WWF DRC – Chief Operating Officer

ABOUT WWF

WWF is an environmental organization that is deeply committed to people-centered nature conservation with the ambition to apply the highest standard of safeguards to protect human rights in all of our work. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. We understand that the future of nature can only be secured when conservation is inclusive and people both drives, and benefit from, the protection of natural ecosystems.

WWF-US / Keith Arnold

HOW WE WORK

The deepening crisis of nature loss requires conservation organizations like WWF to think and act bigger and faster – and to work together as never before.

Our strong commitment to collaboration– something we call together possible – shapes all our work, leading to many powerful partnerships around the world. And, today, we are part of a growing global coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030: a New Deal for Nature and People as comprehensive as the global climate deal.

This ambitious nature recovery plan is supported by our own global goals and programme of work focused on:

• Safeguarding the natural world – the oceans, forests, freshwater and rich diversity of wildlife that provide the essentials of life for all.

• Challenging the two most urgent threats to nature: climate change and food production.

• Tackling the underlying global drivers for the loss of nature: a financial system that must value nature; a governance system that empowers people to lead on nature protection; and markets where sustainable production and consumption must become the norm.

You can find out more about WWF International on our website.

© James Morgan / WWF

WWF IN THE DRC

WWF has been working in the Congo Basin in Central Africa for more than 40 years toward the mission to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to diversity of life in the region.

The WWF Democratic Republic of Congo Country Office (WWF DRC) is working to ensure that by 2030, the DRC’s natural resources are sustainably managed, equitably benefit the population and contribute to the ecological resilience of the planet.

WWF DRC has a large portfolio of field programmes in landscapes including Salonga, Lac Tumba, Virunga, Itombwe and Luki (Kongo Central), as well as programmes across thematic areas including sustainable forest management, climate, protected areas network assessment and extractive industries. To date, these programmes have succeeded in reducing threats to biodiversity - including deforestation and degradation - by supporting sustainable development in rural communities in collaboration with partners across the private, public and third sectors.

WWF DRC’s Country Strategy seeks to:

• Reduce unsustainable fishing and hunting;

• Reduce or eliminate Illegal Wildlife Trade via support to law enforcement entities and the judiciary and providing alternative livelihood opportunities;

• Reduce the loss of habitat;

• Prevent or reduce illegal logging;

• Improve agricultural practices and promote alternative energy sources;

• Enhance community resilience by supporting the establishment of functional community governance structures to achieve land tenure.

© WWF-US / James Morgan

THE ROLE

TITLE: DRC - Chief Operating Officer

REPORTS TO: Country Director

DIRECT REPORTS: Head of Finance & IT, People & Culture Manager, Logistics Manager, Risk & Compliance Manager

DURATION: 1-year contract renewable

LEVEL: C256

LOCATION: Kinshasa, with flexibility to work from home

CLOSING DATE: 3rd September 2023

OBJECTIVES

The Chief Operating Officer will play a critical leadership role in driving WWF DRC’s operational excellence, overseeing the management and effective integration of Operations for WWF DRC, to ensure high performance, efficient operating systems, and the ability to enhance delivery of complex conservation programs and results.

As part of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the incumbent will support the Country Director (CD) by providing operational leadership in the day-to-day implementation of donor-funded projects, guiding prioritization of annual and quarterly targets, developing innovative Organizational Development (OD) investments & systems, and positioning the organization operationally for strategic growth.

The Chief Operating Officer will work closely with the SMT, landscape teams, and partners to assess, project and plan for required capacities to deliver against KPIs, supporting capacity development. The role will also lead the Support Services team toward

fulfillment of the Operations, Financial and IT Strategic Objectives, promoting innovation and efficiency to ensure break-through performance across the organization.

The Chief Operating Officer will support the SMT to break existing silos and support the development, implementation and monitoring of a coordinated, relevant and impact-focused organizational strategy and structure. The role will support the CD and SMT to monitor and communicate organizational change, ensuring a transparent process that provides opportunities for collective exploration, co-creation of solutions, shared ownership and responsibility, coordinated action and participatory review and assessment.

