BACKGROUND

Peace Parks Foundation, founded by President Nelson Mandela, HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and Dr. Anton Rupert, is a leader in large-scale ecological restoration across southern Africa. Through co-management partnerships that unite governments, communities and donors, it restores vast transboundary landscapes that deliver measurable conservation and livelihood outcomes. Vision 2050 will secure 18 functional landscapes spanning 980,000 km², one of the world’s largest land-conservation initiatives.

JOB PROFILE

The Site Operations Manager will oversee the Chiefdom Officers and will collaborate with Agriculture and Conservation officers to implement Project Activities in the assigned Chiefdoms. Working in coordination with the Forest Department and Department of National Parks and Wildlife, the Site Operations Manager will support capacity development of the Community Forest Management Groups (CFMGs) in governance, finance, and project management. The Site Operations Manager shall be directly responsible for the development and alignment of the CFMG Annual Work Plan (AWP) to Verified Carbon Standards (VCS) and Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCB) standards and their successful implementation. The Site Operations Manager will take accountability over the monthly and quarterly AWP review meetings with CFMGs and reporting on the delivery of VCS and CCB standards to the Sector Manager. The Site Operations Manager is responsible for validating and reporting on all Community Engagement, Conservation, Agriculture, and Livelihood datasets captured and entered by the Chiefdom officers to the Project Manager.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Take accountability over the coordination of monthly and quarterly planning and coordination meetings with key sector-level stakeholders and reporting of Project milestones at the sector level to the Project Manager.
• The management, supervision, and development of the assigned Chiefdoms.
• Support local communities within the assigned Chiefdom in the development and implementation of activities intended to create lasting benefits and sustained financial returns.
• Promote and achieve broad participation of all community members within the assigned Chiefdom and especially ensure the inclusion of marginalized and differently abled members and groups in the community in planning and implementation of project interventions support and build linkages with other key stakeholders working within the assigned Chiefdom; including the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ), Non-Goverment Organisations (NGOs), Private Sector and Community, all aimed at driving positive impacts of REDD.
• Validate all datasets related to REDD+ Project activities in assigned Chiefdoms for the development of Impact monitoring reports.
• Actively address grievances in line with the project grievance redress mechanism.
• Support REDD+ Zone monitoring, including responding to encroachment.
• Seek the involvement of key stakeholders (GRZ, NGOs, Private Sector, and community) in project delivery; AWP development & implementation following appropriate participatory approaches such as Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
• Participate in the weekly, monthly, and quarterly site review and planning meetings.
• Escalate to the Project Manager(PM) any significant project risks likely to affect the smooth implementation of project activities.
• Coordinate the day-to-day operations in the Chiefdom and document all activities implemented.
• Help the PM in identifying socio-economic activities in the Chiefdoms that can be incorporated in interventions that advance REDD+ activities.
• Structure and strengthen the local governance and community structures for improved natural resource management based on the identified gaps.
• Monitor and supervise the delivery of services outsourced to third-party organizations.
• Collect all field data and upload all the necessary trackers.

Requirements

• Qualifications in a related field, such as a bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Community Development, or any relevant field.
• Minimum of a Diploma or advanced in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Community Development, or any relevant field.
• 3 years’ relevant work experience in a similar field or management position.
• Demonstrated experience in project management.
• Strong people skills with communication capabilities in written and spoken English, and above all, local chiefdom languages.
• Strong planning and coordination skills and experience working with government stakeholders.
• Excellent facilitation skills and application of Participatory Rural Appraisal/Participatory Learning and Action Methodologies and Tools.
• Strong leadership traits and time management skills.
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, GPS, ODK, and other Android device applications.
• Advanced alliance building and collaborative skills.
• Excellent report writing.
• Management, administrative, and organizational skills.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks, demonstrate excellent time management skills, and have well-developed organizational skills.
• Demonstrate attention to detail with great verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrate professional discretion.

• Take accountability over the coordination of monthly and quarterly planning and coordination meetings with key sector-level stakeholders and reporting of Project milestones at the sector level to the Project Manager.
• The management, supervision, and development of the assigned Chiefdoms.
• Support local communities within the assigned Chiefdom in the development and implementation of activities intended to create lasting benefits and sustained financial returns.
• Promote and achieve broad participation of all community members within the assigned Chiefdom and especially ensure the inclusion of marginalized and differently abled members and groups in the community in planning and implementation of project interventions support and build linkages with other key stakeholders working within the assigned Chiefdom; including the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ), Non-Goverment Organisations (NGOs), Private Sector and Community, all aimed at driving positive impacts of REDD.
• Validate all datasets related to REDD+ Project activities in assigned Chiefdoms for the development of Impact monitoring reports.
• Actively address grievances in line with the project grievance redress mechanism.
• Support REDD+ Zone monitoring, including responding to encroachment.
• Seek the involvement of key stakeholders (GRZ, NGOs, Private Sector, and community) in project delivery; AWP development & implementation following appropriate participatory approaches such as Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
• Participate in the weekly, monthly, and quarterly site review and planning meetings.
• Escalate to the Project Manager(PM) any significant project risks likely to affect the smooth implementation of project activities.
• Coordinate the day-to-day operations in the Chiefdom and document all activities implemented.
• Help the PM in identifying socio-economic activities in the Chiefdoms that can be incorporated in interventions that advance REDD+ activities.
• Structure and strengthen the local governance and community structures for improved natural resource management based on the identified gaps.
• Monitor and supervise the delivery of services outsourced to third-party organizations.
• Collect all field data and upload all the necessary trackers.

• Strong people skills with communication capabilities in written and spoken English, and above all, local chiefdom languages.
• Strong planning and coordination skills and experience working with government stakeholders.
• Excellent facilitation skills and application of Participatory Rural Appraisal/Participatory Learning and Action Methodologies and Tools.
• Strong leadership traits and time management skills.
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, GPS, ODK, and other Android device applications.
• Advanced alliance building and collaborative skills.
• Excellent report writing.
• Management, administrative, and organizational skills.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks, demonstrate excellent time management skills, and have well-developed organizational skills.
• Demonstrate attention to detail with great verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrate professional discretion.

• Qualifications in a related field, such as a bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Community Development, or any relevant field.
• Minimum of a Diploma or advanced in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Community Development, or any relevant field.