Senior Regional Civil Engineer

Rwanda

Global Conservation Full-Time

GLOBAL CONSERVATION

Job Description

Position:  Senior Regional Civil Engineer
Reports to: Regional Operations Manager
Positions Supervised: None
Location: Garoua, Cameroon with frequent travel within the region and to sites
National Program/Sector: Sudano-Sahelian Region
Position Type: Full-time
Scope/Capacity: Regional
Coordination with: Leadership teams and Operation teams at the country program level
Infrastructure managers and civil engineers on the key sites, Logistics Manager
Organizational Background
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt American organization founded in 1895. It works to save wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, developing science-based solutions, and carrying out conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With over a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, a presence in over 60 countries, and experience in establishing over 150 protected areas worldwide, WCS has accumulated the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships necessary to ensure that wild and vibrant spaces and species thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, this knowledge is applied to address species, habitat, and ecosystem management challenges essential to improving the quality of life of poor rural populations whose livelihoods depend directly on the exploitation of natural resources.

Sudano-Sahelian Program Overview
The Sudano-Sahelian region (Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, and Nigeria) offers WCS unparalleled opportunities to play a direct role in safeguarding some of the world’s last intact wilderness areas and to contribute significantly to the security of people and wildlife. The region’s savannas, forests, and wetlands support key populations of elephants, northern giraffes, lions, elands, bongos, chimpanzees, the endangered Cross-River gorilla, and hundreds of bird species. Riverine communities live and use the land and natural resources for their livelihoods through pastoralism, agriculture, fishing, and hunting. WCS has a strong presence in the Sudano-Sahelian region, with a strong conservation background and proven success in protected area management. We actively support protected area management and conservation law enforcement, local livelihoods, the development of partnerships for conservation conflict mitigation, the strengthening of anti-trafficking activities, and the implementation of scientific programs.

About the role
With a solid funding base, WCS is working to implement an ambitious program of conservation interventions in the Sudano-Sahelian region, where quality infrastructure is needed in large numbers to accommodate staff and partners as well as community services. This position focuses specifically on our pastoral program PAIRIAC (Programme d’Appui à l’Intégration régionale et à l’Investissement en Afrique Centrale), aimed at renovating, constructing, and maintaining pastoral infrastructure such as vaccination posts, boreholes, and pastoral complexes on or near our sites in the northern Central African Republic, southern Chad, and northern Cameroon. Currently, the number of infrastructure managers and civil engineers at key sites is limited. Reporting to the Regional Operations Manager, the Senior Regional Civil Engineer will play a vital role in streamlining standards, working methods and quality control systems and will enhance our efficiency in building and maintaining robust infrastructure.

Job Summary
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is seeking a highly qualified and motivated Senior Regional Civil Engineer for the Sudano-Sahel region to support its construction projects in the region. We are seeking a highly qualified civil engineer, a professional experienced in the design and implementation of park and pastoral infrastructure in wooded savannah. The candidate must have experience in development contexts, be organized and have excellent communication skills. He/she must demonstrate the ability to work in a multi-context environment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain a catalog of WCS standards for infrastructure.

• Work collaboratively with site infrastructure managers and pastoral teams to ensure infrastructure designs meet WCS, donor and host country standards and incorporate conservation and/or development requirements.

• Ensure that constructions comply with international best practices in environmental and social frameworks, including the preparation of ESIAs where necessary.

• Prepare and deploy toolkits for construction project quality control and construction project monitoring across the region.

• Prepare and deploy toolkits for tendering and evaluation of construction works across the region and review tender documents whenever necessary.

• Play an active leadership role in the design and construction of high-profile projects, as requested. This involves traveling to construction sites for several weeks.

• Participate in the recruitment, integration and training of construction site infrastructure managers and civil engineers.

• Facilitate the sharing of successful experiences and models across the region.

• Provide interim cover for site infrastructure managers during their absence (leave or vacant positions).

• To be the focal point for the region’s green energy strategy and ensure compliance with environmental protection measures.

• Develop construction safety and security standards and ensure they are included in the design and implementation of projects.

• Conduct infrastructure assessments and audits during the construction process or after completion and propose corrective measures if necessary.

• Identify the necessary work tools (software, licenses and hardware) for civil engineers on sites and follow up on purchases with the purchasing team.

• Perform any other tasks requested.

Qualification Requirements

Qualifications and requirements

• Be a licensed civil engineer.
• At least 8 years of experience in the field of architecture and/or construction, including in a complex logistics environment in rural Africa.
• Experience in infrastructure development for conservation and related fields
• Excellent knowledge of construction standards
• Knowledge of environmental and social impact studies (ESIAs)
• Knowledge of architectural design
• Knowledge of green energy
• Experience working and managing with other engineers.
• Excellent knowledge of at least 2 construction design software
• Good knowledge of Excel
• Successful training skills and experience
• Ability to work in a multicultural setting and on a remote field site with basic amenities.
• Fluency in French and English.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer. The organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that applicants from all backgrounds are considered fairly and consistently during the recruitment process. We are committed to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and seek future team members who share this same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants.

The organization does not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, caste, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected by laws and regulations and similar categories.

It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on an individual’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job classification, transfers, terminations, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, recreational activities, and WCS-sponsored facilities. The organization complies with the spirit and intent of relevant local laws and WCS employment policies.

Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications, skills, and experience requirements should apply via the "Application" tab by October 21, 2025.

Please send a detailed cover letter and a complete resume. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. #LI-TA1

Salary Range

Competitive salary based on experience