Site Manager Bombo Lumene

Location: Domaine de Chasse et Réserve Naturelle de la Bombo Lumene HQ, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRBL). Located 120 km from Kinshasa.

Framework: ICCN (the Congolese national conservation agency) has signed in October 2021 a management contract with the nonprofit FBL to manage the DRBL site of 320,000 hectares.

Duration: 2 years renewable with 6 months trial period

Reports to: Fondation Bombo Lumene Board who are in a management partnership with the ICCN.

Position Type: Full-time

Organization Background: Visit our website (www.fblu.org)

Fondation Bombo Lumene (FBL) is a non-profit, private organization established in 2021 with the intention of preserving & developing the DRBL and its fauna & flora by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit its biodiversity as well as the surrounding communities.

The founders of FBL consist of a diverse team that have a wide range of experience in different fields: conservation biology, ecology, agro-forestry, protected area management, media, communications, community projects, etc.

Our mission is to establish DRBL as a vibrant wilderness area where wildlife thrives alongside local communities. Furthermore, our aim is to work with local communities and organizations, and to apply our knowledge to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of the rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

Following recent bio-surveys with camera traps that revealed a surprising degree of threatened remaining faunal diversity, FBL has been working with ICCN and DRBL management to establish a partnership for the development of the 350,000-hectare protected area.

The DRBL is an important area for bird life with over 250 species documented so far. Particularly noteworthy is the white-headed robin chat, an understory bird found exclusively in two places: a region in northern Angola and the DRBL. At present, 33 mammal species have been documented in the DRBL due to recent efforts, including: a remnant forest buffalo population, sitatunga, harnessed bushbucks, five duiker species, five primate species, tree pangolin, and various small carnivores such as side-striped jackals, civets, genets and mongooses.

The DRBL’s biggest threats are the intense anthropogenic pressures stemming from the rapidly expanding capital of the DRC: Kinshasa. At the same time, proximity to Kinshasa represents a unique opportunity for the DRBL in terms of its ecotourism potential as a getaway destination for the city’s residents. The long-term view of FBL consists of 4 main objectives:

1. Develop ecotourism to generate funding for the DRBL

2. Community outreach: develop sustainable community projects for and with the communities surrounding the DRBL.

3. Implement effective law enforcement through recruiting and training rangers to ensure the protection of the DRBL

4. Increase wildlife populations through partial fencing of the DRBL, natural repopulation, as well as through reintroductions of species which historically occurred in the area.

Job Summary: DRBL Site Manager

We are seeking a DRBL site manager with protected area management experience to ensure the effective protection and conservation of the DRBL and its wildlife, while helping to develop ecotourism and improve economic and social benefits to surrounding communities and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The DRBL site manager will provide strategic and operational leadership and be responsible for all aspects of management of the DRBL, including ranger deployment under the responsibility of his deputy director, wildlife protection, community outreach, research, ecotourism development, fundraising and reporting, communications, and liaising with FBL and other stakeholders.

The job includes ensuring smooth day-to-day running of the DRBL, and managing deputies and local staff. At the current stage, the team is composed of around 30 on-site staff. The management is organized into 4 Departments, each with its own Departmental Lead. These include: (1) Administrative and Finance, (2) Conservation, Protection and Enforcement (Rangers), (3) Research and Monitoring Department, and (4) Community Development.

The DRBL site manager will be responsible for managing the budget. At present, the annual operational budget is still small but set to grow substantially through the start of our ecotourism activities and the substantial future fundraising by the non-profit FBL launched this year.

The job also requires developing strong relationships with governmental partners, the ICCN, and partner agencies and organizations.

The DRBL site manager is accountable to the Foundation Bombo Lumene Board who is in contract with ICCN. The site manager is based in the field, living permanently on-site at the DRBL headquarters, in a semi camping-like facility. One of the first tasks of the FBL is the upgrading of the old existing facilities (water, electricity etc).

Major Responsibilities:

The DRBL site manager will deliver on the following principal responsibilities in full coordination with, and supported by the board and members of the non-profit FBL:

• Financial and operational responsibility for all DRBL activities encompassing all departments of law enforcement, administration and finance, logistics, research and community development.
• Implementation of the reserve’s management and business plan
• Preparation and implementation of annual work plans and budgets of the DRBL
• Recruitment and management of all personnel, including regular liaising with Heads of Departments
• Ensure that all contracts and agreements related to the DRBL are followed
• Ensure timely reporting of all grants covering the DRBL in compliance with the donor regulations of FBL
• Building and maintaining relationships with Government, community and private sector partners, and other key stakeholders around the DRBL
• Liaise with the Board of Directors

Experience & Qualification Requirements:

• Significant experience of protected area management in Africa (at least 3-5 years), preferably in central Africa
• Experience in project management, personnel management, and administration
• Experience in managing donor-funded projects, with multiple project partners and diverse project elements preferred
• Efficient at coordinating multiple resources to get things done, multi-tasking, practical problem-solving and is solution-focused
• Technical, logistical, and financial management of projects (planning, budgets, implementation, monitoring and evaluation)
• A Master’s degree (or higher education level) in conservation, natural resource management, or other relevant field experience in (central) Africa
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven managerial, leadership, and team building skills
• Demonstrated high-level competency in writing and editing of professional reports and other written products
• Fluency in French is required, and a basic/conversational level of English is preferred
• Proven ability and comfortable with living and working in a multicultural environment in isolated areas, under difficult field conditions

Conditions: to be discussed

• Vehicle and fuel
• Phone budget
• Internet WIFI available at offices on site and there is 3G telephone cover
• Basic accommodation 

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