Position Title: Social Media Consultant (Regional)
Reports to: Regional Commercial Manager
Location: Zambia and Zimbabwe (Preference for candidates based in Lusaka, Livingstone, or Victoria Falls)
Type of contract: Consultancy Contract / Service Level Agreement (Hourly Rate)
Duration: Initial 6-month period (Renewable based on performance)
Background
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 24 national parks and protected areas in 13 countries covering over 20 million hectares across Africa, including significant landscapes in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Job Purpose
The Regional Social Media Consultant (or Agency) will be responsible for elevating the digital presence of African Parks' projects across the Zambia and Zimbabwe region. This role requires a unique blend of exceptional social media marketing skills and a deep, authentic passion for wildlife conservation and tourism. The primary objective is to create compelling, high-quality content that highlights conservation successes and drives tourism interest.
Note for Agencies: While we welcome agency applications, this is a field-heavy role. Any appointed agency must designate a dedicated lead consultant who will be responsible for the regular travel to remote National Parks and the on-site mentorship of park staff.
Main Tasks and Responsibilities
Profile Development & Platform Management
● Build & Optimize Profiles: Create and professionalize social media profiles for regional parks where they do not exist—specifically focusing on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X—ensuring brand consistency across all platforms.
● Platform Management: Maintain a high standard of active engagement and brand presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X, tailored to the unique audiences of each platform.
● Platform Development: Identify potential travel platforms that will add value to those already in use, targeting the parks visitor profiles.
● WhatsApp Strategy: Set up and manage WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp Channels to facilitate direct communication with tourists and provide regular park updates.
● Google Business Profiles: Set up and manage Google Business Profiles for Park and Park Tourism Facilities to improve search visibility.
● Content Strategy: Develop and implement a monthly social media content calendar for regional parks, aligned with African Parks Network (APN) standards.
On-Site Content Collection
● Field Travel: Spend required time in the field across various parks in Zambia and Zimbabwe to capture high-quality photography and video content (wildlife, landscapes, and tourism facilities).
● Write engaging, accurate, and culturally sensitive copy that reflects the specific conservation missions and tourism offerings of different regional parks.
Capacity Building & Knowledge Transfer
● Staff Mentorship: Train a designated park-level staff member on content creation, platform management (including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X), and community engagement.
● Training Materials: Develop simple Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and "how-to" guides for the park teams to maintain digital assets.
● Handover Planning: Ensure the designated staff member is fully equipped to take over the primary management of park-level accounts by the end of the 6-month contract.
Paid Advertising & Performance
● Advertising Campaigns: Plan and execute paid social media advertising campaigns (Meta/Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads, etc.) to drive tourism bookings and brand awareness.
● Analytics: Track and report on social media analytics and ad performance monthly, providing insights on engagement, reach, and conversion.
● Monitoring: Develop KPIs aligned to the business goals and evaluate performance against them, providing regular updates to manager, by extracting insights to identify patterns and optimise future content using data.
Reporting & Collaboration
● Park Team Integration: Work closely with Park Management and field teams to identify content opportunities and ensure tourism information is accurate.
● Regional Alignment: Liaise regularly with the APN Marketing Team to ensure brand alignment.
● Documentation: Provide a detailed monthly report of activities, hours worked, and training progress to the Regional Commercial Manager.
Remuneration
● Hourly Rate: To be proposed by the consultant/agency based on experience and portfolio.
● Reimbursements: Standard travel reimbursements for authorized on-site visits and field-based content collection across the region.
Minimum Requirements, Capabilities, and Experience
● Diploma in Marketing, Communications, Graphic Design or any other related field (Degree or higher will be an added advantage).
● Location & Mobility: Must be based in Zambia or Zimbabwe (preferably Lusaka, Livingstone, or Victoria Falls) and be willing/able to travel to remote park locations for extended periods.
● Driving: Own transport and demonstrable experience in off-road 4x4 driving (required for the dedicated lead).
● Digital Expertise: 3–5 years of professional experience in social media management, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Google Business, WhatsApp Marketing, and paid digital advertising.
● Mentorship Skills: Proven ability to train or mentor others in digital marketing or content creation.
● Sector Knowledge: Deep knowledge of wildlife conservation and the tourism industry specifically within Zambia and Zimbabwe.
● Technical Skills: Proficiency in high-quality photography and video editing (CapCut, Premiere Pro, etc.).
How to Apply
African Parks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
For Individual Consultants:
Please submit a Covering Letter, Updated CV with 3 references, Portfolio of work, Financial Proposal (hourly rate), and a Suggested Work Plan.
For Agencies:
Please submit a Company Profile, CV of the Dedicated Lead Consultant who will handle the field travel/training, Portfolio of relevant agency work, Financial Proposal (hourly rate), and a Suggested Work Plan for the 6-month period.
Application Deadline: 02 March 2025 – 17:00 GMT+2
Submission: Send via link and attach all supporting documents.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. African Parks reserves the right not to employ.
