Conservation and Research Program Director

**POSITION: CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAM DIRECTOR**

**Organisation**: Sabine Plattner African Charities (SPAC) Conservation Research
**Location**: Cape Town, South Africa

**About Sabine Plattner African Charities (SPAC) Conservation Research**

Sabine Plattner African Charities NPC (SPAC) is a South African non-profit organization dedicated to influencing and supporting the conservation of rainforests, wilderness, and protected areas in Africa. SPAC achieves this by supporting the livelihood strategies of local communities through education and science, promoting school curricula with enriched afro-centric conservation-related content. SPAC operates in multiple African countries, including Congo, Senegal, Morocco, Namibia, Rwanda, Gabon, and South Africa. Founded in 2008 by Sabine Plattner and funded by the German Hasso Plattner Foundation, SPAC is committed to creating empowered communities that co-exist with nature.

**Position Overview**

We are seeking a Research and Conservation Program Director to lead the growth of the SPAC Research Division, transforming it into an internationally recognised research institute. Guided by SPAC’s vision of _“Africans bringing knowledge about Africa to the world”_, the Director will champion sustainable, community-driven, and policy-informed strategies to ensure the long-term protection and enrichment of the Congo Basin rainforest.

The Program Director will play a pivotal role in shaping SPAC’s research agenda, driving innovation, and establishing new standards of research excellence in one of Africa’s most vital ecosystems.

Reports to SPAC Chief Executive Officer & Board of Directors.

**Key Responsibilities**

**Strategic Leadership**
- Proactively collaborate, maintain and newly establish partnerships with distinguished Research Professionals and Professors from ranging institutions and organisations.
- Comfortably interact at a Governmental level, engaging with Ministers and other government representatives in the Republic of Congo, South Africa and neighbouring countries.
- Equally comfortably interact with personnel at all education levels and diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Develop, implement and measure long-term impact.
- Unlock opportunities for groundbreaking research opportunities.

**Operational Management**
- Oversee the management of day-to-day operations of the entire SPAC Research programme, including human resources, IT, facilities, public relations and administrative functions.
- Implement the management structure at the Congo-based SPAC Research Station so that it may function seamlessly without your continued presence on-site.
- Ensure that no communication shortfalls exist between the Cape Town and Congo-based offices.
- Submit high quality reports and proposals, always meeting submission deadlines.

**Financial & Compliance Oversight**
- Plan the SPAC Research program budget and oversee resource allocation.
- Guarantee compliance with all relevant governmental regulations, university agreements, and permits across all jurisdictions, specifically in Germany, South Africa, and the Republic of Congo.

**Talent Management**
- Lead talent management initiatives, including recruitment, retention, and staff development.
- Expand upon and coordinate with SPAC’s Science Committee. Formulate a panel of experts that covers the multi-disciplinary range of research expertise.
- Foster a performance-driven work culture.

**Fluency in English is required, yet fluency in both French and English is strongly preferred.**

**Qualifications & Experience**
- A PhD in Science. Specialisations in One Health, Anthropology, Primatology, Conservation, Rainforests and/or Genomics is preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in a senior leadership role, in a research
- focused institution, or non-profit organisation, and preferably with operations in tropical forest and in the rural Africa.
- Proven experience in managing strategic initiatives within a diverse organisation that is spatially separated, and across a range of multi-disciplinary research topics.
- A distinguished track record of research publications and conference participation.

**Key Skills & Competencies**
- **Leadership**: Strong visionary leader with a track record of driving strategy and operations in a complex and remote environment.
- **Analytical Thinking**: Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and make informed decisions. Be able to easily grasp and engage in-depth in a wide range of research topics.
- **Innovation**: A creative and forward-thinking mindset to develop and implement new initiatives that drive SPAC’s mission.
- **Collaboration**: Excellent ability to work cross-functionally with staff, students and interns. Skilled at engaging with academic professionals, government officials and industry partners for impactful research outcomes.
- **Financial Acumen**: Expertise in managing large-scale budgets and ensuring resource optimisation.
- **Adaptability**: Ability to navigate and lea