The role will also be instrumental in improving organizational policies, procedures, and management systems, ensuring WWF DRC’s compliance with WWF’s International Network Standards, organizational policies and procedures, as well as global norms and best practices in NGO operations.

© WWF-DRC

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Operating Officer will be responsible for operational and strategic functions to ensure high performance across key operating departments: Finance, IT, HR, Logistics and Administration. The position will support and advise the CD on key matters related to these functions.

STRATEGIC FUNCTIONS

• Review, set, drive and support the creation of efficiencies across departmental workflows in compliance with WWF International standards and targets; Support functional Heads to create, deliver and sustain operationally efficient processes and services that meet donor compliance obligations within departments.

• Guide the organizational change process and deliver continual improvements in key operational areas, elevating WWF DRC’s profile as an efficient ‘partner of choice’ for donors.

• Exercise leadership on holistic organizational growth and effectiveness of operations as an integral member of SMT for WWF DRC. Provide strategic thought and leadership on development and implementation of financial sustainability and business planning.

• Work with the Country Management Team to establish a strong performance culture across WWF DRC to deliver on commitments highlighted in the Strategic Plan.

• Direct, coordinate and manage the work of Support Services Units through the respective departments and Unit Heads: Finance, IT, HR, Logistics and Administration.

OVERSIGHT AND OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS

The Chief Operating Officer will provide guidance on standards and leadership and will support Team Leads to ensure management of operations issues as well as high overall performance. The role leads in ensuring efficient and timely coordination of joint cross-departmental activities and processes to ensure compliance to WWF DRC, WWF International and Donor deadlines and standards.

• Donor and Legal Compliance standards: Works with the Head of Finance and team to operationalize high quality and efficient processes that align with donor standards and comply with different donor requirements, in areas including: financial transactions, bookkeeping, accounting, financial reporting of the organization, financial planning, financial management policies and accounting practices.

• Financial Management: Reviews and analyzes financial reports and information and ensures accurate and timely financial reporting to headquarters, donors and program leads. Supports and advises the CD in decision-making, budgeting and forward expenditure projections. Reviews reporting and monitoring of Financial Management performance metrics, ensures maximum cost recovery following institutional policies. Reviews and monitors contracts and ensures compliance of organizational and donor requirements and policies. Consults with CD on contract anomalies and takes appropriate corrective actions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsible for effective and regular donor liaison and reporting to WWF International donors on grant operational matters. Ensures the country office has strong internal controls and appropriate segregation of duties, especially regarding cash transactions. Reviews audit reports and ensures timely and appropriate management response and follow up.

• Human Resources: Works with the Head of the Human Resources and team to ensure: Capacity to deliver contracted work; successful implementation of HR strategy in line with conservation strategy (including recruitment and compensation, benefits administration and oversight, professional training and development, new employee orientation, retention and succession strategies, regulatory oversight and legal compliance), ensuring that the human resource function is properly resourced and represented within the SMT; Supports HR to facilitate implementation of common performance indicators linking individual, team, and officeannual work-plans and targets.

• Program Operations, Program Quality and Administration: Works with the Conservation Director and others to ensure highly effective program operations for all WWF-DRC field offices; Promotes effective communications among key departments and ensures enabling systems and mechanisms are in place; Ensures risk management and that legal activities meet organizational standards as well as national legislation; Reviews business insurance, procurement, monitoring and management; Ensures the ongoing maintenance and updating of information systems and infrastructure.

• Business and Financial Sustainability Plan: Leads development and implementation of the WWF DRC Financial Sustainability Plan to ensure long- term financial sustainability and alignment between long-term programmatic, financial, and business objectives. Develops and manages OD proposals,

budgets, financial/technical reporting and funding contracts in collaboration with the SMT; tracks and reports on OD impacts and results.

• Focal Point for WWF Network Operational Issues: Represents WWF DRC on WWF Network operational issues including supporting “regional/cross border” functions housed or based in WWF DRC. Actively engages at the Network level – with the Regional Africa Office, Secretariat, WWF DRC stakeholders, etc. - on operational issues such as finance, cost recovery, and human resources. Demonstrates insight, and leadership in working with the WWF Global Network on operational issues.

