We are seeking to recruit for our client, an internationally wildlife conservation organisation based in Germany, a Head of Grants and Financing Development in LOMAMI Landscape.

This is an exciting opportunity to drive the development of sustainable financing for this landscape and make a real contribution to the long-term conservation of one of the world’s few remaining outstanding wild places !

• Position's Objective :

Ensure that the Lomami Landscape Programme is adequately funded to achieve its desired conservation objectives. With considerable financing required on a recurrent basis to both develop and deliver park operations as well as buffer zone activities, the Head of Grants and Financing Development will drive the cultivation of existing and new financing streams for park operations. This will involve managing existing donors and grant reporting, identifying future grants and other sources of financing, including potential tourism development opportunities.

• Tasks :

• Working in close support and collaboration with the Site Director and other senior staff, to provide strategic input to the programme, evaluate and review strategies and management plans for the park and wider Lomami landscape, and identify gaps in financing ;

• Ensure programme compliance with the society and donor requirements for procurement (as part of the procurement team), budgeting and reporting ;

• As part of the internal audit team, ensure proper, efficient and transparent use of project funds and expenditure within agreed budgets ;

• Ensure that project plans and technical and financial reports are submitted on time, after validation by the Programme Leader and the society HQ ;

• Identify appropriate funding opportunities and prepare applications to support programme strategies ;

• Review and develop other financing opportunities for the park and the wider Lomami landscape, including nature-based financing (carbon, hydrology, biodiversity) and financing through tourism development ;

• In collaboration with the park Site Director, Regional Conservation and Africa Director, establish and build strategic international donor partnerships that will strengthen effectiveness of conservation impact ;

• Lead the development and implementation of a strategy to develop tourism in park and buffer zone ;

• Ensure effective two-way information flow on all issues between site level, the society HQ/Africa Department and donors ;

• Maintain system for documentation and filing of supporting documents for grant management in close collaboration with finance team, the heads of the park's various departments and the society HQ ;

• Work with project monitoring, evaluation and learning systems and teams to assess outcome and impact of project activities, feedback into adaptive management, and thus both reports back to donors and comply with their requirements.

• Necessary Qualifications and Experiences :

• An M.Sc. or higher degree and at least 8 years practical experience in conservation, natural resource management and/or development with natural resource focus preferably in Africa ;

• At least 5-years’ experience managing and compliance of bilateral donor’s (e.g. EU, KfW, USAID) procurement regulation and financial reporting requirements, financial audits and internal and external evaluations ;

• Experience with development of nature based financing initiatives including carbon and biodiversity credits etc ;

• Experience developing and maintaining a diversity of donor and international partnerships, ideally including bilateral and philanthropic donors ;

• Experience with tourism development as a sustainable financing mechanism ;

• Proven experience in developing project design and fundraising with private, NGO and bilateral donors ;

• Credibility and intellectual stature to gain the trust and collaborate effectively with colleagues, donors, other partners and stakeholders ;

• Exceptional writing and presentation skills bilingually in both French and English essential (competency in Kiswahili and German an advantage) ;

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication abilities, including excellent writing, verbal and listening skills and team communication and training ;

• Proven team-building skills and experience in an international and cross-cultural team ;

• Willingness and ability to live in Kindu, Maniema Province, DR Congo and to travel nationally.

• Behaviour competencies :

• Strategic, analytical perspective ;

• Planning and organising ;

• Persuasiveness and negotiation skills ;

• Networking (building and maintaining relationships).