Title: Senior Programs Officer – Mara East
Supervisor: Chief Programs Officer
Job Location: Aitong, Maasai Mara
Job Grade: F
1. The Organisation
The Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA)
http://www.maraconservancies.org/ is a membership organisation of all the Mara
conservancies, open to any existing or upcoming wildlife conservancy whose land is
part of or integral to the greater Maasai Mara ecosystem. MMWCA is one of the
Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association’s members (http://kwcakenya.com/),
contributing to the growth and development of conservancies nationally. The
Association serves to meet three primary objectives:
i. Provide a convening space for open discussions, a hub for knowledge sharing
and coordination across conservancies; a voice for advocacy; and driving
policy in the interest of conservancies and conservation-related issues across
the Mara.
ii. Support the creation and development of conservancies and their
neighbouring areas across the greater Mara ecosystem as a sustainable form
of land use and provide mechanisms for equitable and value-based benefit
sharing to sustain land under conservation.
iii. Lead and/or implement development and conservation programmes across
member conservancies to facilitate coordination, collaboration and synergetic
action.
2. Overview
The Senior Programs Officer – Mara East, will facilitate and coordinate a
conservation partnership programme between MMWCA, other actors and the
Eastern Mara Conservancies, in the greater Maasai Mara region. This will
include managing or/and coordinating a successful conservation program in
the region.
Key Responsibilities
1. Oversee effective implementation of the agreed field activities with the Eastern Mara conservancies
2. Coordinate conservation projects, liaise with local communities, stakeholders and manage field teams such as CLOs
3. Oversee data collection and analysis
4. Ensure coordination with other actors in the landscape for effective delivery of conservation and livelihood initiatives in the sub-landscape
5. Educate the community against practices affecting the environment including logging, charcoal burning and degradation
6. Develop Mara East sub-landscape project design with a theory of change, expected results, target and expected impact.
7. Develop project budgets, work plans, and ensure effective implementation
8. Facilitate education, training, exposure tours, sensitization and mobilization workshops and sessions with the conservancies’ leaders and community
9. Provide training on relevant aspects of management, administration and governance, to landowner committees, conservancy management staff and board/committee representatives
10. Work with staff members and communities to ensure that projects have the greatest impact possible and are sustainable in the long term through training and monitoring
11. Attend and represent MMWCA at conservancy board meetings and if need be facilitating sub-committee meetings of conservancies in the eastern region
12. Attend MMWCA Conservancies’ Council meetings and assist in activities.
13. Promote the establishment of active committees within conservancies to deal with issues related to rangeland management, livestock grazing and water access
14. Build and strengthen relationships at multiple levels with a range of Mara stakeholders
15. Influence behaviors and actions related to MMWCA and Mara East sub- landscape objectives, including lobbying county government and other institutions as required
16. Contribute to the profile of MMWCA work across the Mara East sub-landscape.
17. Communicate key messages and call to actions, for the MMWCA and partner stakeholders projects related to Mara East sub-landscape
18. Assist Mara East conservancies in formulating and implementing agreed (and participatory) strategic plans and conservancy management plans
19. Assist other MMWCA initiatives in the promotion and development of enterprises in the Mara East sub-landscape conservancies
20. Assist research initiatives in its activities where appropriate
21. Liaise with local and national authorities over conservancy developments as and when necessary to improve understanding and awareness of conservancy benefits
22. Assist in the management of related donor budgets and expenditure and compile and submit donor reports in a timely manner, including providing data and information required for monitoring and evaluation
23. Regularly hold talks with communities across the Eastern Mara conservancies to guide them on utilization and understanding of their conservancy income and benefits
24. Perform any relevant duties the supervisor may allocate from time to time.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, environmental sciences or a related field
• 7 years proven experience in leadership roles, preferably within non-profit or conservation sectors
• Knowledge of the Maasai Mara eco-system, land management, current trends, practices and legislative provisions in conservation
• Ability to explain conservation practices to technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines
• Prior experience working with pastoralist communities is an added advantage
• Fluency in Maa language is highly desirable
3. How to Apply
If you are passionate about conservation and possess the skills to coordinate impactful conservation program, we invite you to apply for the Senior Programs Officer position at MMWCA. Join us in our mission to make a positive difference in the world of
conservation.
Send an application to the Chief Executive Officer, Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies, to reach us by close of business on October 31st, 2024, to [email protected]. A complete application will have the following:
i. A cover letter.
ii. A detailed curriculum vitae highlighting relevant experience.
iii. A daytime telephone contact, email address, and the names of three
professional referees.
