Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. We currently manage 23 national parks and protected areas in 13 countries covering over 20 million hectares in: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Position Summary

The Conservation Manager is in charge of developing, managing and implementing all Conservation, Research and Monitoring, and Habitat Management strategies within the Bangweulu Wetlands and to efficiently inform management decisions.

Responsibilities or duties

• 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 and ensure sound budget follow-up (no over nor underspending).
• Implement the Parks’ Monitoring Programme, ensuring all biodiversity conservation metrics are collected and stored, Research Framework is in place and addresses key knowledge gaps.
• Work closely with the community department to examine the relationships between humans and their environment across space and time.
• Plan and implement the required conservation studies to support other departments (Law Enforcement, Tourism & Commercial Development).
• Plan and manage species reintroduction and translocation projects as deemed necessary by the project.
• Maintain and improve the ecological database (baseline species lists, etc.) of the greater Bangweulu landscape.
• Cultivate existing research and conservation partnerships, and develop new ones, particularly at a national level.
• Deliver monthly reports of the activities of the department to management. Deliver scientifically sound reports for all key activities.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

• 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.
• Fluency 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.

Experience needed

Strong proven experience in conservation management and research, ideally in remote environments.

Key Relationships

• Park Manager
• Park Management Unit
• Regional Biodiversity and Science Support
• African Parks, Head of Biodiversity and Science Support
• Technical partners and government agencies

Safeguarding & Ethics

African Parks maintains zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment, child labour and all forms of discrimination. All staff must comply with AP policies, codes of conduct and reporting obligations, and complete mandatory trainings.

• 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 and ensure sound budget follow-up (no over nor underspending).
• Implement the Parks’ Monitoring Programme, ensuring all biodiversity conservation metrics are collected and stored, Research Framework is in place and addresses key knowledge gaps.
• Work closely with the community department to examine the relationships between humans and their environment across space and time.
• Plan and implement the required conservation studies to support other departments (Law Enforcement, Tourism & Commercial Development).
• Plan and manage species reintroduction and translocation projects as deemed necessary by the project.
• Maintain and improve the ecological database (baseline species lists, etc.) of the greater Bangweulu landscape.
• Cultivate existing research and conservation partnerships, and develop new ones, particularly at a national level.
• Deliver monthly reports of the activities of the department to management. Deliver scientifically sound reports for all key activities.

• 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.
• Fluency 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.

• Strong proven experience in conservation management and research, ideally in remote environments.