Sustainable Commodities and Markets Manager Full Time

Position: Sustainable Commodities and Markets Manager

Reports to: Cross River Landscape Director

Location: Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Expected Start date: As soon as possible

Duration: 2 years (Renewable subject to availability of funds)

Position Type: Full-time

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Travels: Reasonable travels to field sites and sub-offices

About Us

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organisation established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities.

Working with local communities and organisations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the livelihoods that depend on the direct utilisation of natural resources.

WCS has been working in Nigeria since 2001, leading efforts to protect the critical habitat for the Cross River gorilla and other species as well as supporting local livelihoods and improving levels of conservation awareness. In Cross River, WCS has been providing support to improve the protection and management of Cross River National Park and Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary since 2011 and is leading efforts to help create a community wildlife project in the Mbe Mountains.

Since 2018, a key focus of WCS’s efforts to improve local livelihoods has been improving the sustainability of cocoa production. We hold ourselves to the highest standards, adhering to core values of respect, accountability and transparency, innovation, diversity and inclusion, collaboration, and integrity.

Position Description

The Sustainable Commodities Technical Coordinator will oversee the day-to-day coordination and management of WCS’s sustainable commodity interventions in the Cross River Landscape, with a primary focus on sustainable cocoa. The role will support the implementation of integrated interventions aimed at improving the sustainability of cocoa production, protecting forests within and around protected areas, strengthening community-based natural resource management, and improving the coordination of supply chain sustainability efforts. The Technical Coordinator will engage directly with cocoa and chocolate companies, government partners, NGOs, and local communities.

The Technical Coordinator will report to WCS Nigeria Cross River Landscape Director and work closely with field-based teams and other staff in the WCS office in Calabar, as well as the WCS Global Sustainable Commodities Lead, based in Washington, DC. The ideal candidate for this role will bring technical expertise in field-based cocoa procurement and sustainability and experience working with companies, cocoa communities and government agencies, as well as excellent project management and communication skills.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Oversight and Implementation

• Provide technical input and guidance to field program staff on the design and implementation of sustainable cocoa interventions, at the farm, community and supply-chain levels.
• Conduct regular field visits alongside field staff to engage with community members, resolve challenges, and ensure implementation matches project goals and timelines.
• Contribute to mid- and long-term strategic planning for sustainable commodity program in the Cross River Landscape.
• Support fundraising, partnership development, and investment planning efforts related to the long-term sustainability and commercial viability of the project.

Partnership management

• Work with the Landscape Director and Global Sustainable Commodity Lead to manage relationships with private sector and government partners, ensuring timely project communication, production of deliverables, and grant requirements.
• Facilitate internal WCS communications between the field, Calabar, regional and NY teams to ensure alignment on project implementation and reporting.
• Maintain working relationships with private sector actors, 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.

Project Management and Reporting

• Oversee the coordination of multiple interconnected projects and grants related to sustainable commodity and market-based interventions.
• Coordinate the implementation of sustainable commodity interventions, ensuring alignment between WCS field staff, global technical staff, and relevant partners.
• Lead the development and monitoring of detailed project work plans, timelines, and milestones in close collaboration with country program staff, regional staff and the global sustainable commodity lead. Ensure timely and high-quality data collection from the field projects.
• Ensure timely and high-quality communications and reporting for donors and private sector partners, technical briefs, and public-facing communication materials. This includes report writing and tracking indicators and outcomes in line with donor and WCS expectations. This includes report writing, data collection, and tracking indicators and outcomes in line with donor and WCS expectations.
• Work with the WCS Nigeria Program Manager to monitor and track project progress, with the WCS Nigeria Finance Director to track budgets, and regular engagement with the Nigeria staff, including M&E, field coordinators, and rights and communities.

Minimum Requirements:

• At least four years’ experience working in the private sector in a cocoa procurement or sustainability position in Nigeria, preferably with direct experience in Cross River State.
• Experience in project management, including administration, developing work plans, and leading reporting processes.
• Experience working with actors along the cocoa value chain, including cocoa & chocolate companies, NGOs, government, communities and other partners.
• Excellent data aggregation and report writing skills to donors and other partners.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate across teams to ensure timely communication, development of inputs, and completion of deliverables.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to maintain relationships with government, private sector, civil society, and community members.
• An advanced degree in sustainable development, entrepreneurship, project management, conservation, or another field relevant to the position’s responsibilities is preferred.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Proven ability to work effectively and flourish in a multi-cultural team.
• Results-focused attitude to work.
• Excellent, fluent spoken and written English.
• Willingness and ability to travel to field projects in Cross River State.
• Familiarity with climate finance, nature-based solutions, deforestation-free commitments, and/or performance-based nature finance mechanisms (e.g REDD+ programs) is a plus.
• Interest in wildlife conservation and committed to the WCS mission.

Why Join Us?

• Leverage country, regional, and global expert strategic guidance, knowledge and expertise for professional development.
• Dynamic Team: Join a dynamic team and work in a collaborative and conducive environment where your ideas and everyone’s input are valued.
• Competitive benefits.
• Growth Opportunities: We believe in providing an enabling environment to develop your career. We are committed to developing your skills and competencies and offer opportunities for career advancement.
• Supportive Environment: Work with a team that values respect, teamwork, and excellence.

WSC Values:

All WCS team members are expected to demonstrate strong professional and ethnics values. These include.

• Exemplifying integrity
• Accountability and Transparency
• Demonstrating commitment to WCS Nigeria
• Embracing cultural diversity and respect
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results
• Being accountable
• Working in teams/ managing ourselves and our relationships
• Communicating for impact

Functional Skill Set:

• Detail-oriented
• Customer service skills
• Managing documents, correspondence, and reports
• Administrative skills
• Planning, organising, and multitasking

Tagged as: Nigeria, Wildlife Conservation Society