Project Manager - Priority Support Plan (PSP) in Gabon

Job title: Project Manager - Priority Support Plan (PSP) in Gabon

Business Unit: Priority Support Plan - Gabon Location : Moukalaba-Doudou National Park (Gabon)

Reports to: Regional Operations Manager

Direct Reports: Priority Support Plan (PSP) team

• Finance Manager
• Funding & Reporting Manager
• Field Operations Manager
• Other “PMU” positions as the PSP matures

1. Primary Purpose:

• Coordinate all PSP activities
• Meet PSP milestones & deliverables
• Ensure the effective operational management of Moukalaba Doudou & Wonga Wongue
• Provide strong and cohesive leadership to the PSP team.
• Represent and promote African Parks with all stakeholders.
• Work to develop an African Parks entity & presence in Gabon
• Work towards a full Mandate for two Protected Areas in Gabon

2. Key Performance Areas (KPA’s)

• Develop and execute a park strategy in accordance with the PSP and African Parks Network (APN) objectives.
• Develop, revise and monitor implementation of a five-year business plan (5YBP) that works towards the development of a Long-Term Sustainability Strategy (LTSS)
• Develop and implement an annual activity plan and budget.
• Develop and implement plans for restoration and sustainable development of the national park and its associated protected areas;
• Ensure financial management, procurement processes and fiscal discipline are rigorously applied;
• Develop a Tourism Development Strategy and support the Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) team in development of such funding instruments;
• Conduct an Environmental & Social Due Diligence (ESDD) and integrate the ESAP findings into the 5YBP 2028-2032;
• Ensure all park’s activities are conducted in accordance with African Parks policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs);
• Ensure the park is adequately resourced (financial, people, equipment, etc.) to effectively meet its day-to-day operational requirements;
• Promote the development and recruitment of local nationals into the park in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and the needs of the park;
• Build a constituency for conservation;
• Maintain positive relationships between with customary leadership
• Build a strong values-based team culture in the park;
• Ensure a cohesive culture of collaboration between the departments;
• Provide accurate and meaningful reports to APN and other stakeholders as required;
• Ensure staff safety in the park while minimizing the occurrence of security incidents;
• Ensure effective implementation of crisis management to deliver timely, coordinated, and effective responses in emergencies.

3. What success looks like in One (1) years’ time:

• A functioning park, able to assure Area Integrity while simultaneously affording Conservation Dividends to local Communities
• Standalone plans (CONOPS, ESAP, Tourism Development Plan) inform the 5YBP 2028-2032 and, compiled together, construct a preliminary LTSS which can be adapted once the parks are better established
• African Parks has developed formal registration as needed in Gabon
• African Parks is has signed a full Mandate by Sep 2027
• Good relationships have been developed with all stakeholders, including government ministries & agencies (MEF, ANPN, etc.) and local communities, yielding an environment where trust is built and a true constituency for conservation exists around the parks
• The project management team is cohesive, professional, and committed, with strengthened local leadership and a clear succession plan.

4. Key Relationship

• Regional Operations Manager
• Congo-Gabon Regional Team
• AP Parks Managers community
• MEF/ANPN and key government officials
• Key donors

5. Required qualification(s), competencies and experience

• Demonstrated 10-15 years of working experience in conservation management, ideally within protected areas, national parks.
• 5 years’ experience working in similar environments and roles.
• Knowledge of Gabon conservation issues.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with forestry agencies, NGOs, and community groups involved in the park’s conservation.
• Analytical skills to interpret security intelligence data and inform decision-making.
• Highly resilient, adaptable, and proactive in addressing emerging threats.
• Excellent communication skills for liaising with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in security risk assessment, threat analysis, and crisis response planning within protected areas or similar environments.
• Experience working in multi-cultural environments.
• Resilience and decision-making under high-pressure scenarios.
• Good financial management skills.
• Project Management skills.
• Stakeholder relationship management skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Proven team leadership ability.
• Results oriented.
• Highly resilient and adaptable.
• Fluent in both French & English.
• Adhesion to African Parks values and Code of Conduct.