• Building office operational capacity to support conservation agenda: Supports the SMT to develop, lead and implement high quality work plans to deliver specific targets for WWF DRC. Leads the development of annual KPIs and workplans for all departments and drives implementation of high standards for DRC programs and functions. Supports planning processes across programmes and across the office.

• Develop systems to assess cross organizational performance: Lead cross-departmental design, implementation and impact-measurement of initiatives to increase office-wide efficiency through regular liaison with Finance, HR and Conservation teams. Works with CD and HR to plan and execute activities that ensure effective leadership practices across all layers of the organizations, including OD and M&E targets built into individual performance targets. Supports the establishment of governance change mechanisms for procedures, decisions and actions that fall outside of usual business practices.

• Overall responsibility for the implementation of the OD strategy and delivery of OD projects.

• Deputize for Country Director as requested.

© WWF / Daniël Nelson

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: This role will work closely with other members of the Country SMT, Programme Managers, the regional Finance Team and others.

External: This role will collaborate with partners with whom WWF DRC has operational links and/or partnership and contractual arrangements including Government, Tax Authority, Donors and External Auditors.

WWF-US / James Morgan

PROFILE

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years’ experience in senior operational leadership roles with a track record of successfully developing, leading, and managing large-scale operations and programs within a complex, multicountry context, including team-management, internal and external engagement, relationship management and complex budget-management;

• Successful experience overseeing coordinated strategy development, operationalization, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of programmes in an international and multicultural setting;

• Experience across OD, HR Management, budget and resource development and strategic planning, with some familiarity with IT;

• Proven success working with leaders and supporting remote and functional teams in driving efficient and effective day-to-day operations, removing bottlenecks quickly across teams and geographies;

• Proven success leading and managing effective institutional change processes and initiatives towards breakthrough performance;

• An advanced degree in Management, Finance, Business Administration, International Development or a relevant field.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience in the field of conservation, natural resource management, international development or related fields.

• Experience leading operations within an INGO with a matrix structure or similar.

• Experience working in the DRC or similar geographies.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Superior oral and written communication skills in English and French;

• High level negotiation, facilitation, interpersonal and influencing skills and the capacity to develop and maintain strong relationships across the WWF Network, business and not-for-profit communities;

• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communications skills;

• Demonstrated experience in financial planning and analysis, contracts and legal compliance;

• Strong skills in program and project planning, financing, management, implementation, and evaluation; successful management and oversight of donor grants and relations;

• Excellent team-building and facilitation skills, and ability to create and excel in a dynamic working environment;

• Initiative, judgment, flexibility, attention to detail, ability to prioritize and work effectively under time constraints, service to others, and solution oriented; performance-driven with the ability to motivate and develop human potential;

• Commitment to the mission of WWF International and WWF DRC;

• Adherence to WWF’s brand values, which are: Knowledgeable, Optimistic, Determined and Engaging;

• Adheres to WWF’s behaviours, which are: Strive for Impact, Listen deeply, Collaborate openly and Innovate fearlessly;

• Adherence to WWF’s values, which are: Courage, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration.

© WWF-US / Betty Mclaughlin Meyer

HOW TO APPLY

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter as two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process. The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.

The document should be saved in PDF in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-072023-WWF or PatJones-CoverLetter-072023-WWF.

TIMELINE

Closing Date: 3rd September 2023

First Stage Interviews: 12–20th September 2023

SELECTION PROCESS

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

EQUALITY STATEMENT

Equality and diversity are at the core of WWF DRC’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

QUERIES

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email at wwf-coo-drc@ oxfordhr.com in the first instance.

© WWF-US / James Morgan

ABOUT OXFORD HR

Exceptional leaders can inspire change and propel purpose-led organisations towards reaching their world-changing goals. Finding such leaders can be a challenge; and yet their transition into leadership is vital to an organisations mission and success.

Oxford HR is a global leadership consultancy dedicated to searching for and supporting remarkable leaders and teams in purpose-led organisations.

We understand the nuances of purpose-led leadership because we’ve worked in organisations across the breadth of the sector ourselves. We’ve also worked with such organisations since 1995; so we appreciate just what benefits impactful people can bring.

WWF-Madagascar / Nick Riley