Project Head/OiC, Bihar - Gandak Gharial Recovery Project & Valmiki Recovery Project

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI); Valmikinagar; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is seeking a Project Head for its Gharial Recovery Project in Valmikinagar, Bihar. This role involves implementing strategies to enhance Gharial populations through ecological interventions. Candidates should hold a Master’s Degree and possess at least 7 years of leadership experience, along with proficiency in ecological data analysis and fluency in Hindi.

The position requires strong project management skills, oversight of budgets, and stakeholder engagement to ensure successful project outcomes. Join WTI in making a difference in wildlife conservation.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience, preferably in leadership and project management roles.
• Understanding of the social dimensions of wildlife and nature conservation.
• Demonstrated experience in report writing and technical publications.

Responsibilities

• Oversee project outcomes and outputs as per the project plan.
• Manage budgets and stakeholder relations, including government departments.
• Ensure completion of activities and production of planned outputs.

Skills

Proficiency in ecological data collection and analysis

Leadership skills

Fluency in Hindi

Education

Master's Degree in Natural Sciences or related fields

Job description

Qualifications

1. Master's Degree in Natural Sciences, Biological Sciences, Ecological Sciences or related courses.
2. Minimum 7 years of experience, preferably in leadership and project management roles.
3. Proficiency in ecological data collection and analysis.
4. Understanding of the social dimensions of wildlife and nature conservation.
5. Leadership skills and ability to manage projects and teams.
6. Fluent in Hindi (mandatory).
7. Demonstrated experience in report writing and technical publications.

Role Context

The Project Head is responsible for implementing the Gharial Recovery Project & Valmiki Recovery Project, aiming to enhance the abundance and distribution of Gharial and to downgrade its threat level through social and ecological interventions (both in-situ & ex-situ). This managerial position oversees the achievement of the project’s outcomes and outputs as per the approved project plan, steering the Valmiki Recovery Project’s two major components: Habitat Restoration and Human-Carnivore Conflict Mitigation.

The Project Head ensures completion of all activities, production of all planned outputs, and attainment of all project outcomes by managing human resources, budgets, and stakeholder relations, including government departments and NGOs.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project planning and implementation with active team involvement.
2. Assess development needs to achieve project impact and draft concept notes or project proposals.
3. Develop drafts of progress and final reports.
4. Manage budget according to the approved project plan.
5. Ideate new project components to achieve impact.
6. Act as point person to ensure high-quality implementation of project activities.
7. Collect, manage, and share project-related data in proper format with team members.
8. Maintain field station and field camps, ensuring proper use, maintenance, and inventory of project equipment and assets.
9. Liaise with government department officials, local NGOs, and key stakeholders.
10. Ensure statutory compliance relevant to the project, coordinating with the state facilitator and HQ team.
11. Manage human resources of the project.
12. Project Planning, Management and Monitoring:
    • Conduct situation analysis and Theory of Change to develop an outline of the plan and Logical Framework for new projects or trienniums.
    • Prepare draft project and work plans in consultation with team members.
    • Review team members’ targets monthly and report to PI and DH quarterly.
    • Present monthly project progress in review meetings.
    • Conduct self-review of the project plan quarterly and share the review with staff and DH.
13. Fund & Financial Management:
    • Manage budget and book expenditures under appropriate activity heads for each donor.
    • Ensure funds are used judiciously to achieve anticipated outcomes.
    • Approve cash flow and expenditures per WTI policies and procedures.
    • Maintain expenditure records and share with the team during review meetings.
    • Submit timely budget change requests to CFO, PI, and DH for approval and mid‑term corrections.
    • Ensure travel, accommodation, and subsistence expenditures comply with entitlement rules and obtain necessary approvals for deviations.
14. Donor Coordination:
    • Coordinate with assigned donors when acting as Donor Point Person.
    • Provide timely updates to donor point persons regarding project progress and deliverables.
15. External Communication / Coordination:
    • Interact with media, prepare press releases, and represent the organization at appropriate forums.
    • Liaise with forest department, line departments, NGOs, academic institutions, etc., to facilitate project implementation.
16. MIS & Reports:
    • Collect quality data (quantitative & qualitative) for analysis, monitoring, and validation.
    • Maintain and share data on the shared drive with team members and HQ.
    • Update project data monthly and share with the team.
    • Maintain database of primary data collectors for future credit sharing.
    • Organize donor reports, including analysis, maps, and figures, based on donor requirements.
    • Draft donor reports in required format and submit to DH in advance for timely submission.
    • Share periodic reports, photographs, and video footage with the Communication Division for branding and communication needs.
    • Prepare and publish project outcomes, including conference presentations, following the approval process involving Principal Investigator, Division Head, Chief of Species, and Chief Ecologist.
17. Human Resources Management:
    • Ensure PMRs of all team members are completed meticulously and on time.
    • Approve leave of absence for all staff.
    • Conduct regular meetings to record grievances and project-related issues.
    • Motivate teams to deliver quality results through team‑building activities.
    • Facilitate skill development for team members.