regional institutions, a significant advantage;
- Experience of working and negotiating with Government officials at all levels;
- Significant supervisory experience, with excellent interpersonal, communication and diplomatic skills with the ability to manage and interact at all levels of an international, multicultural, and multilingual organization;
- Must have strong leadership and delegation skills;
- Excellent management, communications, planning and organizational skills.
- Must be able to nurture and promote a team approach;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in Vietnamese; at least working level skills in English language.
- Ability to work on own initiative with minimum supervision and to stay on task
- Networking skills, and proven capability to work well with government counterparts and private sector.
- Willingness to work from the field base, with frequent travel between landscape PAs.
- Must be able to work independently in remote areas for long periods;
- Very good skills in use of MS Word, Excel, Power Point
- Coordination; good training skills.

Interested candidates should email a cover letter, CV and available degrees and qualifications in English to Ms. Bui Thu Hien, HR Officer, WWF Vietnam Country Programme.
Email: [email protected], or post to WWF Vietnam Office at D13 Thang Long International Village, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Closing date for applications: Friday, 20 May 2011 with interviews afterward.
Only short-listed candidates will be notified. No telephone contact
Detailed TOR of the position is posted on www.panda.org/greatermekong