Job Opportunity with WCS!

WCS is looking for a “NEPL Program Manager” to join our team.

Location: NEPL NP, Hiem district, Houaphan Province
Type: Full-Time
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (1.5-hour lunch break)
• Reports to (Supervisors): NEPL Landscape Director
• Country Program/Sector: WCS Lao Program, Greater Mekong Region, GCP
• Expected travel: As required within the country to field offices, and internationally if/when needed
• Supervisory For:
1. Field operations coordinator
a. Law enforcement operations
b. Biodiversity monitoring operations
c. GIS mapping and data management
2. Community Engagement and Livelihood Coordinator
a. Forest development village establishment and maintenance
b. Outreach and awareness
c. Natural resource livelihood improvement
d. Alternative livelihood development
e. Agro-ecological transitional activities support
3. Ecotourism Operational coordinator
4. Accounting and Office Management Coordinator

Organization Background:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has been working in Nam Et–Phou Louey National Park (NEPL NP) since the early 2000s. The park spans three provinces and ten districts and is managed from the national park headquarter in Hiem District of Houaphan Province. There are 90 villages closely associated with the park, with a combined population of around 30,000 people, many of whom live inside the park boundaries.

Our institutional relationship is governed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), which sets out our objectives, institutional arrangements, terms of reference, and key activities.

WCS’s primary operational partner is the Department of Forestry (DoF), and we work on site with the NEPL Management team, (Management Office MO), our direct partners at the field level.

Current context within the WCS broader strategy for NEPL NP

WCS follows an integrated approach to protected area management that incorporates the following components: biodiversity protection, biodiversity monitoring, community engagement, livelihood improvement, outreach and awareness, and eco-tourism.

In all our activities, we work closely with NEPL MO, district teams and other government stakeholders to implement component activities and programs that currently include:

1. Biodiversity protection through technical support for forest ranger patrols, law enforcement (LE) data management using the SMART patrol system, and coordination with relevant GoL agencies.
2. Biodiversity monitoring through ranger and eco-tourism observations, camera trap surveys, and deforestation mapping and reporting.
3. Community engagement through the establishment, maintenance, and continuous development of the Forest Development Village (FDV) model.
4. FDV co-management activities, including forest protection, natural resource management, watershed management, and monitoring.
5. Livelihood improvement initiatives, including a climate-smart organic coffee project involving 80 households, and support for agro-ecological transitions related to soil improvement and sustainable cattle management.
6. Eco-tourism initiatives, currently undergoing a transition toward community-led enterprises, supported by WCS technical assistance.

With the new Protected Area (PA) Decree passed in 2023, a road map for implementing key operational aspects of the decree is now underway. As a result, the application of the biodiversity mitigation hierarchy, sustainable financing mechanisms, and other key policy elements will feature prominently in the strategic planning and implementation of the programme.

The park is remote and difficult to access, with limited connectivity to local and international markets. This results in economic challenges for local communities and contributes to encroachment and activities not aligned with national laws and regulations. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated, multi-sectoral approach to problem-solving and management.

WCS Lao Program Overview:

WCS began working in Lao PDR in the 1980s, surveying wildlife and habitats around the country to assist the government in creating Lao PDR’s national protected area system. In the early 1990s, WCS documented wildlife and habitats in many of the newly created national protected areas and began supporting the government to train protected area managers, as well as raise awareness about illegal wildlife trade. In 1994, WCS officially established a country office in Lao PDR. Over almost three decades, WCS Lao PDR has successfully implemented more than 30 projects with the Government of Lao PDR, supported by more than 30 donors, and has increasingly moved away from a project approach into a more integrated, programmatic, strategic, and holistic approach to conservation.

Our vision for the Lao PDR Program is that the unique ecosystems of Lao PDR thrive indefinitely and are valued by the people of Lao PDR, and the world, for their biodiversity, natural beauty, and the services they provide to humanity. A core strategy to fulfill that vision is to improve protection and management of wildlife and wild places by building the capacity and meaningful participation of government and local stakeholders, raising public awareness through conservation outreach and education, providing alternative livelihoods—including nature-based tourism—to guardian villages, influencing institutional, policy, legal and regulatory reforms relevant to protected areas and wildlife, developing the national wildlife health surveillance network, and combatting illegal wildlife trade.

