Home Jobs Regional Program Manager, Southeast-Asia Pacific (SEAP)
Back to Jobs

Regional Program Manager, Southeast-Asia Pacific (SEAP) - Job Opportunity at Wildlife Conservation Society

Singapore, Singapore
Full-time
Senior
Posted: August 25, 2025
On-site
USD 85,000 - 120,000 per year. This estimate reflects the senior-level nature of the role, Singapore's competitive market for international NGO positions, and the specialized expertise required for managing complex conservation programs across multiple countries. The upper range accounts for the strategic importance of the Coral Triangle region and the merger of two former regions into this new 'super-region'.

Benefits

Competitive salary package positioned to attract top-tier conservation professionals with extensive international experience
Comprehensive benefits package typical of established international conservation organizations
Professional development opportunities through exposure to diverse conservation challenges across six country programs
International career advancement within a globally recognized conservation network
Cultural immersion and cross-regional collaboration opportunities spanning the Coral Triangle biodiversity hotspot

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic coordination of conservation programs across six countries in the Southeast Asia-Pacific region, directly impacting marine biodiversity conservation in the globally critical Coral Triangle ecosystem
Drive organizational excellence by establishing seamless collaboration frameworks between regional teams and WCS Global headquarters, ensuring alignment of conservation priorities with international funding strategies
Orchestrate complex grant management processes involving EU, US, and bilateral donors, managing multi-million dollar conservation portfolios that determine the success of protected area management and community engagement initiatives
Spearhead cross-cultural stakeholder engagement with government entities, international donors, and local communities, building strategic partnerships that advance sustainable conservation financing across diverse Pacific Island and Southeast Asian contexts
Champion innovative Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning (MEAL) approaches that maximize conservation impact while ensuring rigorous compliance with international donor requirements and WCS policy frameworks
Direct knowledge management systems and workflow optimization processes that enhance operational efficiency across rapidly expanding conservation programs in biodiversity-rich archipelagos

Requirements

Education

A Bachelors or Master's degree in a related field (international relations, development, social or natural sciences or similar), or equivalent work experience

Experience

Minimum 8+ years professional experience

Required Skills

Proven successful grants management skills, ideally with EU, US and/or other bilateral donors, including proposal and report writing, but also workflow management and compliance Ability to multi-task and deliver high quality outputs sometimes within short deadlines Experience working, coordinating and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including partner NGOs Proven effective coordination skills, with excellent communication, organizational and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated success in working with diverse partners and within a large, dynamic and complex program to achieve common objectives Excellent oral and written communication skills in English Willingness to travel to sites across the region Interest in conservation and committed to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society
Advertisement
Ad Space

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The conservation sector is experiencing unprecedented growth in biodiversity financing, with global commitments reaching $200 billion annually through initiatives like the Global Biodiversity Framework, creating expanded opportunities for senior program management roles in critical ecosystems like the Coral Triangle Climate change adaptation and marine conservation have become priority areas for international donors, with Southeast Asia receiving increased funding attention due to its vulnerability and biodiversity significance, driving demand for experienced regional program managers There is a notable shift toward integrated conservation approaches that combine community engagement, sustainable livelihoods, and policy reform, requiring program managers with sophisticated stakeholder coordination skills and cross-cultural competencies Digital transformation in conservation is creating new requirements for data management, remote monitoring, and virtual collaboration skills, particularly important for roles managing geographically dispersed teams across multiple countries and time zones

Role Significance

The role involves coordinating with regional teams of 15-25 professionals including Regional Business and Grants Managers, plus extensive coordination with country program teams across six nations, effectively influencing the work of 50-100+ conservation professionals across the region.
This is a senior-level strategic role functioning as the operational backbone of a newly formed super-region encompassing six countries. The position holds significant influence over conservation outcomes in one of the world's most biodiverse regions, with direct reporting to the Regional Director and coordination responsibilities that span from grassroots community programs to international policy initiatives.

