Reports to: OWR Director with an indirect reporting line to the WCS DRC Country Program Director

Location: Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Northeastern, DRC

Country Program: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Position Type: Full-time

Organization Background:
The Wildlife Conservation Society (“WCS”) is a New York not-for-profit corporation founded by statute in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society. WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through research, science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. That mission is achieved through our global conservation programs (WCS currently oversees a portfolio of more than 500 conservation projects in 65 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and North America, and the oceans between them) and through the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks–the Bronx Zoo; the New York Aquarium; and the Central Park, Queens, and Prospect Park Zoos (the City Zoos).

Program Overview:

The WCS has worked in Congo (DRC) for almost 30 years in the protection of its wildlife and natural ecosystems. Working primarily with the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), our field conservation work is focused on three large landscapes in eastern DRC: Kahuzi-Biega National and surrounding Oku forests in South Kivu Province, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) in Ituri Province (currently government under a 10-year co-management agreement between WCS and ICCN) and the Kabobo Reserve in Tanganyika province. Collectively these landscapes span some of the considerable diversity of ecosystems found in the DRC, harbor some of the most biodiverse regions in Africa, and form the strongholds for some of DRC’s most charismatic endemic wildlife, including the Grauer’s gorilla and the Okapi. They are also pioneering a wide variety of novel forest governance and protected area management structures, involving the government, civil society and local community organizations.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been active in the OWR for more than 30 years, supporting its creation, and subsequently working closely with ICCN (Institut Congolaise pour la Conservation de la Nature) – the government agency responsible for protected areas and wildlife - in its management. In December 2018, WCS and ICCN signed a 10-year management agreement that delegated management authority of the OWR to WCS. This mandate is implemented through the OWR Management Unit (RMU), led by the Reserve Director, that is the executive body in charge of all day-to-day management activities and personnel in the OWR.

Job Summary:

This is a full-time field based position responsible for undertaking aerial surveys and aerial support to wildlife law enforcement, protected area management and logistics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of WCS’s private-public protected area management partnership with Government of the DRC. The position is based out of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in northeastern DRC.

Major Responsibilities:

Duties include ensuring sound operations, piloting and maintenance of WCS aircraft (Cessna 206), organizing and undertaking aerial surveys for wildlife and monitoring of human threats, providing aerial support to law enforcement and protected area management efforts and monitoring in cooperation with wildlife authorities, following the WCS conservation aviation program standard procedures and systems.

The position also includes technical reporting writing, managing the administrative procedures related to the aviation program, liaising with the DRC aviation authorities, mapping, training and mentoring of observers, and providing recommendation to the country program with regards to its aviation program development.

Minimum Requirements:

The desired qualifications for this position are current US FAA commercial pilot license (CPL) with instrument rating, at least 400 hours PIC flying experience, strong knowledge of FAA regulations and aircraft maintenance requirements.

Experience with wildlife surveys and bush flying in remote areas. Previous experience in Africa will be a plus. Working French and English language skills, knowledge of Swahili is a plus. Technical skills and knowledge in GIS, aerial surveys, wildlife protection monitoring, aerial photography, also desired. Ability to work in a team, in multi-cultural context and under extreme field conditions.