Job Summary:

The NEPL Program Manager serves as the WCS lead on site, responsible for the overall coordination, implementation, and management of the Nam Et–Phou Louey National Park Landscape Program. The position ensures that activities are effectively planned, implemented, and monitored in close collaboration with government partners, local communities, and technical teams. The Program Manager oversees staff performance, budget management, and program operations, and represents WCS in all external coordination related to NEPL NP.

Major Responsibilities (with close support of Grant and Compliance Coordinator):
1. Program Coordination and Leadership

• Lead the implementation of NEPL program activities in line with approved annual work plans and budgets.
• Coordinate and integrate the work of component teams (law enforcement, community engagement, ecotourism, and administration) to achieve strategic objectives.
• Ensure that program strategy and activities align and supports and current and emerging PA policy and impact mitigation measures.
• Support adaptive management by reviewing progress, identifying constraints, and facilitating solutions in collaboration with the Landscape Director and technical specialists.
• Ensure field operations comply with WCS and Government of Lao PDR regulations and procedures.

2. Government Liaison and Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent WCS to district, provincial, and national government partners, ensuring mutual understanding of program objectives.
• Strengthen collaboration between WCS and the NEPL National Park Management Unit (NEPL MU).
• Promote participatory management involving local government and communities as key stakeholders in NEPL NP conservation.
• Participate in and contribute to official meetings, workshops, and field visits with government and development partners.

3. Administration, Finance, and Compliance

• Oversee budget implementation, expenditure monitoring, and financial reporting in coordination with the Administration and Finance team.
• Ensure compliance with WCS financial, procurement, and logistical procedures.
• Support preparation of annual budgets, quarterly forecasts, and expenditure reports.
• Maintain effective communication with the Vientiane office on financial and administrative matters.

4. Human Resource Management

• Supervise and mentor component leads and support staff to ensure high performance and accountability.
• Facilitate staff recruitment, orientation, and performance evaluation in consultation with the Landscape Director.
• Identify staff capacity-building needs and facilitate relevant training opportunities.
• Promote a positive, professional, and inclusive working environment.

5. Monitoring, Reporting, and Communication

• Support data collection, analysis, and reporting on program indicators and conservation outcomes.
• Contribute to donor, government, and internal WCS reports as required.
• Ensure timely communication and documentation of program activities, achievements, and lessons learned.
• Maintain key program documentation, including management plans, policies, and agreements relevant to NEPL NP.

Other Duties

• Participate in WCS and government coordination meetings.
• Support donor visits and field missions as required.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the WCS Lao Country Program or NEPL Landscape Director.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

• Post graduate degree in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or a related field

Experience:

• Minimum five (5) years of professional experience in conservation or development, including at least five (5) years in project management.
• Experience working with government partners and communities in Lao PDR.

Knowledge and skills:

• Strong understanding of protected area management principles and conservation strategies.
• Familiarity with Lao PDR’s policy and institutional framework for protected areas.
• Excellent command of the English language. (spoken and written).
• Proficiency in Lao language.
• Competence in Microsoft Office and data management systems.
• Working knowledge of the applications, benefits, and limitations of artificial intelligence (AI) in conservation management.
• Strong leadership, coordination, and problem-solving skills

Personal qualities

• Demonstrate patience, flexibility, and cultural sensitivity.
• Commitment to teamwork, integrity, and WCS’s conservation mission.
• Ability to live and work in remote field conditions.

Application Process:

📬To Apply: Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications should apply by emailing an application letter and CV to 📧 recruitmentlaos@wcs.org

🗓️ Deadline: 22 January 2026

📝 Subject line: Please include “NEPL Program Manager” in the subject line of your email.

Women, persons with disabilities, and minority groups are encouraged to apply.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labour 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 supporting 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 age, colour, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next step.