GENERAL MANAGER, UGANDA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

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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