JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Position Title: Senior Community Extension Officer
Reports to: Community Development Manager
Location: Liuwa Plain National Park (LPNP)
Type of contract: Fixed Contract
Position: One
Background
African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on responsibility for the long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. African Parks manages 24 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, South Sudan, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Job Overview
The Senior Community Extension Officer will provide strategic and operational support to the Community Development Manager to ensure that Liuwa Plain National Park upholds the highest standards in community planning, development, empowerment, and monitoring. The role is responsible for coordinating and supervising day-to-day field operations of the Environmental Education Officer, Community Extension Officers, and Community Engagement Officers, ensuring effective and timely implementation of community-based programmes aligned with the Park’s Conservation Strategy. The Senior Community Extension Officer will play a key role in translating strategic objectives into practical community interventions, strengthening community participation, and supporting inclusive, accountable, and sustainable development initiatives within and around Liuwa Plain National Park.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Ensure timely implementation and monitoring of community development programmes.
- Support the Social Safeguards Officer in the implementation of the Land Use Plan.
- Implement and supervise all outreach activities for the community. This includes but not limited to drafting newsletters, participating in public events, radio shows etc
- Contribute to the production of environmental conservation articles for school conservation clubs.
- Supervision of community projects supported by AP, these include those under the Community Projects Development Facilitator in his/her absence.
- Supervision and monitoring of environmental education programmes in Liuwa.
- Completion of administrative functions to ensure the programme is properly funded and administered. This includes but not limited to budget preparations, report writing, assistance with office operations.
- Support the strong working relationships with traditional authorities, government institutions, NGOs and Community Based Organisations (CBOs).
- Supervising school conservation club activities.
- Work with traditional authorities to ensure community participation in community development initiatives.
- Provide activity reports to the Community Development Manager.
- Work with the Community Projects Development Facilitator in giving support to the Community Resources Board.
- Support the work of the Village Action Groups in community awareness programmes and participatory community development initiatives.
- Provide timely guidance to the community in issues of governance.
- Provide leadership to the Environmental Education Officer, Community Extension Officer and Community Engagement Officers.
- Monitor, evaluate and report on all community projects.
- Ensure that all metrics under community development are regularly and correctly captured and updated with the use of right platforms.
- Attend to any further reasonable and lawful request made to him/her by the Community Development Manager or Park Manager.
Required Skills and Competencies
- Integrity: Maintain high ethical standards, both personally and professionally; shows integrity, respect and fairness when dealing with the community and fellow employees.
- Teamwork: Co-operates and works well with others in pursuit of team’s goals; shares information; supports others. Contributes effectively towards a collective (organizational) goal or towards solving problems/conflicts even when the topic involved does not directly serve one’s own interests.
- Conflict resolution: Ability to work with conflict and emotionally distressing matters.
- Flexibility: Adaptable; receptive to new ideas; willing and able to adjust to changing demands and circumstances. Willingness to work on week-ends and during holidays if needed.
- Planning and organising: Setting goals and budgeting in a transparent and effective manner; indicating necessary action, time and resources and monitoring progress.
- Initiative: Recognising opportunities and acting on them. Pro-active, self-starting rather than passively accepting; actively influencing events.
- Creativity: Conceiving original solutions to job-related problems.
Role requirements
- A degree or better Conservation/Social work or a related field.
- Must have a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience demonstrating knowledge of community engagement, and a track record of managing community projects.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills in English. Lozi language is a plus.
- Computer skills: Proficiency in computer applications
- Demonstrated discretion and ability to work with sensitive information.
- Knowledge of local and regional development potential and opportunities in Western Province.
- Understanding of relevant local legislation, policies and procedures.
- Ability to develop and analyse community development plans.
- Knowledge of the Wildlife Act and its implications on communities.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with ability to work across cultures and to foster collaboration.
- Affinity with conservation and social development in Africa.
- Experience of working in Africa, and willingness to travel to and work in rural settings.
- Valid drivers/riders license.
African Parks Zambia is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Applicants for this position must have a clean record and traceable references. All candidates are required to provide a valid daytime contact number.
Interested and suitably qualified candidates should submit a detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) accompanied by a cover letter clearly outlining their suitability for the role. Applications must include at least two (2) contactable references, as well as certified copies of the National Registration Card (NRC) and relevant academic and/or professional qualifications.
Applications should be addressed to the Human Resources Manager and submitted via email to hr.zambia@africanparks.org no later than 16 January 2026.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
