About this role
Fields Operation Manager
Job Description: Position Title: Field Operations Reports to: Landscape Director Location: Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park/ Kumbala Country Program/Sector: Central African Republic Position Type: Full Time Internal Liaison: Law Enforcement, biomonitoring, procurement and logistic team, Expected Travel: frequent movement between Kumbala, Ndelé
Background
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit organization founded in 1895. Its mission is to preserve wildlife and wilderness by understanding critical problems, developing scientific solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, a presence in more than 60 countries, and experience in the creation of more than 150 protected areas around the world, WCS has accumulated the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships needed to ensure that wild places and animal species 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 rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct use of natural resources.
Program Overview
The WCS Central African Republic program is dedicated to saving wildlife and enabling sustainable community development in the Northeastern Protected Area Complex (NPAC), the country's largest wilderness protection area, extending across 11.5 million hectares. It encompasses the Bamingui-Bangoran National Park, the Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park, also classified as a World Heritage Site, and faunal reserves and old hunting areas that function as biodiversity corridors. The NPAC is the main water source for all north-eastern CAR and a crucial contribution to the Chari basin and Lake Chad, which provides drinking water to over 30 million people across four countries. In December 2018, WCS and the Central African Republic government subscribed to a 25-year public-private partnership agreement, whereby WCS is fully responsible for conceiving and implementing conservation solutions, park management, law enforcement, and community development models within the NPAC, following national laws and policies as well as WCS global standards.
Job Summary The Field Operations Manager is responsible for the overall operational management of the Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park and its surrounding protected areas and for leading the people who deliver that operation. This is a people-management role first, and a technical/logistics oversight role second: the Field Operations Manager will directly line-manage the leads of the Law Enforcement, Fleet Management, Logistics, and Infrastructure (construction) teams, and is accountable for their performance, development, and wellbeing. The Field Operations Manager works collegially and collaboratively within a multi-function matrix, to ensure the effective management and coordination of infrastructure development and maintenance, fleet management (vehicles, aircraft, boats), logistics and procurement, law enforcement, and conservation activities and the park level A Park Manager position is expected to be established for Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park. Until that position is recruited, the Field Operations Manager will be the most senior position based at the park, holding delegated authority for its day-to-day management and reporting directly to the Northeastern CAR Landscape Director. This arrangement will be reviewed once a Park Director/Park Manager is appointed, at which point the reporting line and scope of this role will be reassessed accordingly. Key Responsibilities 1. Operations Planning & Management • Serves as the most senior park-based authority for Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park until a Park Director/Park Manager is appointed, exercising delegated decision-making authority over day-to-day park management and escalating strategic, governance, or partnership matters to the Northeastern CAR Landscape Director. • Manages all anti-poaching, ecoguard patrols, and law enforcement activities for Manovo park, and upholds human rights and social safeguards in the delivery of the activities. • Develops and implements an integrated Field Operations plan and budget, aligned with the Northeastern CAR Protected Areas Program and the park's business plan; monitor and revise as required. • Contributes to the management of the park's Strategic Framework, Management Plan, Business Plan, working with heads of department, the Landscape Director, and the finance team. • Ensure effective budget management and cost control across Park operations functions. Ensure adherence to procurement procedures, including tenders and contracts, and that contractors execute according to agreed terms. • Develop operations manuals, standards, and budgeting tools for the park; ensure adequate monthly reporting against them. • Ensure all Field Operations activities are conducted in accordance with WCS policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Professional Standards, and relevant national legislation and safety standards. • Chairs or leads regular (at least monthly) cross-departmental coordination meetings to identify and resolve operational bottlenecks. • Performs other duties as requested by the Northeastern CAR Landscape Director. 