Project Executant (fixed Term)

Position: Project Executant – Pachyderm Project

Reports to: Ruvuma Landscape Program Coordinator

Supervises: None

Location: WWF Masasi office (Ruvuma)

Background

WWF Tanzania is excited to present an ambitious, impactful and critical conservation initiative on “Securing the African Elephant and Black Rhino in Tanzania,” targeting principally the period from FY25 to FY27, and at the same time supporting the delivery of the FY26-30 Tanzania Country Strategic Plan. This project focuses on addressing the critical challenges facing pachyderm species through an integrated approach. The project aims to safeguard and enhance the populations of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the African black rhino (Diceros bicornis) by supporting critical interventions in priority locations in northern and southern Tanzania in three important landscapes namely the Ruvuma and Southern Kenya-Northern Tanzania (SOKNOT) transboundary landscapes with Mozambique and Kenya and the Water Towers landscape (WTL). At the national level the project will support sectoral policy interventions that have implications on elephant and rhino conservation and management in Tanzania and the neighboring countries through advocacy on human-elephant co-existence, lobbying for integrated landscape management planning to reduce Human Elephant Conflicts and improve connectivity between populations, technical advice, training, to combat Illegal Wildlife Trade to positively influence key policies, legislation or plans that impact elephant and rhino conservation. At a regional level, creating an enabling policy environment and joint monitoring will be crucial. Also notable is human disturbances causing elephant group displacements such as the local overpopulation in the Mkomazi ecosystem that is attributed to the immigration of elephants from Tsavo West National Park caused by infrastructural development, and aggregation of elephant groups in community areas in the Ruvuma due to recent poaching pressure in Nyerere-Selous core areas. With these species facing severe threats and their populations having dramatically declined over decades, our 2030 goal is to secure a viable future for these species by addressing the critical threats they face and implementing long-term, sustainable conservation strategies to ensure their recovery and survival by tackling poaching, human-elephant conflict, habitat loss and promoting habitat connectivity and effective management.

Major Functions

This field-based position is responsible for the implementation and coordination of project activities on “Securing the African Elephant and Black Rhino in selected priority areas in Tanzania. Elephants and rhinos are among WWF’s flagship species for conservation and management. The Project Executants (PE) will assist in designing and conducting regular wildlife surveys, camera trapping, surveillance using drones, spotlight surveys, and monitoring wildlife behaviors within the designated Ranger Outpost in the Ruvuma, Water Towers, and SOKNOT landscapes. The Project Executant will implement both the elephant and rhino components of the Pachyderms project as defined in the project documents (PD) and also implement some of the field-based species work, including working with project partners in the collection of data/information pertaining to Pachyderms and other species and contribute to achievement of the National elephant, and rhino conservation and management strategies as well as the National Strategy to Combat Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade. The overall goal is to ensure known threats and emerging ones to these species are addressed, and enhance the conservation of their habitats contributing to sustainable conservation of the other species that share the habitats.

Roles and responsibilities

The duties of the incumbent will cover but not be limited to the following key areas:
• Prepare annual project work plans and budgets to ensure effective implementation of the project to meet desired outcomes
• Work closely with a project counterpart in the SOKNOT/Water towers for collective and integrated delivery of the project in the three selected landscapes.
• Build partnerships with different stakeholders working on wildlife conservation and similar wildlife projects within WWF for impactful wildlife conservation at scale.
• Represent WWF and contribute to national, regional, and global wildlife policy dialogues platforms and ensure WWF visibility
• Collect data and recommend management or projects to improve wildlife species (elephant and rhino ) habitat management;
• Implement quality assurance/quality control plans to ensure the rhino and elephant data collected and products prepared meet WWF standards and regulations;
• Develop and store information pertinent to the protection or restoration of rhinos and elephants within the Ruvuma, Water Towers and SOKNOT Landscapes;
• Contribute to the establishment and management of the rhino and elephant database
• Train VGS in ecological monitoring data collection using SMART and MOMs among other needed skills for their effective conservation and management of wildlife;
• Periodically prepare timely and high quality project technical semi annual and annual progress reports as required ;
• Actively participate in resource mobilization and unlocking funding for sustainable wildlife conservation in priority landscapes;
• In collaboration with the M&E and Communication/Outreach Officers jointly participate to prepare technical briefing papers, status updates for the wildlife species Programme including awareness creation; and,
• Undertake any other assignments as may be directed by relevant authorities in WWF TCO from time to time

Required qualifications
• A minimum of a Bachelor degree in Wildlife Conservation and Management, Wildlife Ecology, or related disciplines including Environmental Science, Range Management, and Natural Resources Management. A masters degree is an added advantage.
• At least three years of experience in management of Protected Areas in the country (Game Reserves, National Parks or Ngorongoro Conservation Area);
• Strong analytical skills including analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills required to meet deadlines;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Strong knowledge in Computer programs; Microsoft word, excel, PowerPoint and statistical packages:
• Willing to stay in the remote areas within and outside the Region;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; and
• An understanding of the requirements, needs and priorities of private and institutional donors.

Working Relationships

Internal: Interacts and works closely and on a regular basis with the Ruvuma Landscape National Coordinator as the Line Manager, other Project Executants, both at WWF Masasi Office and other WWF Priority landscapes.

External: Interacts as required with Nyerere National Park, Selous Game Reserve Rangers and Wardens, Mkomazi National Park, TAWA, TANAPA, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), FZS, CWMAC and other stakeholders.