Technical Advisor (SONG), Papua New Guinea
Job Description
Position: Technical Advisor (SONG), Papua New Guinea
Reports to: Country Director
Coordinates with: Coordinates with the Terrestrial and Marine Programme Coordinators in PNG, Finance and Operations and the Legal and Policy Advisor.
Location: Port Moresby NCD.
Country Program/Sector: WCS Papua New Guinea
Position Type: Full time
Scope/Capacity: Country Programme
Coordinates with: WCS PNG team, South-East Asia-Pacific Regional team and global teams
Background:
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US 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 more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 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
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is the longest established international conservation organization within PNG and is currently operating the largest conservation NGO in the country. WCS began working in PNG in 1977 and officially established a country program in 1999. From the mid-2000s, the WCS PNG Program expanded to take a landscape and seascape approach to conservation across areas identified as important priorities by regional initiatives and the PNG Government. Aligned to our global mission, WCS works to protect areas of high ecological integrity that hold exceptional biodiversity or biomass, collectively represent the range of global ecoregions, and are important for iconic species. Today, through participatory, rights-based approaches with Indigenous Peoples, WCS supports the protection of over 1,700,000 hectares of functionally intact marine ecosystems and around 30,000 hectares of high biodiversity, high carbon forest ecosystems, critical ecosystem services underpinning human well-being. WCS PNG currently has five offices in Goroka (Eastern Highlands), Kavieng (New Ireland Province), Lorengau (Manus Province), Kimbe (West New Britain Province) and Wewak (East Sepik Province).
Job Purpose:
The Technical Advisor for the Solwara na Graun Blo Pipol (SONG) will oversee the implementation of a large grant focused on implementing, scaling and financing planning management approaches towards 30x30 to deliver co-benefits for biodiversity, climate change and human well-being in Papua New Guinea. The overall objective of this project will be to ensure the long-term sustainability of forests and marine and coastal ecosystems, as well as the improvement of living conditions for the people who depend on them.
Starting in 2025, the Solwara na Graun Blo Pipol (SoNG) – “Ocean and Land for the People” in Tok Pisin is funded by the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement, AFD) in Papua New Guinea from 2025 to 2029.
The SONG Technical Advisor will be responsible for the overall management of the project, including ensuring timely and quality achievement of project objectives and deliverables and for donor reporting, with the support from the WCS PNG, Regional and Global teams. Further, the SONG Technical Advisor will provide technical advice and capacity building to the broader WCS-PNG Program. The position is full-time and will be based in Port Moresby.
Major Responsibilities:
SONG Coordination
Minimum Requirements and Job Skills:
How to apply:
Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience, should apply through the application tab below or by sending an updated curriculum vitae and cover letter to yelango@wcs.org and akakau@wcs.org by 5th June 2026 (although applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis).
WCS is an equal opportunity employer 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 those same values.
Salary Range
Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
Position: Technical Advisor (SONG), Papua New Guinea
Reports to: Country Director
Coordinates with: Coordinates with the Terrestrial and Marine Programme Coordinators in PNG, Finance and Operations and the Legal and Policy Advisor.
Location: Port Moresby NCD.
Country Program/Sector: WCS Papua New Guinea
Position Type: Full time
Scope/Capacity: Country Programme
Coordinates with: WCS PNG team, South-East Asia-Pacific Regional team and global teams
Background:
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US 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 more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 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
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is the longest established international conservation organization within PNG and is currently operating the largest conservation NGO in the country. WCS began working in PNG in 1977 and officially established a country program in 1999. From the mid-2000s, the WCS PNG Program expanded to take a landscape and seascape approach to conservation across areas identified as important priorities by regional initiatives and the PNG Government. Aligned to our global mission, WCS works to protect areas of high ecological integrity that hold exceptional biodiversity or biomass, collectively represent the range of global ecoregions, and are important for iconic species. Today, through participatory, rights-based approaches with Indigenous Peoples, WCS supports the protection of over 1,700,000 hectares of functionally intact marine ecosystems and around 30,000 hectares of high biodiversity, high carbon forest ecosystems, critical ecosystem services underpinning human well-being. WCS PNG currently has five offices in Goroka (Eastern Highlands), Kavieng (New Ireland Province), Lorengau (Manus Province), Kimbe (West New Britain Province) and Wewak (East Sepik Province).
