About this role
Senior Programme Manager
Job Description: Position: Senior Programme Manager Reports to: Executive Director, Rights and Communities Position Managed: SWM Technical Assistant Natural Resources Management Technical Advisor Location: Brussels, Belgium Country Program/Sector: Rights and Communities Scope: Global Position Type: Full-Time
Job Summary: The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) recognises that nature and people are intrinsically linked, and that biological and cultural diversity are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities are central to achieving durable conservation outcomes.
The Rights and Communities (R + C) Programme supports field teams in over 50 countries to secure, exercise, and benefit from rights through a human-rights-based approach to conservation. The programme is guided by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and other international human rights instruments, and is underpinned by WCS human rights and safeguarding policies.
The Senior Programme Manager provides global programme management and coordination support to the Rights and Communities Programme, with a primary focus on Institutional Review Board (IRB) administration, programme coordination, and knowledge management. The role also provides defined technical and coordination support to the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme, working in close collaboration with other relevant programme teams.
Key Accountabilities:
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Administration
• Work in close coordination with the Institutional Review Board Chair and serve as the global administrator for the WCS Institutional Review Board, providing end-to-end coordination and operational support to the IRB Chair and committee members. • Manage the IRB submission, review and approval process, ensuring consistency, timeliness, and adherence to ethical and regulatory requirements. • Maintain complete and auditable IRB records, databases, and documentation in line with internal and external compliance standards. • Support annual reporting and institutional filings related to IRB operations, including reporting to WCS Global Leadership and relevant oversight bodies. • Contribute to the continuous improvement of IRB processes, guidance materials and training resources for applicants and reviewers. Rights and Communities Programme Management
• Provide programme coordination and management support to the Executive Director, ensuring effective tracking of workplans, deliverables and key milestones. • Coordinate programme-level knowledge management, including lessons learned, good practices, training materials, and practitioner resources. • Support programme planning, budgeting, and financial monitoring in collaboration with the Executive Director and relevant finance partners. • Draft, review and edit programme documentation, reports and proposals as required. • Coordinate internal and external meetings, workshops, webinars, and programme events, ensuring effective preparation, documentation and follow-up. • Coordinate the Rights and Communities Practitioner Forums. • Support the Executive Director on program coordination with themes and regions. Global coordination of the SWM Programme and technical oversight
• Provide defined programme coordination and technical support to the SWM Programme, in close collaboration with the SWM Programme and other relevant WCS teams. • Support communication, reporting and knowledge-sharing across SWM partners and internal stakeholders. • Contribute to the review of selected technical and programme documents, as delegated and appropriate. • Maintain regular coordination with SWM focal points and programme teams to support effective implementation withing agreed scope and timelines.
Qualification Requirements: • Master's degree in a relevant field (e.g. non-profit management, business, communications, international development, conservation, social sciences, programme management), or equivalent professional experience. • A minimum of 10 years proven experience in programme management, coordination, administration, or related roles. • Strong technical, logistical and financial management of projects (planning, budgets, implementation, monitoring and evaluation). • Sound understanding of the social, economic and ecological issues on natural resources management and wild meat in particular, and how they applied in different contexts. • High-level proficiency in French and English. • Excellent organisational and time-management skills. • Familiarity with knowledge management tools and platforms, especially SharePoint, MS-Teams, and Asana. • Experience working with multicultural teams. • Effective interpersonal and communications skills, including strong writing, and editing. • Ability to organise multiple priorities and tasks. • Desire to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, with the ability to adjust to changing programme priorities and respond to opportunities. • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team. • Strong alignment with WCS values and mission. Additional Requirements: • Prior experience working with communities on conservation, environmental, and/or human-rights-related initiatives is desirable. • Familiarity with social science research methodologies and institutional review boards (IRBs) is an advantage. • Working knowledge of Spanish is desirable. Equal Opportunity Employer WCS EU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. We recruit, develop and promote individuals based on their qualifications, experience and ability to perform the requirements of the role. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, ethnicity, religion or belief, national origin, citizenship, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital or family status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our commitment to wildlife conservation and our organisational values. Compensation The salary offered for this position will be commensurate with the successful candidate's experience, skills and qualifications, taking into consideration internal equity, the location of the position and local employment practices.
Recruitment Agencies WCS EU does not accept unsolicited CVs or candidate profiles from recruitment agencies. Any CVs or candidate profiles submitted without a valid written agreement and a specific request from WCS EU to support this recruitment will be considered unsolicited. WCS EU reserves the right to contact and recruit such candidates directly, without any obligation to pay placement fees, commissions or any other recruitment-related costs.
Candidate Privacy Personal information submitted as part of the recruitment process will be used solely for recruitment purposes and handled in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
Reasonable Adjustments If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will endeavour to accommodate your needs. How to Apply Interested candidates are invited to submit:
• A current Curriculum Vitae (CV) • A cover letter outlining their interest in the position and how their skills and experience meet the requirements of the role. All applications will be carefully reviewed, and candidates whose qualifications and experience most closely match the requirements of the role will be contacted regarding the next stage of the recruitment process.