PROGRAM MANAGER AT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY (WCS)

About Company:

The Wildlife Conservation Society is an international NGO headquartered at Bronx Zoo in New York City working to save wildlife and wild lands and to meet global challenges in over 50 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and the world’s oceans. The Africa Program is the largest of WCS’s field programs, with approximately 1,100 staff in 12 country programs focused across four major regions (Central Africa, Sudano-Sahel, East and Southern Africa, and Madagascar and Western Indian Ocean).

Job Description:

Operational Strategy and Technical Support:

• Oversee management of projects and grants including assistance with the development of strategies, preparation of proposals, coordination of timely reporting and in-country donor communications, and compliance with donor regulations.
• Manage database and track opportunities for funding and grants from various sources including files pertaining to creating grants, consultancies, field projects and other agreements for the country program office.
• Facilitate internal WCS communications between the field, Calabar, regional and NY teams.
• Provide technical assistance and oversight to ensure that Project Directors adhere to and are aware of WCS policies, donor regulations and government requirements in project administration.
• Participate in strategic planning for the WCS-Nigeria Program.
• Work with the Nigeria Finance Director to monitor and track project budgets.
• As requested by the WCS-Nigeria Country Director, represent WCS at meetings on a national and international level.
• Work with the Country Director and field project managers to develop and write proposals and track grant implementation.
• Where appropriate, act as a liaison between donors and field projects, ensuring timely submission of progress reports and other terms of grant agreements.
• Provide technical support to field Project Directors in the implementation of existing work plans.
• Coordinate operational support between the Calabar office and field projects/sub-offices.
• Maintain good relationships with existing national and international NGOs and technical partners in-country, national delegation offices of bilateral and multi-lateral donors, and foster, where possible, the participation of existing and new partners in relevant aspects of program implementation and strategy development.

Requirements:

• An Advanced Degree in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Studies, International Development or another field relevant to the position's responsibilities.
• At least five years’ experience working in a natural resource management, international development or policy position, with experience in Nigeria or Central Africa a distinct advantage.
• Results-focused attitude to work.
• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Willingness and ability to travel to field offices in Nigeria.
• Interest in wildlife conservation and committed to the WCS mission.
• Experience in large project or program management, personnel management, administration, and fundraising.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively and flourish in a multi-cultural team.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and diplomatic skills with the ability to manage and interact at all levels within and between the multilingual organization
• Experience in multiple donor budgets and multiple grants
• Leadership: Proven leadership and team management abilities.
• Working Relationships: Ability to establish and maintain effective collaborations with various partners
• IT Skills: Advanced skills in using IT tools for data analysis.
• Report writing skills
• Ability to work under minimal supervision
• Organisation skills and detail-oriented

Salary

Application Closing Date: 05th September, 2025

Application Instructions:

Interested and qualified candidates should send their application (Cover letter and CV as one PDF document) to: nigeriajobs@wcs.org using “Program Manager” in capital letters as the subject of the mail.