Policy Initiative Program Manager - WCS China

Position title: Policy Initiative Program Manager_WCS China

Reports to: Director, China Program, Wildlife Conservation Society

Country Program/Sector: China Program, Temperate Asia Region 

Position Type: Full-time                   

Internal liaison: China Counter-Wildlife Trafficking Program Manager; Temperate Asia Regional Director; Executive Director of Counter-Wildlife Trafficking; Executive Director of Health

Location: Beijing, China (Other Chinese cities with WCS offices engaged in this initiative would be considered)

Wildlife Conservation Society

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 countries, and experience helping to establish over 250 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources. WCS has been registered in Beijing, China in 2017.  For more information, please visit www.wcs.org

Policy Initiative in China

The current global COVID-19 crisis urges Government to take sustained actions to significantly reduce the likelihood of future zoonotic pathogen outbreaks, reduce pressures on global biodiversity and safeguard livelihoods and food security of local communities and Indigenous Peoples. In the wake of this latest outbreak, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in China has banned the hunting, trade, transportation, and consumption of all terrestrial wild animals whether captive-bred or wild caught, yet only when the end purpose is to eat (i.e., not for pets, furs, Traditional Chinese Medicine, or zoos). In order to progress and support implementation of these critical policy reforms, WCS has launched an initiative to leverage high-level commitment to prevent future zoonotic pathogen outbreaks.  This initiative requires a collaborative, dynamic, and transdisciplinary approach—working across sectors at the local, regional, national, and global levels. The approach recognizes and integrates the interconnections between the health of people, animals, plants, and the foundational dependence on intact and functioning environments to achieve optimal health and well-being outcomes for all.

Job Summary: 

WCS China is seeking a dynamic and motivated individual to lead its Policy Initiative Program.  This individual will develop and implement policy strategies that leverage multi-disciplinary, cross-sector partnerships, primarily targeting public health sector, to implement an adaptive strategy that takes sustained actions to support wildlife conservation in China, and also reduce the risk of future zoonotic pathogen outbreaks. 

The Policy Initiative Program Manager will be responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing WCS China’s strategies and work plan to mobilize cross-sector engagement, primarily targeting public health, in wildlife management issues and ensure that WCS China’s strategy aligns with WCS' One-health agenda.  This will entail building multi-stakeholder and multi-sector consensus to support policy initiatives and projects related to public health and wildlife conservation.

The ideal candidate is both strategic and creative, with a background in policy research, policy campaigns and communications, and program management.

Primary responsibilities:  

Research and Strategy Development

• Lead the development of WCS China’s policy strategies and associated activities plan to address trade of live wildlife and prevent future zoonotic pathogen outbreaks;
• Support the Country Director with the development of WCS China’s policy strategies and associated activities plan to address protected area, national park system and other related biodiversity conservation policies;
• Lead the collection, tracking and analysis of conservation and public health legal, policy and media landscapes to identify key stakeholders and effective work pathways to achieve WCS China’s strategic objectives;
• Develop gap analysis, policy briefs, position papers to articulate WCS interests related to wildlife conservation and public health;
• Conduct Partnership scoping to identify and establish engagement with key national civil society and public health experts.

Partnership and Communication

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships including with public health experts, government agencies, academic institutions and other CSOs, private sector, and other experts or leaders in the fields of public health and wildlife trade to support WCS China’s wildlife trade and health policy objectives;
• Proactively identify opportunities for policy initiative or project level collaboration, and work closely with relevant WCS staff – national, regional and global – to deliver the impact;
• Working with team members and partners, develop high-quality policy research outputs, including technical reports, peer-review manuscripts and other publications of international standards;
• Share knowledge, expertise, information and networks with other policy initiative colleagues and partners;
• Represent WCS China’s Policy Initiative Program in national, regional, international fora to re-frame action on public health issue, mobilizing the public health sector, at global and national levels, to lead and take action.

Program Management

• Lead program implementation including monitoring program progress and adjusting project workplans accordingly;
• Ensure appropriate and timely planning and reporting on program activities including providing technical support for implementation;
• Effectively manage program grant technical and financial reporting to achieve programmatic objectives;
• Manage existing and identify new funding opportunities;
• Work with the Country Director to identify and select contractors/partners, design activity plans with contractors/partners to assure outputs and outcomes are in line with WCS China goals and strategies;
• Undertake management of interns, volunteers and/or staff to implement research or analysis tasks as relevant;
• Work with the Country Director and other WCS China staff to respond to internal and external inquiries regarding program progress and results.

Capacity Building

• Assess human resource capacity need for the Policy Initiative program, and develop a staff plan, as needed, to ensure sufficient human resources and capacity to deliver WCS China’s conservation, wildlife trade and public health objectives;
• Serve as an internal resource person on wildlife conservation and health policy issues including capacity building, participating in and supporting the activities of other WCS China projects when needed.

This job description reflects the assignment of essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Requirements

• Commitment to the conservation of wildlife
• Undergrad/Postgrad qualification in a relevant field, including public health, public administration, international relations, international development, public policy, social sciences or law, communication, or relevant field
• A minimum 5 years of professional experience in the design and implementation of policy strategies and campaigns to influence policy and program management is required. Working experiences with government agencies, international organizations, and/or in public health field is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with policy analysis, research and writing related to issues of global development, public health preferred
• Familiarity with international treaties, national legislation and policies related to wildlife trade, public health, and conservation
• Proven ability to develop and work in partnership with multiple stakeholders, including government stakeholders, NGO partners, and international organizations at various levels. Ability to strategize and coordinate with multiple organizations working towards a common strategic objective
• Demonstrated success in planning and conducting advocacy and communication activities to achieve desired outcomes.
• Proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively as a member of a dynamic team. Must be solution-oriented, and have strong problem solving and analytical skills and the ability to creatively contribute to thinking on issues.
• Strong interpersonal communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Chinese and English is required. Demonstrated excellent writing, speaking, and editing skills in Chinese (Mandarin) and proficiency in English speaking, listening, and writing.
• Ability to travel as needed within China and throughout Asia.
• Excellent computer and systems skills required with respect to MS Office applications

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, should apply by sending an application letter and CV together with the names and contact information of three references at the soonest possible time through one of the following links:

https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25965&siteid=5168#jobDetails=627251_5168

WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview.