Background

African Parks (AP) is a non-profit organisation that manages national parks and protected areas on behalf of governments and other partners. Our mission is to restore and sustain these vital ecosystems for the benefit of people and wildlife.

Job Overview

The Conservation Manager oversees developing, managing and implementing all Conservation, Research and Monitoring, and Habitat Management strategies within Liuwa Plain National Park and to efficiently inform management decisions.

Responsibilities

• Advise and support the management team on anti-poaching planning and areas to implement patrols in the reserve and its periphery.
• Manage the biodiversity and conservation department as described in the business plan. Ensure sound budget follow-up (no over nor underspending). Ensure the compliance with AP SOPs in all activities.
• Implement the Parks’ Monitoring Programme, ensuring all biodiversity conservation metrics are collected and stored. Ensure the Research Framework is in place and addresses key knowledge gaps.
• Monitoring activities including aerial surveys, camera trap surveys, ornithological monitoring, botanical surveys, animal trapping and collaring, hydrological monitoring, fish and fishery monitoring, meteorological monitoring, etc.
• Monitor any decline of any of the species in the park.
• Work closely with the community department to examine the relationships between humans and their environment across space and time. Focus specifically on fishing and water management in coordination with relevant partners (Including local Government partners) as well as the influence of the angulate population on this.
• Plan and implement the required conservation studies to support other departments (Law Enforcement, Tourism & Commercial Development) as described in the business plan.
• Plan and manage species reintroduction and translocation projects (cheetah and other species as deemed necessary).
• Maintain and improve the ecological database (baseline species lists, etc.) of Liuwa Plain National Park landscape.
• Cultivate existing research and conservation partnerships, and develop new ones, particularly at a national level.
• Deliver weekly and monthly reports of the activities of the department to management. Deliver scientifically sound reports for all key activities mentioned in the business plan.

Qualifications and Experience

• Strong proven experience in conservation management and research, ideally in remote environments.
• Strong team and project management skills.
• Strong GIS skills.
• Good statistical analysis skills and writing skills.
• Experience working in multi-cultural environments.
• Adaptability to changing environments.
• Highly resilient – must be able to work in remote and challenging environments.
• Fluent in English and a local language (written and spoken).
• Administrative and computer skills.
• Diplomacy and ability to build good relationships.
• Good communication skills.
• Good analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Good logistics skills.
• Results oriented.
• Ability to make decisions.
• Ability to teach and transfer knowledge as well as mentor.

• Advise and support the management team on anti-poaching planning and areas to implement patrols in the reserve and its periphery.
• Manage the biodiversity and conservation department as described in the business plan. Ensure sound budget follow-up (no over nor underspending). Ensure the compliance with AP SOPs in all activities.
• Implement the Parks’ Monitoring Programme, ensuring all biodiversity conservation metrics are collected and stored. Ensure the Research Framework is in place and addresses key knowledge gaps.
• Monitoring activities including aerial surveys, camera trap surveys, ornithological monitoring, botanical surveys, animal trapping and collaring, hydrological monitoring, fish and fishery monitoring, meteorological monitoring, etc.
• Monitor any decline of any of the species in the park.
• Work closely with the community department to examine the relationships between humans and their environment across space and time. Focus specifically on fishing and water management in coordination with relevant partners (Including local Government partners) as well as the influence of the angulate population on this.
• Plan and implement the required conservation studies to support other departments (Law Enforcement, Tourism & Commercial Development) as described in the business plan.
• Plan and manage species reintroduction and translocation projects (cheetah and other species as deemed necessary).
• Maintain and improve the ecological database (baseline species lists, etc.) of Liuwa Plain National Park landscape.
• Cultivate existing research and conservation partnerships, and develop new ones, particularly at a national level.
• Deliver weekly and monthly reports of the activities of the department to management. Deliver scientifically sound reports for all key activities mentioned in the business plan.

• Strong team and project management skills
• Strong GIS skills
• Good statistical analysis skills
• Good writing skills
• Adaptability to changing environments
• Fluent in English and a local language (written and spoken)
• Administrative and computer skills
• Diplomacy and ability to build good relationships
• Good communication skills
• Good analytical skills and attention to detail
• Good logistics skills
• Ability to make decisions
• Ability to teach and transfer knowledge as well as mentor

• Strong proven experience in conservation management and research, ideally in remote environments.
• Experience working in multi-cultural environments.
• Highly resilient – must be able to work in remote and challenging environments.