Senior Terrestrial Technical Advisor, Indonesia

09-Nov-2025

Indonesia

Full-Time

GLOBAL CONSERVATION

Job Description

Position: Senior Terrestrial Technical Advisor

Reports to: Deputy Country Director, WCS Indonesia Program

Location: Bogor, Indonesia

Country Program/Sector: Global Conservation Program

Position Type: Full-time

Coordinates with:Country Director, Operations Director, Senior Managers (WTP, Forests, Marine, One Health, and Rights & Communities), Senior Marine Technical Advisor, Science & Technology Unit lead, Communications lead, Regional Director, Global Thematic Directors

Organization 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. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

WCS Indonesia Program Overview:

WCS has worked in Indonesia since initial field surveys in the 1960s and opened a formal country program in 1997 under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Forestry (MoF). To achieve our mission, we primarily work to support the efforts of the MoF across Indonesia, notably the work of National Park Authorities (UPT) and Provincial Conservation Agencies (BKSDA). We also work through collaborations with a variety of non-government, private sector and academic bodies.

To deliver WCS Indonesia new country strategy , we are structured under five core thematic Programs: Forests; Marine; Wildlife Trade & Policy (WTP); One Health; and Rights & Communities. These Programs are supported by crossing-cutting Science & Technology and Communications units. Our thematic Programs are described as follows:

• The Forests Program is being implemented in five landscapes — Leuser, Bukit Barisan Selatan, Way Kambas, Bogani Nani, and Rote Island - through the following core activities: protected area strengthening and wildlife management (such as SMART patrols, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, problem-oriented policing, species recovery, and biodiversity monitoring); a Sustainable Landscapes program that is addressing the two main drivers of deforestation (infrastructure development and smallholder farmland expansion), jurisdictional green growth models and sustainable financing; and a Conservation Evidence Unit (based in Bogor) that is focused on data analyses, monitoring and evaluation, and national level policy reforms.

• The Wildlife Trade & Policy Program (WTP Program) is strengthening the capacity of government law enforcement agencies in the use of intelligence-led approaches with improved inter-agency coordination to yield a robust, multi-agency counter wildlife trafficking response. To support this, our field teams have prioritized preventing the trafficking of key species from our priority landscapes and seascapes and, from here, are working along the entire illegal wildlife trade supply chain by targeting connected trafficking networks operating at provincial and national levels. Our Policy Team is providing the Ministry of Forestry (MoF) with technical assistance to reform wildlife regulations and data management systems for species protection and trade.

• The Rights & Communities Program, as a new WCS- Indonesia Program (IP), is being developed to ensure that our conservation actions safeguard the rights and wellbeing of local communities, as well as to support our field staff with efforts to engage and ally with local communities. We are deploying a Country Program-wide safeguards system, with supporting instruments, and are progressively implementing this in our landscapes and seascapes for use by WCS and partners. This Program is also developing scalable gender equity and social inclusion projects in our landscapes and seascapes.
• The One Health Program, as a new WCS-IP program, is being developed to strengthen multi-stakeholder efforts to implement a One Health approach that integrates environmental, wildlife, and human health. The Program will provide technical assistance to our other Programs to address the key infectious disease drivers: improving disease surveillance and response amongst different agencies; wildlife trade and commercial wild meat consumption; addressing disease at the livestock-wildlife-forest interface and supporting rural livelihoods (such as livestock vaccinations and outreach); a 'Blue Health' approach to address the devastating downstream consequences of poor land management (such as water-related human diseases and reduced coral reef health and resilience); and national policy support and awareness raising.
• The Marine Program is working in seascapes in the provinces of Aceh, West Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and North Maluku, as well as three marine national parks. This Program prioritizes an integrated approach that consists of the following: ecological and socioeconomic surveys; fisheries science and sustainable resource use; building climate resilient coastal communities; technical assistance for the creation and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and marine national parks; legal compliance to reduce destructive fishing practices; marine and fisheries policy reforms; and sustainable financing.

