Director, Okapi Wildlife Reserve

About the role

The Wildlife Conservation Society is seeking a senior leader to serve as Director of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) in Epulu, DRC. Reporting to the WCS DRC Country Director and overseen by the OWR Steering Committee, the Director will guide the Reserve through the next phase of its 10‑year management agreement, ensuring protection of its unique biodiversity and support for local communities.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for all reserve activities.
• Oversee ranger deployment, anti‑poaching operations and wildlife protection.
• Manage community liaison, sustainable agriculture initiatives and tourism development.
• Lead fundraising, donor reporting, communications and monitoring & evaluation.
• Supervise staff recruitment, development and capacity building of national personnel.
• Maintain strong relationships with ICCN, state enforcement agencies and partner organisations.
• Administer a significant budget and ensure efficient day‑to‑day operations.

Required profile

• Extensive management experience in protected‑area or wildlife‑conservation settings.
• Proven ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams in challenging environments.
• Demonstrated success in community engagement, fundraising and partnership development.
• Strong understanding of biodiversity threats such as poaching, illegal mining and security risks.
• Ability to work on‑site in a remote forest reserve for a minimum two‑year term.

Required skills

• Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) expertise.