Regional Operations Manager, Sudano Sahel

Reports to: Regional Director
Positions Managed: Sr Regional Civil Engineer
Location: Kigali-Africa Regional Hub
Country Program/Sector:
Position Type: Full-time
Scope/Capacity: Region
Coordinate with: Regional Leadership team, Country Leadership teams, Country Operations/Logistics/Infrastructure Manager(s)

About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS):
WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organisation, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results on a scale. We run programs spanning the ocean and over 3 million biologically critical square miles in nearly 60 countries. We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and Indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquariums, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our 5,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and worldwide work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.

More information at www.wcs.org

About the Regional Grants Manager
To support the regional programs in the Sudano Sahel, WCS seeks a dynamic, well-organised, hard‐working team player to oversee grant administration in the region. The Regional Grants Manager will oversee the end-to-end grants management process within the region, ensuring compliance with donor regulations, organisational policies, and the sector's best practices. Responsibilities include continually assessing the status of grant implementation in the Regional Programs and providing guidance to the country offices if needed, leading the assessment of potential sub-grantees, developing comprehensive grant agreements, and providing tailored capacity-building support to enhance project outcomes.

Job Summary
The Wildlife Conservation Society is seeking a highly experienced Regional Operations Manager to be based out of our Africa hub in Kigali, Rwanda, but with considerable field travel expected. The main purpose of this role will be to ensure direct operational support to our country programs in Chad and the Central African Republic, which will produce timely and efficient implementation of program activities including our protected area commitments. The Regional Operations Specialist is responsible for the overall operational management of the Sudano-Sahel regional program, ensuring sound operational systems are developed and effectively implemented.

We are seeking an experienced field operations manager with a generalist portfolio of demonstrated expertise and experience in effective field implementation that covers the following areas: project planning and implementation management, personnel management, and logistics.

Major Responsibilities
Personal Management:

• Mentor and assist in the management of all project staff in the field.
• With the guidance of the Country Program Directors and based on job descriptions and project portfolios, follow and assist project staff to successfully implement expected activities;
• Ensure robust adherence of all field staff to WCS operational and scientific protocols;
• Provide leadership, management, and program coordination support across the region.

Field program management support and troubleshooting

• Work with country offices and regional teams to identify and implement efficiencies in the design, documentation and implementation of program processes and internal systems (including but not limited to: communications, partner engagement, IT, recruitment, and procurement), whilst ensuring local and global organisational policies and standards are upheld and legislative regulations are followed.
• Collaborate with country program teams to identify critical, intractable bottlenecks and work with relevant counterparts in WCS regional and global management to propose solutions.
• Provide ongoing problem-solving guidance for program staff regarding programmatic issues, planning issues, and difficulties encountered with local authorities, authorisations and permits, and partners.
• Provide general ad-hoc support to large-scale projects/programs where necessary, acting as deployable program staff (ie. act as “fixer”).
• Ensure that security, health, and safety strategies (including COVID-19 measures) are developed by the appropriate teams, regularly updated, implemented, communicated, and adhered to by all staff, visitors, and/or visiting consultants or partners in our field programs.
• Work closely with the Regional Business Manager to develop and/or implement both short- and long-term operations plans for each protected area.
• Together with the regional Business Manager, support the countries in updating the project's 5-year operational plan regularly for changes in assumptions and funding secured

Purchasing and Logistics

• Working with the Africa hub, provide overall procurement oversight and vendor supply management, including liaison between country programs and Global Purchasing where needed, with a particular focus on international purchasing.
• Support country programs in preparing bid documents, and solicit and evaluate bids according to WCS policies and guidelines.
• Ensures compliance with donor requirements; facilitates donor and other site visits as requested.
• Review and approve regional & international purchase orders.
• Follow up on backorders, expedite, track shipments and update appropriate stakeholders.
• Liaise with third-party shipping services to final international destinations.
• Support in identification, analysis and negotiation with preferred vendors.
• Build and maintain a database for specialised conservation equipment.
• Perform other duties as determined by the Regional Director.

Qualification Requirements :

Minimum Requirements and Job Skills (Required):

• Bachelor's degree required with at least 8+ years of professional experience in non-profit organisation management.
• Proven leadership qualities, including staff management and management of annual multi-funder budget >$ 10 million.
• Proven financial and operational management experience in an international organisation with progressive leadership responsibilities.
• Proven experience of working in a multi-cultural team
• Proven experience in field operations, troubleshooting and systems planning in challenging environments.
• English and French fluency are required.
• Experience and knowledge of working in a non-profit context.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to remote sites.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Additional requirements:

• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, team building and communications skills.
• Strong demonstration of leadership skills in challenging environments
• Professional experience in Africa, particularly the Sudano-Sahel region
• Up to 30% travel within the Sudano-Sahel Region

How to apply

Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience should apply through this link, no later than January 22, 2026.

Please send a detailed application/cover letter and a detailed CV. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews

WCS is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all employment and labour laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.

The organisation provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organisation does not discriminate against employment based on age, colour, disability, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations

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