2. Team Leadership, Safety & Reporting • Provides direct line management to the department leads across Conservation Law Enforcement, Fleet Management, Logistics, and Infrastructure setting clear expectations, reviewing performance, and holding them accountable for their teams' output. • Ensures the safety and wellbeing of all staff operating within the park. • Leads recruitment, training, mentoring, and performance appraisals within the Operations team. • Ensures that the Manovo Park team is adequately resourced to meet day-to-day operational requirements; support and advise department heads in resolving challenges and providing coaching. • Builds a strong, values-based team culture within the Manovo Park function. • Provides accurate and meaningful reports on all park operations activities to the Northeastern CAR Landscape Director. 3. Law Enforcement • Oversees the implementation of WCS’ wildlife law enforcement strategy and security program for the protected area. • Oversees and manages the ranger (ecoguard) team to strengthen law enforcement operations, ensuring the team is adequately equipped and trained. • Trains and manages a leadership team responsible for commanding and coordinating daily patrol deployments from the Control Room(s). • Ensures the logistical support needed to enable law enforcement operations is in place (transport, communications, rations, equipment). • Implements strategies to deter nomadic incursions into the core protected area, prioritizing awareness-raising and non-force-based approaches. • Ensure timely and verified reporting of law enforcement incidents, arrests, and patrol/deployment statistics, with monthly review and analysis. 4. Infrastructure & Logistics • Plans and oversees all park-related construction, expansion, infrastructure and renovation projects, including: • A basic operational base (warehouses, communications equipment, control room, workshop, accommodation, offices, and other required facilities). • All weather, airstrips and associated maintenance works. • All-weather access roads connecting the existing park road network to the new operational base, ensuring a reliable logistical backbone, particularly in the wet season.
• Develops a multi-year (3–5 year) infrastructure maintenance plan and implement preventive and corrective maintenance schedules for all park buildings and infrastructure. • Where necessary, improve wildlife water access during the dry season (enhancing waterholes) and establishes/maintains strategic salt licks in the core area to support wildlife populations. • Oversees logistics, procurement, and stock control: sources of suppliers and negotiate prices/terms; maintains an effective stock control and storage management system; oversees procurement and transport/storage of deliveries to the park. • Oversees the appropriate management, tracking, and timely reporting of spare parts, fuel, and oil requests and stocks. • Maintains accurate, up-to-date asset registers for all infrastructure, vehicles, equipment, and tools. 5. Fleet Management (Vehicles, Aircraft, Boats) • Ensures all relevant fleet licenses and permits are in place across vehicles, aircraft, and boats. • Ensures the fleet is serviced, maintained, and operated in ways that reduce cost and risk, in line with WCS SOPs. • Ensures fleet specifications meet park requirements, and that the fleet management team is adequately equipped. • Promotes a strong safety and duty of care culture within the fleet management team. • Oversees maintenance of the aircraft fleet via the Lead Pilot, including licenses, permits, servicing, fuel and oil, spare parts stocks, safety and operational procedures (SOPs), and technical upgrades. • Supports logistics and maintenance teams across the northern landscape with vehicle and generator maintenance and general fleet operations, via the workshop manager, in line with SOPs. 6. Park Conservation Activities • Manages core protected area conservation operations, including anti-poaching operations and wildlife monitoring. • Implements recording and tracking mechanisms for wildlife monitoring, supported by rangers, camera trapping, aerial surveys, and other monitoring systems; work with the biomonitoring team to ensure effective camera trap placement. • Coordinates use of the park aircraft for conservation, law enforcement, and other field operations. • Coordinates operations with the Transhumance and Socioeconomic Development team. • Builds and maintains collaborative relationships and coordination platforms with local authorities. • Provides field support to research partners, film crews, and other visiting technical teams, as needed.
Qualification Requirements: Essential • Minimum 5 years of professional experience in protected area management in Africa • Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining field infrastructure (e.g., roads, airstrips, camps, water systems, buildings) • Proven team leadership and strong communication skills, including managing and motivating diverse field teams • Ability to work independently, make sound decisions with limited oversight, and solve problems in the field • Fluency in French (spoken and written) • Proven ability to live and work in remote, multicultural settings under difficult field conditions • Strong computer and reporting skills (data management, report writing, and donor or partner reporting) Desirable
• Working knowledge of English • Experience in wildlife law enforcement (e.g., anti-poaching operations, patrol coordination, ranger supervision) • Pilot qualification (ULM/microlight or Cessna 182), an advantage but not required