Conservation Technical Advisor
ZMB: Marula/Mano, ZMB: North Luangwa Management Ltd., ZMB-Landscape Intergration Unit, Local Employee, full-time, 10-15 years of experience
About the Project
Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) partners with Zambia’s Department of National Parks & Wildlife (DNPW) through the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP) to safeguard North Luangwa National Park and adjoining Game Management Areas (GMAs) via long-term, community-centred conservation. NLCP’s mission—Linking Livelihoods and Landscape guides governance support, law enforcement, natural resource management, and livelihood integration across the wider landscape.
Under the umbrella of the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP)—and as a considerable component of the MAZA Extension Programme—the Musalangu GMA initiative is a field-forward effort designed to deliver measurable outcomes at the wildlife–community interface. Spanning 17,350 km², Musalangu is pivotal to regional connectivity as it links North Luangwa and Nyika National Parks via the Mafinga and Makutu Forest Reserves (the Luangwa River headwaters), solidifying the integrity of the Malawi–Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area (MAZA TFCA).
The conservation corridor runs from the upper Luangwa river system through to the landscape’s core in North Luangwa National Park and brings together seven chiefdoms and seven concessions under a unified approach to governance, natural resource management, livelihoods, tourism, infrastructure, and safeguarding.
About the Position
The Conservation Technical Advisor (Musalangu) is a new and exciting NLCP position created to translate long-term investment in Musalangu into cohesive, landscape-scale impact. The position coordinates conservation partnerships with DNPW, Community Resource Boards (CRBs), concession holders, commercial investors, and civic partners so that collective strengths deliver relevant, durable results for people and wildlife.
The remit spans the overall management, coordination, and performance of NLCP’s Musalangu portfolio—driving stakeholder engagement and governance; aligning natural resource management with community livelihoods and ensuring that infrastructure, logistics, commercial development, and human–wildlife coexistence activities are planned, delivered, and reported to NLCP standards.
The Conservation Technical Advisor sets a disciplined operational rhythm—planning, briefing/debriefing, and reporting—maintains integrity, safeguarding, and compliance across all activities, and serves as the central point of integration for GMA-based teams and interfaces. The role reports to the NLCP programme leadership and will maintain close ties with NLCP structures and systems while developing the Musalangu GMA support extension.
Your Tasks
- Lead Musalangu GMA planning and delivery inclusive of annual project plans, budgets, and work schedules aligned to NLCP’s mission and strategic pillars.
- With the NLCP Senior Management Team; coordinate conservation partnerships with DNPW, Forestry, CRBs, CFMGs, concession holders, commercial investors, and community institutions; maintain a stakeholder map and risk register.
- Align Musalangu delivery with NLCP objectives and MAZA TFCA priorities and timelines; coordinate with the Project Manager: MAZA Extension on cross‑border platforms, partner interfaces and policy dialogue, providing concise Musalangu inputs and implementing agreed actions.
- Establish and scale the forward field base (FFB) in Musalangu to minimum operating standards (communications, health & safety, safeguarding, accommodation, stores, power/water, security, fleet management).
- Oversee operations management in Musalangu GMA, coordinating general maintenance, construction, logistics, procurement, workshop and stores; in accordance with NLCP standard operating procedures.
- Coordinate with Workshop, Construction, and Stocks & Stores to ensure field serviceability, preventative maintenance, and timely task close‑outs.
- Hold direct oversight of law enforcement support at GMA‑level delivery, with technical support from senior NLCP law enforcement advisory staff: patrol coverage planning, Sector in Charge mentoring, and training and performance standards.
- Align NRM priorities and monitoring with the Landscape Integration Unit (LIU) and the Ecology Department, ensuring stewardship and operations reinforce each other.
- Coordinate human–wildlife coexistence (HWCoex) approaches with district services and partners.
- Lead annual and operational budgeting for the GMA; forecast and monitor expenditure responsibly.
- Produce monthly and quarterly reports that are map‑rich, metrics‑driven, and narrative covering governance, conservation, livelihoods, infrastructure, risk and supply consolidated site outputs.
- Support Grants in proposal development, grant reporting, documentation, and audit readiness (site‑level MERL evidence on time and to standard).
- Uphold integrity, safeguarding, whistleblower, and gender policies; ensure lawful conduct and due process across operations.
Your Profile
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, from a reputable institution, in conservation, natural resource management, public administration/business, or a closely related field.
- 10+ years in protected‑area or conservation project management, including 3+ years in a leadership role.
- Strong understanding and experience in community-led conservation initiatives or projects.
- High level of practical experience in protected area management with respect to general operations (fleet, maintenance, roads, stores, etc.) and good exposure and/or experience to protected area law enforcement.
- High integrity, professionalism and accountability; disciplined and dependable in remote settings.
- Resilient, proactive and solutions-focused; able to prioritise and decide at pace.
- Strong emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity and diplomacy; community-centred mindset.
- Clear communicator and team builder who sets standards, follows through and models NLCP values.
- Possession of a Valid driver’s licence.
- Advantageous: training/certification in safeguarding, project management, MERL, GIS/EarthRanger/SMART, and remote field operations (H&S/first aid).
We Offer
- The chance to contribute to meaningful conservation impact within a flagship landscape.
- A supportive, mission-driven team with professional development opportunities.
- Competitive salary (commensurate with experience), housing at Mano Base, medical insurance, emergency evacuation cover, field allowances, and access to well-equipped facilities and logistical support.
- FZS welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to equal opportunity and diversity in recruitment.
Your Application
If you are passionate and ready to take on this challenge, please submit your Curriculum Vitae (max 3 pages) and Cover Letter (max 1 page) detailing your relevant experience and motivation by clicking Apply for this Job below.
Include three (3) traceable references with a short description of your working relationship and their contact details. The appointment is subject to the submission of ZAQA-certified qualifications.
Assessments: Shortlisted candidates may be subject to a written/project exercise.
Eligibility: Zambian nationals preferred. For non-Zambian applicants, employment is subject
to the issuance of a valid Zambian work permit.
Application Deadline: Monday 27 February 2026.
Note: Due to a high volume of applications, we will only contact short-listed candidates. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.