ThaiNGO

Position title:              Senior Program Manager, 30 by 30 Initiative and Human Wildlife Conflict Technical Advisor

Reports to:                  Conservation Director

Supervises:                 Program Officers, Field staff and consultants as required

Location:                     Bangkok

Date:                           November 2024

1. Background:

Global Biodiversity Framework 30 by 30 OECMs

For over 50 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. As the world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works across 100 countries and is supported by close to 5 million members globally. WWF’s unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at all levels locally to globally, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.

In 2022, more than 100 nations met at the 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention of Biological Diversity (COP15) and committed to “30 by 30,” the goal of protecting 30% of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats worldwide by 2023. The Government of Thailand endorsed this initiative.

WWF-Thailand is providing support to key government agencies in achieving this goal by playing an influential role in protected area designation and the development of a national framework to identify and recognize “Other Area-Based Effective Conservation Measures” (OECMs), endorsed by COP15, which are defined as areas of land that are not protected areas but provide biodiversity conservation benefits and are expected to continue into the future. We are also identifying potential pilot OECM sites linked to tiger and biodiversity landscape connectivity, and developing site-level management and monitoring mechanisms for the fully operational OECM system.

Human Wildlife Conflict:

Human-wildlife conflict management is vital for conservation efforts aimed at safeguarding wildlife and biodiversity. By addressing issues like crop damage and livestock predation caused by interactions between humans and wildlife, conservationists aim to minimize negative impacts on both communities and animal populations. Effective strategies include conserving habitats, educating communities, and promoting sustainable practices that foster harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife. Adjusting adaptive management to engage communities and stakeholders is crucial, involving them in decision-making, sharing local knowledge, building capacity, resolving conflicts, providing incentives, and adapting plans based on feedback. This inclusive approach enhances conservation effectiveness, ensuring long-term ecological balance and the preservation of diverse species in their natural environments.

Improving adaptive management to engage communities and stakeholders is crucial, involving them in decision-making, sharing local knowledge, building capacity, resolving conflicts, providing incentives, designing of sustainability of finance mechanism, and adapting plans based on feedback. This inclusive approach enhances conservation effectiveness, ensuring long-term ecological balance and the preservation of diverse species in their natural habitats.

WWF Thailand plays a proactive role in consolidating elephant conservation and human-wildlife conflict (HWC) management programs to support the Thai government's priorities in key forest complexes. With a focus on integrating international expertise with local knowledge to advise project staff on science-based and adaptive management approaches.

WWF is seeking a Senior Program Manager (85% effort)/Program Advisor (15% effort) for these activities in Thailand

2. Major Functions:

The Senior Program Manager will be responsible for 30 by 30 program management to achieve the program’s goals and targets, and ensure all activities comply with project agreements, WWF’s contractual obligations, and donor requirements. The Senior Program Manager will take full responsibility for technical, financial and administrative aspects of the project. He will oversee

staff and consultants as required.

In the Technical Advisor role, the incumbent will maintain a high level of expertise in the field of Human Wildlife Conflict and will consult with WWF Thailand field staff to ensure that our HWC projects are scientifically and procedurally sound and implemented in a manner that is consistent with global practices. He will oversee staff and consultants as required.

3. Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Senior Program Manager:

• Establish collaborative and trusted partnerships with the Office of National Environmental Policy and Planning, Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Protection, the Royal Forest Department, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Department of Fisheries, and other government agencies, academics, and local and international NGOs, and civil society & targeted local communities.
• Lead and Supervise Program Manager - 30 by 30 (Protected Areas) and the Senior OECM Officer and other staff as needed.
• Partnering with the Conservation Director in workplan development.
• Lead OECM program in Thailand with network and other donor offices.
• Advise and provide consultation to government agencies and high level official on technical aspects of OECMs & Protected areas.
• Represent and guide national policy making process on behalf of WWF on the implementation of OECMs in Thailand as part of the National OECM Steering Committee
• Represent WWF Thailand at global and regional strategic events in particular COPs & other Biodiversity Forums.
• Cooperate with other WWF Programs relevant to OECMs recognition and protected area designation.
• Lead and Supervise consultants
• Cooperate with international and domestic NGOs and CSOs.
• Ensure compliance with WWF safeguards procedures, including gender and equality, risk, quality assurance, and ESSF.
• Ensure timely completion of the permitting and reporting requirements of Thailand government agencies.
• Report on activities according to donor requirements and M&E plans.
• Partnering with the Conservation Director in building financial stability and sustainability for long-term project activities, by fostering trust and strengthening relationships with program donors within and outside the WWF network.
• Provide technical expertise on elephant conservation and human wildlife conflict management to other WWF programs at country and regional level.
• Partnering with the Conservation Director in development of country and landscape strategic plans.

4. Profile:

Required Qualifications       

• Postgraduate degree in wildlife or conservation biology, natural resource management, or related fields;
• At least 15 years of experience (Thailand preferred) in protected area management or biodiversity conservation. Past experience in a Government of Thailand agency preferred;
• Demonstrated expertise in wildlife, landscape, and/or connectivity program development and leadership.
• Strong understanding of land conservation processes that support community participation and empowerment.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and diplomatic skills with the ability to manage and interact at all levels of an international, multicultural and multilingual organization;
• Ability to advance the goals of two parallel programs (30 by 30  and HWC) that may experience scientific, management, and/or political uncertainties;
• Strong experience and relationship with governmental agencies especially at high levels
• Fluency in Thai and competence in English.

5. Working Relationships:

Internal: WWF-Thailand Conservation, Finance, and Communications staff, as well as WWF Greater Mekong specialists and WWF-Network donor offices (WWF U.S., WWF Australia, European and other national offices).

External: Office of National Environment Policy, Thailand Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, Royal Forest Department, and other agency senior leadership, provincial and military representatives, individual protected area managers and wildlife researchers, as well as academic and INGO partners.

This JD covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.