Project Manager - Priority Support Plan (PSP)

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

Job Description

Division African Parks Head Office

Business Unit Operations

Minimum experience Director

Company primary industry Environmental Services

Job functional area Project Management

Contract term 12

Job Description

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 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) year’s 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 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.