Overview:

The Field Operations Manager is a senior operational role responsible for strengthening, overseeing, and standardising Resource Protection operations across Musekese Conservation’s sites, with a primary base in Mumbwa (Mumbwa GMA) and programme-wide responsibilities including Kasonso–Busanga GMA.

The role provides hands-on operational oversight, quality control, and support to Operations Managers and field teams, ensuring that Resource Protection activities are effective, accountable, legally sound, and aligned with organisational standards. The Field Operations Manager brings strong operational leadership combined with a deep understanding of legal processes, court procedures, and human rights considerations as they apply in field-based conservation contexts.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Oversight & Leadership

• Provide senior operational oversight to all Resource Protection Operations Managers to ensure consistent standards, performance, and accountability.
• Support, mentor, and performance-manage Operations Managers in coordination with the Senior Field Operations Manager.
• Conduct regular site visits and operational reviews across Mumbwa, Kasonso–Busanga, and other relevant sites.
• Identify operational risks, gaps, or underperformance and recommend corrective actions.
• Act as a senior operational authority in the absence of the Senior Field Operations Manager, as required.

Resource Protection Operations & Standards

• Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of Resource Protection activities, including patrols, deployments, and response operations, in accordance with and under the supervision of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).
• Ensure adherence to Musekese Conservation’s Resource Protection SOPs, policies, and ethical standards.
• Support Operations Managers in improving operational efficiency, reporting accuracy, and decision-making.
• Strengthen consistency of operations across different GMAs and sites.

Legal Compliance, Case Quality & Court Interface

• Oversee the operational legality of Resource Protection activities, including arrests, searches, seizures, detention procedures, and evidence handling.
• Ensure high-quality case preparation, documentation, and chain-of-custody practices to support successful prosecutions.
• Provide operational guidance to field teams on lawful procedures in line with Zambian legislation and human rights standards.
• Act as a senior operational liaison with DNPW, Zambia Police Service, prosecutors, and court officials on active cases, as required.

Monitoring, Accountability & Reporting

• Conduct routine operational audits and reviews to assess compliance with SOPs and organisational standards.
• Ensure timely escalation of operational concerns, misconduct, or non-compliance to the Senior Field Operations Manager.
• Contribute to internal reporting, donor reporting inputs, and incident reviews as required.
• Support the strengthening of accountability systems across the Resource Protection programme.

Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work collaboratively with Community Conservation teams to ensure alignment between Resource Protection activities and community engagement objectives.
• Represent Musekese Conservation in relevant operational meetings with partners, authorities, and stakeholders when delegated.
• Support constructive relationships with statutory partners while maintaining professional independence and organisational standards.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Law or equivalent legal qualification.
• 8+ years’ experience in Resource Protection, law enforcement, conservation operations, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience working with courts, prosecutors, or legal processes related to arrests and prosecutions.
• Strong understanding of human rights principles as applied to field-based operations.
• Proven leadership experience managing or overseeing operational teams.
• Willingness and ability to work in remote field locations and travel extensively
• Experience and knowledge of fire management
• Prior experience working with or alongside DNPW or similar statutory bodies.
• Familiarity with conservation or protected-area enforcement environments.
• High integrity and sound judgment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage difficult conversations professionally.
• Detail-oriented with a strong sense of accountability
• Knowledge of Zambian environmental regulations and policies through the various natural resource management acts.
• Zambian Citizen or Resident
• Valid Manual Drivers License and 4×4 experience

• Provide senior operational oversight to all Resource Protection Operations Managers to ensure consistent standards, performance, and accountability.
• Support, mentor, and performance-manage Operations Managers in coordination with the Senior Field Operations Manager.
• Conduct regular site visits and operational reviews across Mumbwa, Kasonso–Busanga, and other relevant sites.
• Identify operational risks, gaps, or underperformance and recommend corrective actions.
• Act as a senior operational authority in the absence of the Senior Field Operations Manager, as required.
• Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of Resource Protection activities, including patrols, deployments, and response operations, in accordance with and under the supervision of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).
• Ensure adherence to Musekese Conservation’s Resource Protection SOPs, policies, and ethical standards.
• Support Operations Managers in improving operational efficiency, reporting accuracy, and decision-making.
• Strengthen consistency of operations across different GMAs and sites.
• Oversee the operational legality of Resource Protection activities, including arrests, searches, seizures, detention procedures, and evidence handling.
• Ensure high-quality case preparation, documentation, and chain-of-custody practices to support successful prosecutions.
• Provide operational guidance to field teams on lawful procedures in line with Zambian legislation and human rights standards.
• Act as a senior operational liaison with DNPW, Zambia Police Service, prosecutors, and court officials on active cases, as required.
• Conduct routine operational audits and reviews to assess compliance with SOPs and organisational standards.
• Ensure timely escalation of operational concerns, misconduct, or non-compliance to the Senior Field Operations Manager.
• Contribute to internal reporting, donor reporting inputs, and incident reviews as required.
• Support the strengthening of accountability systems across the Resource Protection programme.
• Work collaboratively with Community Conservation teams to ensure alignment between Resource Protection activities and community engagement objectives.
• Represent Musekese Conservation in relevant operational meetings with partners, authorities, and stakeholders when delegated.
• Support constructive relationships with statutory partners while maintaining professional independence and organisational standards.

• Strong operational leadership
• Deep understanding of legal processes, court procedures, and human rights considerations
• Mentoring and performance management
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Operational efficiency improvement
• Case preparation and documentation
• Lawful procedure guidance
• Stakeholder engagement
• Human rights principles application
• Leadership experience
• Fire management knowledge
• Interpersonal skills
• Detail-oriented
• Accountability
• 4x4 driving

• Degree in Law or equivalent legal qualification.
• 8+ years’ experience in Resource Protection, law enforcement, conservation operations, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience working with courts, prosecutors, or legal processes related to arrests and prosecutions.
• Strong understanding of human rights principles as applied to field-based operations.
• Proven leadership experience managing or overseeing operational teams.
• Willingness and ability to work in remote field locations and travel extensively
• Experience and knowledge of fire management
• Prior experience working with or alongside DNPW or similar statutory bodies.
• Familiarity with conservation or protected-area enforcement environments.
• High integrity and sound judgment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage difficult conversations professionally.
• Detail-oriented with a strong sense of accountability
• Knowledge of Zambian environmental regulations and policies through the various natural resource management acts.
• Zambian Citizen or Resident
• Valid Manual Drivers License and 4×4 experience