About the Role
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is seeking an experienced and dedicated Reserve Director to provide overall leadership and management at the Yankari Game Reserve and the wider Yankari Landscape in Bauchi, Nigeria. In this pivotal role, you will spearhead protected area management, wildlife conservation, community engagement, and institutional strengthening to ensure the long-term ecological and financial sustainability of the reserve. You will serve as WCS's senior representative, fostering vital collaborative partnerships with government agencies, local communities, donors, and key stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities- Lead the implementation of the Reserve Management Plan and annual work plans, aligning budgets, performance targets, and operational priorities.
- Supervise and coordinate multidisciplinary teams across conservation law enforcement, wildlife monitoring, community conservation, tourism, and administration.
- Oversee wildlife protection and habitat management while utilizing tools such as SMART and EarthRanger to address poaching and environmental threats.
- Strengthen community relations, advance participatory governance, and promote conservation-linked livelihood initiatives.
- Represent WCS in high-level stakeholder engagements, donor relations, fundraising, and strategic partnership development.
- Master's degree in conservation biology, ecology, environmental management, natural resource governance, or a related field.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in conservation programs or protected area management, including leadership of complex teams.
- Demonstrated expertise in conservation law enforcement coordination, biodiversity monitoring, and community engagement.
- Strong understanding of governance systems and collaborative management approaches in Nigeria or similar contexts.
- Fluency in English with a working knowledge of Hausa being highly desirable.
- Proficiency in conservation management tools including SMART, EarthRanger, GIS, and KoboToolbox.
- Exceptional opportunity to lead high-impact biodiversity conservation initiatives in a globally significant landscape.
- Collaborative work environment with a dedicated, passionate team valuing respect, transparency, and excellence.
- Professional growth opportunities with a globally renowned conservation organization.