Job Purpose:

Senior Terrestrial Technical Advisor is responsible for leading concept note/proposal development and fundraising for the WCS-IP. This included working with colleagues to develop their ideas, and providing critical technical with design of projects emerging from WTP, Forests, One Health, and Rights & Communities. This role will provide the diversification of WCS' global donor network, with a focus on fundraising from sources outside of Indonesia. The position will also support Senior Management with a range of strategic issues as requested, including the development of the next Country Strategy, and with troubleshooting. The position sits within the WCS-IP Senior Management Team, reports to the Deputy Country Director and will work closely with the County Director, Director of Operations and other senior WCS IP staff, as well as the Regional Director and occasionally WCS Head Office.

Major Responsibilities:

• Lead fundraising for WCS-IP, including identifying funding needs and gaps, generating ideas, and developing high-quality concept notes and proposals (narratives, logframes, budgets, safeguarding documents, etc.) for projects across the Forests, Wildlife Trade & Policy, One Health, Rights & Communities Program portfolios. This also includes cross-cutting initiatives (e.g., Indonesia Biodiversity Fund) and regional initiatives (e.g., multi-country proposals).
• Support the Country Director and Deputy Director in delivering the country strategy, encompassing thematic program components as well as cross-cutting areas such as peer-to-peer learning, leadership, youth and technology.

• Provide technical assistance to the Deputy Country Director and Program Managers (WTP, Forests, One Health, and Rights & Communities) to ensure timely and high-quality project implementation, including effective delivery against the work plan, staffing and grants management.

• Support WCS IP's science driven approach to conservation by guiding staff to apply the latest science indeveloping interventions and Theories of Change, facilitating participation in scientific publications and international/regional conferences, and fostering international academic collaborations.

• Actively lead,manage, cultivate and diversify donor relations (public, private, corporate and individual) through proactive networking (e.g., such as one-on-one meetings, attending ceremonial events and field trips), coordination with WCS Global Resources and global technical teams, and the Strategic Partnership Director (especially in Europe and the US) to identify and develop new funding opportunities, and by supporting senior WCS-IP staff to effectively engage with key donors.
• Actively lead donor engagement to strengthen and grow WCS' Investment Plan under the Indonesia Biodiversity Fund (IBioFund)
• Support program leads in coordinating the completion and timely submission of donor narrative reports.
• Support the development of compelling donor communication by preparing and delivering presentations, briefs and infographics- both online and in person – to effectively engage and inform donors.
• Support capacity development of WCS-IP staff by identifying and creating professional development opportunities (e.g., trainings, conferences, post-graduate studies, short-term academic placements) and awards) to strengthen skills, enhance growth, and build a more effective conservation workforce for WCS-IP.

Qualification Requirements

Minimum Requirements and Job Skills:

• A Ph.D. in tropical biology, conservation biology or natural resource management or equivalent, or master's degree in the above disciplines with at least 5 years' experience with a field-based international conservation organisation
• Significant experience working in Indonesia , and Bahasa Indonesia language skills considered a strong advantage. Fluency in English language is required.
• 7-10 years' relevant work experience, with strong skills in project administration, coordination and development
• Significant experience working in Indonesia, and Bahasa Indonesia language skills considered a strong advantage.
• Proven ability to work sensitively and effectively with people of diverse cultures, value systems, perspectives and levels of education
• Excellent communication skills in writing, editing, and oral presentations, with clear publication track record
• Successful and diverse experience in concept note and proposal development for fundraising across a range of private, public, corporate and individual donors, coupled with strong grant management / grant reporting.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including sensitivity to different cultures and worldviews.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multitask and prioritize.
• A working knowledge of environmental and social safeguards processes.
• Ability to foster teamwork within the country program and across the region.
• Effective at both collaborative and independent work, with modest level of supervision
• A willingness to travel both nationally and regionally. Commitment to WCS's mission and Core Values, which are: Respect, Accountability & Transparency, Innovation, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Collaboration, and Integrity

WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, caste, genetic information or any other covered 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 upon a person's membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS sponsored recreational activities and facilities.

The organization complies with the spirit and intent of relevant local laws and WCS's employment.

Salary Range

Competitive salary commensurate with experience