Reserve Director

About WCS

Founded in 1895, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a U.S.-based, tax-exempt nonprofit dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places through science and conservation action. Working in more than 60 countries, WCS has supported the establishment of over 150 protected areas, combining biological expertise, local knowledge, and long-term partnerships to conserve species, habitats, and ecosystems while supporting communities whose livelihoods depend on natural resources. Our mission is to save wildlife and wild places through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. Our vision is thriving wildlife in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from life’s diversity and integrity. Our goal is to conserve the world’s largest wild places across 16 priority regions containing more than 50% of global biodiversity. Our values are Respect, Accountability and Transparency, Innovation, Diversity and Inclusion, Collaboration, and Integrity.

Since 2001, WCS has worked in Nigeria to protect threatened species, including Cross River gorillas and savannah and forest elephants, while supporting local livelihoods, conservation awareness, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. In Cross River State, WCS supports Cross River National Park, Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Mbe Mountains Community Forest; in Bauchi State, it provides technical expertise for the conservation and management of Yankari Game Reserve.

At Yankari Game Reserve, WCS supports ranger patrols and wildlife monitoring to strengthen the protection of wildlife and habitats. Through its community-based Elephant Guardian network, WCS also supports elephant monitoring, early warning, and conflict mitigation to help communities respond to human-elephant conflict. Building on this work, WCS plans to deepen its collaboration with the Bauchi State Government through a strengthened collaborative management partnership aimed at improving governance, conservation management, community participation, and sustainable financing for the Reserve.

The WCS Nigeria Program is seeking a Reserve Director for the Yankari Landscape.

Job Summary

The Reserve Director provides overall leadership and management of Yankari Game Reserve and the wider Yankari Landscape, leading protected area and wildlife and habitat management, community engagement, and institutional strengthening initiatives to ensure the long-term ecological and financial sustainability of the Reserve

The position reports to the WCS Nigeria Country Director and is accountable to the Yankari Game Reserve Steering Committee. The Director oversees all aspects of Reserve operations, leads multidisciplinary teams, and ensures delivery of agreed conservation and organisational objectives, including the landscape strategy.

As WCS's senior representative in Yankari, the Director serves as the principal liaison with government, communities, donors, conservation partners, and other stakeholders, fostering collaborative management, strategic partnerships, resource mobilisation, and stakeholder engagement in support of the Reserve's conservation and development goals.

Major Responsibilities:

Leadership, Management and Operations

• Lead Yankari Game Reserve and the wider Yankari Landscape to deliver conservation and community engagement objectives.
• Lead implementation of the Reserve Management Plan and annual work plans, aligning budgets, performance targets, and operational priorities.
• Supervise and coordinate multidisciplinary teams in conservation law enforcement, wildlife management and monitoring, community conservation and safeguards, tourism, administration, and finance; foster accountability, staff development, and high organisational performance.
• Oversee financial, administrative, and operational systems to ensure compliance, efficiency, and effective resource use.

Conservation, Protection and Community Engagement

• Oversee wildlife protection, habitat management, biodiversity monitoring, and research to support evidence-based conservation and adaptive management.
• Work with the Conservation Law Enforcement Advisor and Wildlife Management Coordinator to strengthen law enforcement, improve the use of SMART, EarthRanger, and other management tools, and address poaching, encroachment, insecurity, and other threats.
• Support the Community Conservation Coordinator to strengthen community relations, advance participatory governance and collaborative management structures, reduce human-wildlife conflict, and promote conservation-linked livelihood and resilience initiatives.
• Partnerships and Reporting
• Represent WCS and Yankari Game Reserve with government agencies, donors, local communities, traditional institutions, conservation partners, and other stakeholders.
• Support fundraising, donor relations, proposal development, and strategic partnerships to strengthen the Reserve’s long-term sustainability.
• Monitor progress against conservation and operational targets and ensure timely, high-quality reports, proposals, and communications for WCS, donors, government partners, and the Steering Committee.
• Contribute to the WCS CWT strategy and the WCS Africa CWT strategy.

Job Qualifications:

• Master's degree or equivalent experience in conservation biology, ecology, environmental management, natural resource governance, protected area management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in conservation programs or protected area management, including leadership of complex, multi-component programs.
• Demonstrated experience in protected area management, conservation law enforcement coordination, biodiversity monitoring, and community engagement.
• Strong understanding of governance systems, collaborative management approaches, and stakeholder coordination in Nigeria or similar contexts.
• Proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams and building effective institutional partnerships.
• Excellent leadership, team management, mentoring, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong strategic planning, organisational management, and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex partnerships and multi-stakeholder processes.

Additional Requirements:

• Proficiency in conservation management and monitoring tools, including SMART, EarthRanger, GIS, KoboToolbox, and related platforms.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to apply data and evidence to management decisions.
• Ability to work effectively in challenging field environments with resilience, adaptability, and sound judgement.
• Fluency in English; working knowledge of Hausa is highly desirable.
• Willingness to be based in Yankari Game Reserve with travel throughout the Yankari Landscape and nationally.
• Demonstrated commitment to biodiversity conservation and community-based conservation approaches.
• Ability to represent WCS effectively with government agencies, traditional institutions, donors, partners, and local communities.

Why Join Us?

• Leverage WSC’s conservation, protection, and law enforcement expertise to strategically guide the WSC's protection of wild places and wild species.
• Exceptional opportunity to make significant contributions to the protection of biodiversity conservation.
• Dynamic Team: Join a dynamic team and work in a collaborative and conducive environment where your ideas and everyone's input are valued.
• 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