Background information about the job or company

The Government of the Republic of Zambia is accessing funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in the 8th replenishment cycle in collaboration with WWF US as a GEF Agency and International Crane Foundation (ICF) as the implementing partner for the two projects “Kafue Flats Climate Resilience and Adaptation Project (KaFAdapt)” and the “Kafue Flats Wildlife, Habitat, Health and Livelihoods Project (KaF-Wild)” under the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE) and the Ministry of Tourism, through its Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).

The projects’ objectives are to secure key wildlife species of the Kafue Flats landscape, promote socio-economic benefits to local communities through wildlife-based economies, reduce vulnerability of communities to water scarcity and promote adaptation through resilient livelihoods in the Kafue Flats.

This five-year project will be implemented in a region of Zambia highly impacted by droughts and floods intensified by climate change to be managed through a Project Management Unit (PMU) to be hosted by International Crane Foundation in Lusaka and implemented in the Kafue Flats Ecosystem particularly Blue Lagoon and Lochinvar National Parks in Shibuyunji, Mumbwa, Itezhi-tezhi, Namwala, Monze and Mazabuka districts, in line with the 20-year collaborative management partnership agreement signed by ICF, WWF and DNPW in 2022.

Responsibilities or duties

The Project Manager will be responsible for the technical delivery of the project components, supervise staff in the Project Management Unit (PMU), coordinate with project partners and sub-grantees, provide day-to-day management of the two projects Kafue Flats GEF 8 Project.

Qualifications or requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in natural resources management or related fields, and post-graduate degree preferred.
• Full Grade 12 or equivalent
• A qualification in project management will be an added advantage.
• Holder of a valid driving licence
• Ability to communicate in the local languages
• Energy, enthusiasm and a “can-do” approach
• Sensitivity to the importance of gender and social inclusion
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Experience needed

• At least 8 years’ technical work experience, including 5 years of project management experience
• Technical experience and knowledge in relevant thematic fields, such as sustainable land management, natural resource management, wildlife conservation, nature-based solutions, climate change adaptation, community based natural resource management, or similar
• Experience in managing complex, multi-stakeholder donor funded conservation projects
• Experience in delivering technical and financial reporting to donor agencies on large projects
• Experience in leading a team of staff and coordinating sub-grant partners
• Ability to interact with senior business, government, and NGO staff
• Adaptive management skills
• Knowledge of WWF Project and Programme Management Standards preferred
• Experience with GEF Projects and GEF knowledge an advantage

• Technical delivery of the project components
• Supervise staff in the Project Management Unit (PMU)
• Coordinate with project partners and sub-grantees
• Provide day-to-day management of the two projects Kafue Flats GEF 8 Project

• Project management
• Sustainable land management
• Natural resource management
• Wildlife conservation
• Nature-based solutions
• Climate change adaptation
• Community based natural resource management
• Managing complex, multi-stakeholder donor funded conservation projects
• Technical and financial reporting to donor agencies
• Leading a team of staff
• Coordinating sub-grant partners
• Ability to interact with senior business, government, and NGO staff
• Adaptive management skills
• Communication in local languages
• Gender and social inclusion sensitivity
• Knowledge of WWF Project and Programme Management Standards
• GEF Project experience and knowledge

• Bachelor’s Degree in natural resources management or related fields
• Post-graduate degree preferred
• Full Grade 12 or equivalent
• Qualification in project management (added advantage)