GENERAL MANAGER,
UGANDA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION (Kampala)
Uganda Conservation
Foundation (UCF), a Registered UK Charity, seeks a General Business Manager to
lead its Ugandan not-for-profit operational arm, Uganda Conservation (U) Ltd
(UCU). The position will be based in Kampala, Uganda with a minimum term commitment
of 3 years (subject to satisfactory performance) sought.
UCF has earned its
reputation as a practical, action-based organisation, and seeks to ensure it
maximises funds reaching field project actions and minimises administration and
non-value adding activities. UCF works to better protect Uganda's National Parks
and their unique biodiversity for the benefit of wildlife, local communities,
the global community and future generations. UCF works closely with Uganda
Wildlife Authority (UWA) to identify specific needs for step changes, designing
targeted projects, identifying funding gaps and raising funds to address these
needs. Its work is highly valued by its main beneficiaries – local communities
and UWA.
UCU has a small team
of three employees, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, which in turn
report back to the volunteer Board of Trustees of UCF in the UK. The Boards
comprise a mix of people from the private and public sectors, and from key relevant
disciplines. The Ugandan nationals' team currently comprises a Project Manager,
Finance and Administration Officer and a Marketing Officer.
With the current
global spotlight and increasing government interest in the Illegal Wildlife
Trade around the world, we are stepping up to the challenge in Uganda.
UCU's Goal
&Primary Objectives
UCU's goal is to
'secure wildlife populations in Uganda through habitat management and community
development'. It achieves this by:
- Recovering and
reconnecting neglected Protected Areas in Uganda;
- Supporting the
recovery of wildlife populations, especially mega-herbivores;
- Mitigating human -
wildlife conflict;
- Improving
livelihoods of communities close to Protected Areas; and
- Advocacy and
building an international and national community of supporters of wildlife
conservation in Uganda.
General Description
UCF Trustees / UCU
Directors are looking for an experienced manager who can demonstrate strong
leadership, with an established record of achievement in growing a sustainable
commercial business or not-for- profit organisation, and a keen interest to get
actively involved, or re-involved in conservation in Uganda.
The GM will lead
UCU's transition from a Founder-led organisation that depends heavily on
voluntary time for fund raising and management, to a self-sustaining and
managed institution, with the Trustees and Directors playing an advisory and
regulatory role.
Working together
with Directors, Trustees and staff, the GM will lead the development of new
programmes, support the development and management of existing programmes with
their respective project leads, strengthen governance, and supervise and
develop the staff team.
Through strategic
fund-raising, the GM will help UCU to triple UCF's current revenue base to
about $500,000 per annum and unrestricted funding to over $120,000 per annum
over the next 3 years. The GM will have the opportunity to develop our
experienced team working in the field of wildlife conservation and regional
development, and further counter the upsurge in poaching and improve
livelihoods of communities, in particular by addressing human-wildlife
conflict.
Salary and benefits
are dependent upon the skills and experience of the successful applicant, with
a market-competitive package awaiting the right individual.
Key
responsibilities:
- Provide leadership
to the organisation;
- Assist the review
and updating of UCU Strategy, working with the Trustees and Directors to
develop annual and medium term business plans;
- Management of
project and organisation finances including on-going upgrade of UCU's financial
management systems;
- Ensure the
organisation is legally and fiscally compliant and that management systems and
policies are in place and used, for smooth running of the office;
- Day to day staff
management including development, training, appraisals and continuity;
- Programme and
resource planning with project leads and stakeholders to guide project work
throughout the year effectively and according to capacity;
- Prepare annual core
operational budgets, monitoring and reporting variations;
- Design, fund and
manage new projects with new funding partners;
- Implement
unrestricted funding, new and existing project fund-raising plan in conjunction
with stakeholders and project directors;
- Manage grant funded
project cycle, proposal development, project budgets, identify donors and
prepare funding applications, work contracts, management of resources,
completion of projects to time and budget; donor reporting requirements;
- Information
management between staff, Board of Directors and Trustees, including ensuring
Trustees and Directors are provided with accurate and timely information to
support their work;
- Plan and implement
fundraising to ensure sustainable long term coverage of core running costs for
the continuity and solvency of the organisation;
- Oversee the team in
their preparation of an Annual Report summarising progress on short and
long-term plans and oversee a timely annual audit;
- Ensure communication
and marketing is of high quality and effectively targeted, and lead domestic
revenue raising initiatives;
- Liaise with key
stakeholders (e.g. Uganda Wildlife Authority and donors) to maintain strong
working links at senior levels whilst respecting existing relationships;
- Identify
opportunities for organisational development, including private and public
sector partnerships and generation of domestic revenue; and
- Support the
representation of the organisation and its public relations.
Skills, Experience
and Qualifications:
Required
- At least 5 years'
experience in a senior management role;
- Educated to at least
graduate level;
- Demonstrated ability
to lead, develop, mentor and manage a team of staff to deliver organisation
goals;
- Ability to build
effective and motivated working relationships and strategic partnerships both
internally and externally;
- Excellent
communication skills, both verbal and written;
- Be self-motivated,
impact driven, practical, tolerant and flexible to seek innovative, creative
and balanced solutions;
- Strong skills in
financial management, planning and budgetary control;
- Ability and
initiative to create and develop fund-raising opportunities;
- Experienced in
proposal development, monitoring, reporting and evaluation; and
- Proficiency with
office computer equipment, Office software, Quickbooks, internet and social
media.
Desired
- Experience of
working in East Africa with multi-cultural teams;
- A strong interest
in, or experience of, wildlife conservation;
- Non-profit/charitable
organisation experience including fund-raising; and
- Working knowledge of
QuickBooks accounting.
To apply:
This position has
been advertised in New Vision and The Daily Monitor in Uganda.
Applicants should
submit a sealed letter of application in their own handwriting and in less than
300 words with a hard copy of an up-to-date C.V., including telephone and email
contacts, to be handed in to the UCU offices at Plot 24 Henlon Close, Luthuli
Avenue, Bugolobi, Kampala, Uganda by close of business on Friday 6th February
2015. This should be marked "For the attention of the Board of
Directors", clearly stating "Application for the post of UCU General
Manager" on the outside.
Applicants who have
not heard back from us by 22nd February should consider their applications
unsuccessful. Any canvassing in the interim may result in an application being
disregarded.
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