About this role
The Wilder Institute Ghana team is seeking a fixed term, full time Project Engineer who will provide technical engineering expertise and lead the planning, design, implementation, and delivery of infrastructure and construction activities associated with conservation and community development initiatives within the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary (WCHS) and Avu Lagoon Community Protected Area (ALCPA).
Reporting to the Conservation Operations Manager, this role provides overall project leadership and accountability across all phases of project delivery and ensures that all infrastructure projects are technically sound, environmentally responsible, culturally appropriate, and compliant within local regulations and organizational standards. The position ensures that all infrastructure projects are delivered on schedule, within budget, to required quality standards.
This position will work closely with project staff, local contractors, architects, engineers, and specialty consultants, community representatives, and government authorities to safely deliver technically sound, environmentally responsible, and culturally appropriate infrastructure that supports long-term sustainability and community livelihoods.
Our Purpose | We act for wildlife; saving species and inspiring people to join us.
Our Core Values | Drive impact, nurture connection, cultivate hope, and be bold.
Location: Accra, Ghana
Contract:
- Start Date: October 2026 or as soon as possible
- End Date: December 2029
What you will do:
Project Planning, Management, and Delivery
- Lead and manage infrastructure projects from concept through completion, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, control, and close-out.
- Ensure that projects are completed on schedule, within approved budgets, and in accordance with agreed scopes, performance criteria, quality standards, and organizational policies including regulatory compliance.
- Develop and manage project scopes, work plans, schedules, budgets, and risk registers for all assigned infrastructure projects.
- Track milestones and performance and institute necessary workflow, personnel, and financial resource adjustments as required.
- Anticipate, identify, and mitigate project risks related to scope, schedule, cost, quality, safety, environmental impacts, animal welfare, and community relations.
Technical Planning and Design
- Provide technical oversight and review of engineering designs, drawings, and specifications prepared by consultants or contractors to ensure quality, safety, and constructability, and compliance with applicable standards and regulations.
- Review and approve contractor invoices and manage budget changes and related documentation in collaboration with finance and procurement teams.
- Conduct and oversee site assessments to inform infrastructure planning, including consideration of environmental impacts, terrain, hydrology, and community use.
- Support the selection of appropriate project delivery models and construction methodologies for assigned projects.
Construction Supervision and Quality Control
- Oversee and monitor construction activities to ensure work is completed according to approved designs, timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
- Ensure adherence to occupational health and safety standards on construction sites.
- Regularly inspect project sites to ensure that materials and workmanship meet required quality standards and local regulations.
- Identify technical risks, construction challenges, or safety concerns, propose practical solutions, and communicate them promptly to the Conservation Operations Manager for mitigation.
- Coordinate contractor performance and ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement
- Liaise with government agencies, regulatory bodies, local authorities, contractors, consultants, and community stakeholders to facilitate approvals, permitting, coordination, and effective communication.
- Establish and manage working relationships with consultants, contractors, and suppliers to ensure effective and culturally appropriate project delivery.
- Act as the primary interface between the WI-Ghana, external project partners, and WCHS/ALCPA internal stakeholders on infrastructure-related matters.
Procurement and Contract Management
- Lead and support procurement processes, including development of technical scopes of work, bills of quantities, RFPs, contractor evaluations, and contract administration.
- Review contractor deliverables, approve invoices, and manage budget changes and related documentation in collaboration with finance and procurement teams.
- Ensure infrastructure activities align with environmental, social, and cultural safeguards and organizational sustainability principles.
Reporting and Compliance
- Contribute technical and project management input to project reporting, including progress updates, risk assessments, and infrastructure-related sections of donor and internal reports.
- Ensure all infrastructure activities comply with environmental, social, and cultural safeguards, as well as WCHS/ALCPA sustainability principles.
- Ensure all project documentation is properly initiated, authorized, maintained, and filed for audit and record-keeping purposes.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
What you will bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction, Project Management, or a related field-required
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is preferred.
- Registered with the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) is preferred.
- 7-10 years of relevant project management experience is requried
- Professional experience in project management, infrastructure development, architecture, construction management, engineering (mechanical or electric preferred), or a related field is required.
- Experience working in remote or resource-limited settings is an asset.
- Experience working with community-based projects, NGOs, or development organizations is an asset.
- Strong understanding of engineering and construction principles and related to site development, structures, water management, or transportation infrastructure.
- Demonstrated experience managing infrastructure or construction projects and working with contractors or consultants under various project delivery models such as design build, construction management, at risk, etc.
- Proven ability to manage project budgets up to $500,000, schedules, contractors, and consultants.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documents.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- Cultural sensitivity and adaptability in cross-cultural work environments.
Working Conditions:
- Based on a 40hr work week with a flexible schedule to accommodate working across multiple time zones (Ghana and Canada) as needed
- Extensive office work involving long periods of sitting at computer work stations.
- Extensive time spent at project locations may include field work/conditions which may involve hazards such as dangerous animals, insects, sunburn, working with field equipment such as trucks or ATVs, heavy lifting of field equipment, exposure to wildlife diseases, and working in rural areas and/or remote communities. Field conditions might also involve working long, irregular hours in inclement weather.
- Travel or reside in field locations or project communities as necessary.
- Driving on highways, dirt roads, and occasional air travel.
- Travel between project sites and head office as necessary
The Wilder Institute Ghana may require outdoor work and staff must be comfortable working in a large variety of outdoor conditions. The Wilder Institute’s Ghana follows the advice of local weather authorities when responding to temperature and air quality issues.
What the Wilder Institute Ghana Offers:
- We offer competitive compensation!
- A fun, rewarding work environment dedicated to driving forward inclusive, sustainable conservation.
Are you ready to join a leader in wildlife conservation? If this position suits your skills, experience and personal attributes, we want to talk to you.
Apply by doing the following:
- Watch this video about the conservation work being done at the Wilder Institute. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J1VH1MBXm0)
- Submit your resume with a cover letter via our online application system.
- Fill in the Application questions:
- Confirm eligibility to work in Ghana.
- If hired, when would you be available to start?
- Please briefly describe how your experience and skills would align with this position.
- Do you have a valid driver’s licence?
- What are your salary expectations?
Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Ghana.
If this position is a fit for you, we encourage you to apply with a resume and cover letter online by our application deadline: August 19, 2026.
The Wilder Institute strives to cultivate a workplace in which everyone feels welcome and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. As a conservation organization, we respect and value the diversity of all life and come together as individuals and teammates to achieve the organization’s mission and vision. We recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and work to advance our culture to ensure diverse viewpoints are heard, and everyone has an equitable chance to succeed and thrive.
This position is an existing vacancy within our organization. The Wilder Institute uses basic knockout questions in application to support screening; applications are otherwise assessed and selected by real humans.
All candidates are thanked for their applications and advised that they will be contacted once applications have been reviewed, and a final decision has been made.
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