
Website Frankfurt Zoological Society Zambia
Linking livelihoods and landscapes through conservation
Assistant Project Manager
Assistant Project Manager to facilitate the restoration of cheetah into the Greater Luangwa Ecosystem, Zambia
This project is a partnership between the Africa Range-Wide Cheetah Conservation Initiative (CCI), supported by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the Zambian Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), and field-based NGOs Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Zambian Carnivore Program (ZCP), and Conservation South Luangwa (CSL).
Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) works in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) through the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP) to protect and conserve the North Luangwa landscape. The NLCP supports effective and efficient protected area management, with a wider focus on empowering communities to manage natural resources in the Game Management Areas adjacent to the park. The NLCP’s mission, ‘Linking livelihoods and landscape,’ seeks to address key challenges by taking holistic approaches for more resilient socio-ecological systems.
Purpose of the Job
FZS Zambia is seeking a well-qualified Assistant Project Manager to help field-manage all aspects of a new project to assess the possibility for cheetah restoration into the Greater Luangwa Ecosystem in Zambia. The project will encompass significant site security, infrastructure development and maintenance and community engagement activities prior to and alongside the potential translocation, release, and monitoring of cheetah.
The successful candidate will be expected to support the project manager in all aspects of this project, including project administration, infrastructure development, human resource management, financial management, stakeholder engagement and communication, technical oversight and implementation, capacity development, and knowledge management, with the support of the NLCP.
Name of Position: Assistant Project Manager
Contract type and duration: Full-time, two (2) year contract with possibility for extension
Reporting to: Cheetah Project Manager
Works closely with: Project Manager, NLCP teams such as the Programme and Project Managers, the Landscape Integration Unit, Law Enforcement managers, Finance and Admin managers, Field Operations, and Ecological Monitoring, DNPW regional teams and AMUs.
Location: A very remote project base-camp in the Munyamadzi GMA, Nabwalya, with frequent stays at the North Luangwa Conservation Program Headquarters, Mano, NLNP, Zambia
Duty cycle: A duty cycle applicable to remote locations will apply
Salary: Competitive based on qualifications + experience
Equipment: Necessary field equipment (Garmin inReach, radio) and a laptop will be provided.
Start date: As soon as possible
Key responsibilities
- Support the Project Manager in project administration: recruitment, adherence to HR, financial management, administration and procurement policies.
- Support implementation of the work plan. Work towards assessing the suitability of the area for cheetah, and if suitable, facilitate the translocation, release and monitoring of cheetah.
- Under the guidance of the Project Manager, oversee logistics and major construction projects.
- Under the guidance of the Project Manager, oversee the organisation of meetings, workshops and trainings, and ensure effective and timely reporting.
- Collaborate with and support the NLCP’s Landscape Integration Unit team in Nabwalya, with a focus on livelihood projects and human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures.
- Support Project Manager in improving site security and access, promoting landscape connectivity, and providing community support for wildlife conservation through a co-management governance system.
- Manage knowledge through the coordination, development and implementation of a monitoring, evaluation and learning framework.
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- Minimum of a BSc degree in ecology, wildlife management or conservation, or equivalent qualification.
- Minimum 3 years direct field experience working in African ecosystems alongside local communities.
- Proven project experience in Africa, and preferably Zambia.
- History of living in a remote and challenging location in Africa.
- Experience in field operations (roads, fences, workshops, solar systems).
- Experience in protected area management; site security, operations, biodiversity conservation, monitoring and research.
- Experience working in multicultural teams.
Desirable
- MSc degree in the above qualifications.
- Experience in conservation data management.
- Experience working with large carnivores and cheetahs specifically, and in species monitoring and management.
- Construction experience.
- Ability to communicate in local languages.
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Strong budget keeping and financial accounting.
- Strong organisational skills.
- Ability to work independently and under direction.
- Ability to be open to learning and developing your skill sets.
- Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.
- Excellent community engagement skills and workshop/meeting facilitation experience.
- Good understanding of the challenges faced by communities in landscapes like Munyamadzi GMA.
- Able to efficiently and effectively adapt and respond to challenges and changing situations and find practical ways forward.
Desirable
- Proficiency in GIS.
- A strategic thinker.
- Knowledge of landscape ecology and animal movement behaviour.
- Demonstrated belief in maintaining a healthy body and a healthy mind.
Additional requirements
- Valid passport and driving licence accepted in Zambia.
- Off-road experience.
- Willingness to work flexible hours in variable environments.
- Committed to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusivity, integrity and innovation.
Please upload a cover letter including your salary expectations and your earliest possible starting date and a chronological CV in PDF format to the link provided below:
https://zoologisch.jobs.personio.de/job/1932404?_pc=1559584#apply
Please include the contact details of three (3) traceable references with a brief description of your working relationship
Applications deadline: 14th of February 2025.
To apply for this job please visit zoologisch.jobs.personio.de.