Conservation Manager

Qualifications
- Good general education
- University degree in biology or related subject
- Post university degree in biology or related subject would be appreciated
- Relevant second degree (advantage)
- Full driving License (advantage)
- Data analysis and preferable experience in bird censuses (advantage)

Experience
- Conservation science or data management (>3 years)
- Proven ability to manage complex projects in relevant areas
- Working with governmental and/or EU institutions
- Fundraising for projects and their financial administration
- Human resources & finance management
- Working in an NGO environment and international context (advantage)
- Strategic development & business planning (advantage)
- Working with international agencies (advantage)
- Advocacy, media work and public relations (advantage)
- Good team building, facilitation and mediation skills (advantage)

Skills / Abilities
- Fluency in oral and written English & Romanian
- Basic computer literacy (word, excel, e-mail, PowerPoint)
- Ability to drive, motivate and enthuse people
- Very good written and oral communications skills
- Fluency in relevant languages - e.g. Hungarian / Ukrainian (advantage)
- Database management and/or GIS software use (advantage)
- Confident working with senior officials (advantage)
- Ability to multitask (advantage)


Knowledge
- Good understanding of ornithology
- Good understanding of nature conservation issues
- EU nature conservation legislation
- Writing technical reports
- Good understanding of Romanian biogeography (advantage)
- Familiarity with Romanian organisations and governmental institutions working in nature conservation (advantage)
- Understanding of grant giving bodies (advantage)
- Publishing scientific research (advantage)


Disposition / Circumstances
- Commitment to nature conservation
- Self motivated
- Ability to organise own workload effectively
- Ability to work anti-social hours
- Ability to travel internationally
- Focussed & results oriented (advantage)
- Systematic & organized (advantage)
- Determined & committed (advantage)
- Dynamic, creative & energetic (advantage)
- Compelling, inspiring & motivating (advantage)

Purpose of the Job:

To drive strategic planning and manage the delivery of SOR’s conservation activities by developing and implementing conservation programmes, with a specific emphasis on the implementation of the Important Bird Areas Programme, Habitats and Species Conservation Programmes, within the framework given by SOR’s strategy and the Executive Director, and in the context of EU membership

Specifically to ensure the effective and efficient management of the EU LIFE Nature funded programme of positive conservation action for "Saving Pelecanus crispus in the Danube Delta”. To deliver the Project Results in accordance with the Funding Application requirements and the contractual obligations within normal organisational policies and practices.

Main Duties

• Strategy and objectives:
o Contribute as part of the Senior Management Team to the development of the 2007 – 2010 Organizational Strategy, and the creation of annual SOR Operational Plans
o Lead the development of SOR’s Conservation Strategy (2007 – 2010) in cooperation with Senior Management Team, the Board and Conservation Department in line with SOR’s mission and organisational strategy
o Take the lead responsibility for the implementation of the strategy through the development and delivery of annual plans for the Conservation Department
o Lead the development of SOR’s policy on key conservation topics and to be the principal advocate of these positions to external stakeholders in cooperation with the Executive Director and the SOR Board
o Ensure the translation of the BirdLife European Programme conservation goals into SOR’s Conservation Strategy

• Management:
o Participate in the monthly SOR Senior Management Team alongside the Executive Director, Development Director and Finance Manager to drive forward the sustainable growth of SOR
o Translate the Conservation Strategy into annual work plans for the Conservation Department staff and consultants
o Lead the SOR Conservation Department and assist them in their delivery against annual objectives by providing management support as required
o Manages the SOR LIFE Dalmatian pelican project team based in Tulcea, in close cooperation with the overall Project Manager from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration and the RSPB team (Specific ToR available below)
o Monitors the implementation of ongoing SOR conservation projects

• Project development and implementation:
o Enable the Conservation Department to work with the Development Department to identify, prioritise, develop, deliver and report conservation projects with focal areas including site & habitat protection and restoration, species protection and research to monitor bird populations
o Ensure that all proposals developed by and for the Conservation Department are planned in the context of the Conservation Strategy and Annual Plans, and accurately reflect the real costs of staff time and activities
o Ensure that all project implementation by the Conservation Department is delivered to a high professional standard in all aspects including technical and financial management in cooperation with the Finance Manager

• Important Bird Areas (IBA) programme
Devise and deliver an IBA conservation strategy (Expanded in bullets below)

o Promote the IBA concept to key stakeholders in Romania, focussed on advocating for designation of IBAs as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in the Natura 2000 network
o Contribute to management plans for priority SPAs across Romania, and lead the development of plans for those IBAs under SOR management
o Enable SOR to monitor IBAs on an ongoing basis, and contribute to the 2008 BirdLife International IBA review
o Develop a network of IBA caretakers (in conjunction with the Development Director) to establish and run an IBA monitoring and early warning system
o Lead management and update of the IBA database and to publish an update of the IBA inventory when necessary
o Develop the capacity within SOR to use legal and campaign casework to defend IBAs and SPAs
o Represent SOR on the Birds & Habitats Directive Task Force in Brussels, and liase with the BirdLife Partnership and with the Secretariat of BirdLife’s European Division

• Habitat programmes
o With the Agriculture Officer (post to be confirmed) formulate and advocate for the necessary changes to national agriculture policy and funding programmes to benefit biodiversity and the wider countryside, and prevent the decline of farmland birds in Romania, with particular emphasis on endangered and threatened species.
o Influence the approval, implementation and ongoing development of the Rural Development Programme for 2007-2013, with particular attention being given to agri-environment schemes and Natura 2000 management
o Manage the staff responsible for delivery of the High Conservation Value Forest project in Romania, in cooperation with the BirdLife Forest Task Force

• Species Programme
Devise and deliver a Species Conservation Strategy for both threatened and priority common species (Expanded in bullets below)

o Develop conservation, and where necessary, research projects to support the conservation of Globally Threatened Species in Romania, and manage the staff responsible for the delivery of existing projects
o Manage the staff responsible for implementing the Common Bird Monitoring programme in Romania, and other bird population monitoring activities
o Manage the staff responsible for developing, launching and promoting the ‘WorldBirds’ internet based bird recording system, in cooperation with the RSPB

Other Duties:
The Conservation Manager will:

• Contribute information regularly to the Development Team on the conservation work of SOR for use in communications activities, including SOR publications, websites, events and media work
• Contribute to the annual reports and project reports of SOR, including the RSPB Country Programme, reporting on the activities and progress and intentions
• Provide detailed briefs and papers, including financial reports for the board and Executive Director of SOR, as required
• Organise with colleagues the preparation of scientific and technical publications of the results of all conservation projects and activities
• Liase with the RSPB Country Programmes Manager regarding the development and implementation of the SOR conservation strategy and other projects with RSPB participation or funding
• Strive for personal and professional development by updating knowledge and skills, and taking part in appropriate conservation-related activities outside the workplace
• Provide support to the Executive Director on other issues as requested

The post holder can not be engaged in external activities on a voluntary or paid basis that harm the image of SOR or BirdLife International, are in contradiction with SOR statutes or the laws in the country as long as s/he is employee of SOR.

The post holder is not permitted to work for other employers.

Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR – BirdLife Romania) (OTOP) is one of the largest and most influential non-governmental organisations in Romania working in the field of environmental conservation. Its mission is to protect wild birds and their habitats for people in Romania. It is internationally recognised for its efforts, and is the Romanian representative of BirdLife International, a global network of over 100 nature conservation organisations.