Key Projects

Multi-million dollar marine protected area establishment and management projects across the Coral Triangle Community-based conservation initiatives integrating traditional knowledge with scientific conservation approaches Policy reform campaigns addressing illegal wildlife trade and sustainable fisheries management Sustainable financing mechanism development for long-term conservation funding Cross-border conservation corridor projects linking terrestrial and marine ecosystems

Success Factors

Excellence in cross-cultural communication and relationship building, as success depends on effectively coordinating diverse teams across six countries with varying languages, cultures, and conservation challenges while maintaining cohesive regional strategy implementation Sophisticated grant management expertise combined with strategic thinking ability to navigate complex donor requirements while advancing conservation objectives, requiring both technical compliance skills and diplomatic finesse in donor relations Systems thinking and process optimization capabilities essential for streamlining workflows across newly merged regions while maintaining operational excellence during rapid organizational growth and portfolio expansion Adaptive leadership skills crucial for managing uncertainty and change in a dynamic conservation landscape where climate impacts, political changes, and funding shifts require constant strategic adjustment and stakeholder realignment

Market Demand

High demand with limited qualified candidates. The conservation sector faces a shortage of professionals with both technical conservation expertise and sophisticated international program management skills, particularly those with experience in Southeast Asian and Pacific Island contexts.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Grant management expertise with EU, US, and bilateral donors is absolutely essential as this skill directly determines the organization's ability to secure and maintain the multi-million dollar funding streams that sustain conservation programs across the region, with compliance failures potentially resulting in loss of major funding relationships Cross-cultural coordination and stakeholder management capabilities are fundamental to success given the need to work effectively across six countries with diverse languages, political systems, and cultural contexts while maintaining cohesive regional strategy implementation Strategic communication skills in English are vital for representing regional interests to global headquarters, donors, and international partners, requiring ability to translate complex conservation challenges into compelling narratives that secure continued support and alignment

Beneficial Skills

Multilingual capabilities, particularly in Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, or other regional languages, would significantly enhance community engagement effectiveness and stakeholder relationship development Digital project management and data analytics skills are increasingly valuable as conservation programs adopt technology-enhanced monitoring and evaluation systems Climate change adaptation expertise would provide additional value given the region's vulnerability to climate impacts and the growing focus on resilience-building in conservation programming

Unique Aspects

This role offers the rare opportunity to shape conservation strategy across the newly formed Coral Triangle super-region, representing one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems globally and requiring innovative approaches to cross-border conservation coordination
The position combines high-level strategic planning with hands-on program management in a rapidly evolving organizational structure, offering exceptional learning opportunities and career acceleration potential within a prestigious international conservation organization
Singapore's position as a regional hub provides unique access to government officials, international donors, and regional partners, creating unparalleled networking and professional development opportunities for advancement in international conservation careers
The role encompasses remarkable cultural and ecological diversity, from tropical rainforests to coral reefs, requiring sophisticated stakeholder engagement across indigenous communities, national governments, and international organizations

Career Growth

3-5 years to Regional Director level with strong performance, or 2-3 years to specialized Country Director roles. Progression to global leadership positions typically requires 5-7 years of additional experience building on this regional foundation.

Potential Next Roles

Regional Director positions within WCS or similar international conservation organizations, representing natural progression to full regional leadership responsibility Country Director roles offering deeper geographic specialization and government relations experience Global Program Director positions at international conservation organizations focusing on marine or biodiversity conservation Senior positions at multilateral organizations like UNDP, World Bank, or regional development banks focusing on environmental programs

Company Overview

Wildlife Conservation Society

Wildlife Conservation Society stands as one of the world's most prestigious conservation organizations, founded in 1895 and operating in over 60 countries worldwide. WCS combines field conservation work with scientific research and policy advocacy, managing some of the world's most important protected areas while maintaining strong relationships with governments, local communities, and international donors.

WCS holds elite status among international conservation organizations, comparable to WWF and The Nature Conservancy, with particular strength in science-based conservation and protected area management. The organization's reputation for rigorous scientific standards and effective field programs makes it highly attractive to both top-tier conservation professionals and major international donors.
The Southeast Asia-Pacific region represents a strategic priority area for WCS due to its extraordinary biodiversity and conservation challenges. The recent merger creating this super-region demonstrates WCS's commitment to scaling impact in the Coral Triangle, positioning this role within an expanding and well-funded regional operation with strong institutional support.
WCS maintains a mission-driven culture emphasizing scientific rigor, collaborative decision-making, and long-term conservation impact. The organization values diverse perspectives and cross-cultural competency, creating an inclusive environment where conservation professionals can develop expertise across multiple disciplines while contributing to globally significant conservation outcomes.
Advertisement
Ad Space
Apply Now

Data Sources & Analysis Information

Job Listings Data

The job listings displayed on this platform are sourced through BrightData's comprehensive API, ensuring up-to-date and accurate job market information.

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Our advanced AI system analyzes each job listing to provide valuable insights including:

  • Industry trends and market dynamics
  • Salary estimates and market demand analysis
  • Role significance and career growth potential
  • Critical success factors and key skills
  • Unique aspects of each position

This integration of reliable job data with AI-powered analysis helps provide you with comprehensive insights for making informed career decisions.