Program Assistant

Job Description

**Position**: Program Assistant

Andes, Amazonia & Orinoquia Region

**Reports to**: Program Manager, Andes, Amazonia & Orinoquia

**Location**: WCS office in Colombia

**Division**: Global Conservation Program (GCP), Andes, Amazonas & Orinoco (AAO) region

**Position Type**: Full time

**Internal liaison**: Regional staff (country directors, deputy directors, science directors, financial managers and others) in AAO country programs (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil); other relevant regional staff, Regional Director, Business Manager, Grant Managers, Principal Investigators and thematic leaders; WCS Global staff, including Program Development and Global Resources teams.

**Expected travel**: Approximately 5%. As required within the region and to donor/technical meetings as needed/possible.

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 is organized in regional programs, including the Andes, Amazon & Orinoco region (AAO), which encompasses programs in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, as well as regional involvement in a variety of conservation issues.

The Program Assistant supports the regional team in the implementation of conservation projects and the development of innovative initiatives that support the execution of WCS work streams. To achieve this objective, the Program Assistant is responsible for the follow-up and development of regional initiatives, programs and projects, monitoring and providing support to the development of their activities, and supporting their implementation according to the standards and timelines established by donors and internal policies. Likewise, the Program Assistant is in charge of streamlining the internal processes required for the formulation of new proposals and reformulations, providing support to complete the different internal requirements for their approval.

**Main Responsibilities**:
In support of and in close collaboration with the Program Manager and AAO Regional Director:
a) Monitoring and follow-up of proposals, reports, and others to meet required deadlines, ensuring quality standards set by WCS and donors, among others through close coordination with relevant team members.

b) Monitoring, follow-up, and support to the roadmap for the formulation of new proposals; definition of time and people to be involved, coordination between the parties involved, monitoring and follow-up to the steps of the roadmap.

c) Executing specific assigned activities, guaranteeing the fulfillment and quality of the expected results. This involves developing specific deliverables, preparing terms of reference for contractors and consultants, and monitoring compliance of activities by staff, contractors, and consultants as appropriate.

d) Assist in the execution of regional projects, specifically in the follow-up of contracting, organization of information, scheduling, and development of follow-up meetings, among others.

e) Assist country programs in fully understanding the internal processes for the formulation and approval of proposals. In addition, to accompany the reporting of projects to the different donors.

f) Support the preparation and ensure the timely submission of high-quality proposals and reports (technical and financial, interim and final) to donors in collaboration with country teams and partners. This includes organizing preparation and review processes to ensure deadlines are met; drafting, reviewing, and editing for quality assurance; coordinating review and approval by other WCS departments and country programs; and supporting the submission process.

g) Support in the management, review, and approval processes for grant agreements and contracts, in consultation with legal and finance departments.

h) Respond to public inquiries and general requests for programmatic information.

i) Organization of information regarding initiatives, programs, and projects in which it is involved, as well as proposals in which it participates in their development.

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Qualification Requirements
- Undergraduate degree in areas related to management (administration, e