Job Purpose:
The Technical Advisor for the Solwara na Graun Blo Pipol (SONG) will oversee the implementation of a large grant focused on implementing, scaling and financing planning management approaches towards 30x30 to deliver co-benefits for biodiversity, climate change and human well-being in Papua New Guinea. The overall objective of this project will be to ensure the long-term sustainability of forests and marine and coastal ecosystems, as well as the improvement of living conditions for the people who depend on them.
Starting in 2025, the Solwara na Graun Blo Pipol (SoNG) – “Ocean and Land for the People” in Tok Pisin is funded by the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement, AFD) in Papua New Guinea from 2025 to 2029.
The SONG Technical Advisor will be responsible for the overall management of the project, including ensuring timely and quality achievement of project objectives and deliverables and for donor reporting, with the support from the WCS PNG, Regional and Global teams. Further, the SONG Technical Advisor will provide technical advice and capacity building to the broader WCS-PNG Program. The position is full-time and will be based in Port Moresby.
Major Responsibilities:
SONG Coordination
- Lead strategic coordination and overall management of the project with AFD, Expertise France, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and WCS teams, including all activities implemented by WCS in the project sites, and external partners for activities linked to the project (including technical partners, donors, government, the private sector and scientific community)
- Regularly communicate with and visit field team leads in Papua New Guinea, including project partners, to coordinate within country project delivery.
- Serve as primary point of contact with AFD staff in PNG and in France to ensrue smooth project communications and coordination.
- Provide technical expertise and advise for all project activities objectives in coordination with internal and external experts.
- Lead and coordinate WCS technical support to the Biodiversity and Climate Fund (BCF) to support its successful operationalisation and functioning as the country’s first conservation trust fund.
- Oversee and maintain up to date project management processes and systems to enable timely reminders to field teams and partners for upcoming activities and deliverables.
- Develop, manage and monitor workplans, oversee and provide support on SONG financial management and lead on project delivery compliance.
- Review project outputs and deliverables to ensure high standards of technical quality;
- Lead oversight of reporting requirements and ensure standardized monitoring protocols to enable consistent reporting against the donor results framework;
- Oversee the environmental and social safeguard monitoring systems, ensuring coordination with the relevant WCS expert teams;
- Collate and maintain records of information from field teams on project achievements and challenges;
- Manage and provide oversight to all sub-awards, contracting and project procurements to ensure timely and high quality delivery of activities and services;
- Prepare and lead internal and external communications, including developing a communications plan, regarding project progress.
- In close coordination with the Country Director, represent WCS PNG with Port Moresby based donors and stakeholders from the international community including AFD, Expertise France, UNDP, French Embassy, and other foreign governments.
- Provide technical advice to the broader WCS-PNG Program on biodiversity conservation, biodiversity monitoring, or other areas when needed.
- Provide capacity building and mentoring to national programme staff to help further their skill sets and knowledge base, enabling staff to develop into future scientists and experts in particular fields
- Work with the Conservation Director and the prorgamme teams to co-author academic peer-revewed papers, using data and outcomes from the project work
Minimum Requirements and Job Skills:
- Masters degree in environmental science, policy or natural resource management, with some social science skills preferred.
- A minimum of 8 years’ experience with project management associated with natural resource management, marine and terrestrial conservation management, or climate change adaptation. Knowledge and experience in nature-based solutions, climate change adaptation, community-based management and sustainable financing an advantage.
- Proven ability and experience to manage projects, ideally AFD or other international donor funded projects, and set and meet multiple deadlines.
- Proven ability to manage, guide and support multicultural and geographically widely dispersed teams and staff of different capacities.
- Strong communication and leadership skills
- Experience with donor reporting requirements, particularly from European donors.
- Ability to travel frequently to remote project locations in Papua New Guinea and work under difficult field conditions
- Ability to make sound decisions based on analysis, consultation with others, experience, and judgment and strong problem solving mindset.
- Excellent computer skills and office applications
- Good communication and presentation skills; ability to persuasively convey the mission of WCS to diverse groups, especially local stakeholders and constituents who are critical to the organisation’s overall prosperity.
- Must demonstrate strong verbal and written skills in English to international standards
- Knowledge of Papua New Guinean or Melanesian cultural contexts is a strong advantage
- A working knowledge of French will be an advantage
How to apply:
Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, skills and experience, should apply through the application tab below or by sending an updated curriculum vitae and cover letter to yelango@wcs.org and akakau@wcs.org by 5th June 2026 (although applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis).
WCS is an equal opportunity employer 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 those same values.
Salary Range
Competitive salary commensurate with experience.