JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE
Programme Leader, Sabah Terrestrial Conservation
Programme
REPORTS TO
Head of Conservation, Sabah
Place of attachment: WWF-Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Purpose of Job
The programme leader will provide strategic guidance and expert interventions to shape and
advance Sabah Terrestrial Conservation Programme towards making high conservation
impacts. The candidate is required to bring extensive knowledge in landscape conservation,
spatial planning, species and forest ecology and conservation. The candidate is expected to
have experience in implementing landscape-scale conservation programmes and is abreast
with conservation needs and policy environment and opportunities in Sabah.
Job Responsibilities
1. To provide leadership to the programme in strategic and operational aspects for its effective
and efficient implementation.
2. To provide technical inputs and source required expert advice for making evidence-based
decisions and achieving science-based conservation.
3. To do periodic reviews of the programme for prioritization of activities, to assess
effectiveness of outputs, monitor outcomes and carry out adaptive management of the
programme.
4. To ensure that all the objectives and thereby the conservation outcomes planned in the
programme are achieved.
5. To engage with collaborators, partners and other stakeholders and coordinate joint activities
for effective implementation of the programme.
6. To co-ordinate with WWF network partner offices and collaborate with global programmes of
the network such as the Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy (AREAS) in furthering
the goals of the programme.
7. To obtain reviews and other technical inputs for the programme from peers within and
outside of WWF-Malaysia.
8. To provide supervision to and share with the deputy project manager the administrative and
finance management responsibilities of the programme.
9. To prepare periodical reports for the programme, assisted by the deputy manager.
10. To provide supervision to programme staff in preparing and monitoring quarterly workplans
and in carrying out the planned activities. To support in building staff technical and
conservation capacities.
11. To provide inputs to the Conservation Geographic Information Systems Unit (CGIS) in
developing various mapping products and in monitoring forest loss and degradation.
12. To involve in senior level engagement with government agencies in Sabah, particularly
related to implementing spatial conservation planning and other parts of the programme.
13. To take part in implementation of certain components of the programme, particularly the
spatial planning, protected areas, species and forest conservation components.
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14. Enhancing the funding of WWF-Malaysia’s conservation projects by working closely with
Head of Conservation, Sabah in fundraising efforts led by the Marketing Department of
WWF-Malaysia.
15. Provides the Head of Conservation, Sabah inputs as requested in his/her preparation for
documents for submission to the WWF-Malaysia’s Senior Management Team (SMT),
Executive Committee and Board meetings.
16. Participate wholeheartedly in the general activities of WWF-Malaysia, particularly events and
activities that require the full support and participation of all staff members, whether or not
the focus of any particular event or activity has any bearing on the job description and
assigned project objectives and activities.
Required qualifications:
1. A postgraduate degree in the field of biological conservation (e.g., zoology, wildlife biology,
conservation biology, etc.) from a recognized university. Having a Ph.D. in the field of
biological conservation would be an advantage.
2. At least five (8) years of experience, in biological conservation or environmental fieldwork,
with the last 3 years at a senior position. Experience of advocacy and engagement work
would be an advantage.
3. Excellent knowledge and commitment on the issues of wildlife conservation in Borneo.
4. Experience specifically in forest and species conservation will be a basic requirement.
5. Excellent writing and speaking skills in English. Being a well-versed communicator would be
an advantage.
6. Must be computer literate and have the ability to use appropriate technology for presentation
to partners, stakeholders and potential donors.
7. Excellent leadership, diplomatic and interpersonal skills.
8. Having a calm temperament, with a methodical and meticulous approach to work.
9. Must be able to work with minimal supervision, both in the field and in the office.
10. Organization and management skills are required.
Background to the Sabah Terrestrial Conservation Programme
The Sabah Terrestrial Conservation Programme (STCP) envisions conservation in perpetuity for
Sabah’s forests, riverine systems and biodiversity, and in particular its endangered species.
Conservation of biological diversity thus becomes the broad thematic scope of the programme.
The geographical scope extends to whole of Sabah, but strategically it focuses on areas where
significant biodiversity and in particular the chosen conservation targets are distributed.
The forest types that are most threatened currently or were most lost historically, and
species that are endangered or threatened by special threats that go beyond habitat loss, most
notably poaching were identified as targets for the programme. Lowland and upland dipterocarp
forests, orang-utan, Sumatran rhino, Bornean elephant, Sundaland clouded leopard, banteng
and the group of species threatened by domestic and international trade, such as pangolin and
python are the chosen targets. In addition, the riverine ecosystem of Sabah which is threatened
by pollution has also been chosen as a target.
The threats chosen to be addressed in the programme as a priority include conversion of
forest to oil palm and timber plantations, poaching driven by local consumption, domestic and
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international trade, unsustainable logging leading to forest degradation, and pollution of river
systems. Various strategies to reduce the threats and in some cases to address the factors
driving the threats were devised.
Spatial planning for conservation was chosen as an important and urgent strategy to
address the threat of forest conversion. It is expected to make a great impact on conservation of
key biodiversity and priority conservation areas if it succeeds. It is also seen as an over-arching
strategy that can guide implementation of other strategies such as protected areas, forest
restoration, financing forests for protection, forest certification, oil palm certification, human and
elephant conflict resolution, and strategic patrolling.
Other strategies that have been developed to reduce the threats include: establishment
and effective management of protected areas, restoration of forest cover to corridors and
degraded habitats, financing forests for protection (REDD+ and other such payments),
increased strategic patrolling & enforcement, responsible palm oil, responsible forestry and
effective river basin management.
The activities we will do to implement the strategies will achieve the various objectives and
these will collectively produce the outcome of reduction in threats to the conservation targets.
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The outcomes expected from this programme are:
By June 2016, planned conversion of key biodiversity areas and other priority areas for
conservation are stopped;
By June 2016, poaching incidents are reduced through strategic patrolling, increased effort
and capacity for enforcement, and improved management of protected areas;
By June 2016, conflict between humans and wildlife (particularly, elephants) is reduced;
Sustainably managed / credibly certified upland dipterocarp forest area is increased by
250,000 ha by June 2016;
By June 2020, water quality status in at least 2 key riverine systems are improved in terms
of selected indicators with reference to 2013 baseline level.
By achieving reduction in these high-ranking threats to our conservation targets and by
spatial planning for conservation, our long-term goals of maintaining a representative extent of
forest types and endangered species ranges, biodiversity-rich forest landscapes, riverine
systems and viable populations of endangered species across Sabah’s landscapes will be
achieved.
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