Organisational Overview

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation focused on the long-term rehabilitation and management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. African Parks currently manages 24 National Parks and protected areas across 13 countries, covering more than 20 million hectares.

Kafue National Park operates a 24/7 Control Room that serves as the nerve centre for park-wide operations, law enforcement coordination, and emergency response.

Position Background and Purpose

The Resource Controller plays a critical operational role within the Kafue National Park Control Room. Working alongside Control Room Officers, this position supports real-time coordination, tracking, and direction of field operations.

This role is specifically suited to individuals with air traffic control, operations coordination, command‑and‑control, or high‑tempo communications backgrounds. The focus is on maintaining situational awareness, directing resources efficiently, ensuring accurate information flow, and keeping operational data current and reliable within EarthRanger (ER) and related systems.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Coordination

• Assist in directing day-to-day field operations from the Control Room in coordination with Law Enforcement Officers and relevant departments.
• Monitor and interpret real-time movements of patrol teams, vehicles, aircraft, collars and other assets using tracking systems.
• Maintain continuous situational awareness across the park and proactively highlight emerging operational risks or priorities.
• Train Control Room operators on situational awareness and EarthRanger systems.

Communications

• Manage and support radio and communication traffic, adhering to clear, structured, and disciplined radio procedures.
• Relay accurate and timely operational updates between field teams, aviation assets, and command.
• Support emergency and incident response communications in line with established protocols.

Data & Systems Management

• Continuously update operational events, patrol activities, and incidents within EarthRanger.
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of logged data during operations.
• Perform monthly data downloads, data verification, and data cleaning to ensure system integrity and reporting accuracy.
• Flag data gaps or inconsistencies and support corrective action.

Control Room Support

• Work closely with both the Law enforcement and Conservation Tech departments.
• Work collaboratively with Control Room Officers to ensure smooth 24/7 operational coverage.
• Maintain confidentiality, discipline, and professionalism within the Control Room environment.
• Support adherence to Control Room SOPs, security standards, and operational protocols.

Minimum Requirements

• Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field such as:
  • Aviation operations
  • Air traffic control
  • Operations management
  • Security / Command centre operations
  • Information systems or similar
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in a high‑pressure, real-time operational environment such as:
  • Air traffic control
  • Operations or command centres
  • Aviation communications
  • Emergency response coordination
• Strong operational awareness and decision‑making under pressure.
• Proven experience working with:
  • Radio communications
  • Real-time tracking or monitoring systems
  • Operational databases or incident management platforms (EarthRanger experience is an advantage).
• High computer literacy (MS Excel etc…).
• Clear, concise verbal communication and strong English comprehension.
• High levels of integrity, confidentiality, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work on a shift basis, including nights, weekends, and public holidays.
• Must be eligible for security clearance.

• Assist in directing day-to-day field operations from the Control Room in coordination with Law Enforcement Officers and relevant departments.
• Monitor and interpret real-time movements of patrol teams, vehicles, aircraft, collars and other assets using tracking systems.
• Maintain continuous situational awareness across the park and proactively highlight emerging operational risks or priorities.
• Train Control Room operators on situational awareness and EarthRanger systems.
• Manage and support radio and communication traffic, adhering to clear, structured, and disciplined radio procedures.
• Relay accurate and timely operational updates between field teams, aviation assets, and command.
• Support emergency and incident response communications in line with established protocols.
• Continuously update operational events, patrol activities, and incidents within EarthRanger.
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of logged data during operations.
• Perform monthly data downloads, data verification, and data cleaning to ensure system integrity and reporting accuracy.
• Flag data gaps or inconsistencies and support corrective action.
• Work closely with both the Law enforcement and Conservation Tech departments.
• Work collaboratively with Control Room Officers to ensure smooth 24/7 operational coverage.
• Maintain confidentiality, discipline, and professionalism within the Control Room environment.
• Support adherence to Control Room SOPs, security standards, and operational protocols.

• Radio communications
• Real-time tracking or monitoring systems
• Operational databases or incident management platforms (EarthRanger experience is an advantage)
• High computer literacy (MS Excel etc…)
• Clear, concise verbal communication
• Strong English comprehension
• High levels of integrity, confidentiality, and attention to detail
• Decision-making under pressure
• Situational awareness

• Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation operations, Air traffic control, Operations management, Security / Command centre operations, Information systems or similar
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in a high‑pressure, real-time operational environment such as Air traffic control, Operations or command centres, Aviation communications, Emergency response coordination
• Must be eligible for security clearance.