Field Operations Manager
ZMB: Nsumbu, ZMB: Frankfurt Zoological Society Zambia, ZMB-Field Operations, Local Employee, full-time, 7-10 years of experience
About the Project
Frankfurt Zoological Society conserves wildlife and ecosystems, focusing on protected areas and outstanding wild places. FZS maintains long-term conservation programmes in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe. The Africa Programme is FZS’s largest and oldest and is active in five focal countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe (www.fzs.org). FZS Zambia (FZS ZM) has been active in the North Luangwa Ecosystem since 1986 and in Nsumbu since 2017 through the Nsumbu Tanganyika Conservation Programme (NTCP), working to conserve these globally important wilderness areas. FZS ZM supports effective and efficient protected area management, focusing on resource protection and empowering communities in adjoining areas to manage their own resources. FZS Zambia continues to seek to expand its activities both geographically and thematically. The NTCP has been supporting operations in the GMAs since 2017 and developed a special purpose vehicle to focus conservation efforts and investment in the Game Management Areas adjacent to Nsumbu National Park.
About the Position
This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead conservation delivery across one of Zambia’s most important community managed landscapes. The Field Operations Manager (FOM) will oversee implementation across the Tondwa and Kaputa GMAs, which form a critical ecological link between Nsumbu National Park and the wider landscape, whilst being critical protected areas in their own right. Working as part of the Nsumbu Tanganyika Conservation Programe (NTCP), the role leads coordinated implementation in resource protection, field operations and infrastructure development in the GMA, oversight on sustainable and ethical hunting operations, and supports governance, community engagement, and ecological monitoring aligned with the existing NTCP programe and GMA ambitions.
The Field Operations Manager provides strategic, operational and financial oversight to ensure all activities meet annual implementation targets, budgets and compliance standards. The role supervises sector teams, drives data informed decision making, strengthens governance structures, and ensures the programe meets its KPIs. Strong collaboration and cultural understanding of community and traditional leadership is required to drive success. All resource protection operations need to be co-managed with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) existing personnel and Area Management Unit structures, building capacity and effectiveness for the DNPW to deliver its legal mandate. This is a leadership role requiring strong coordination, high accountability, and consistent delivery of high-quality conservation outcomes across the GMAs from a field-based approach, improving and creating enabling conditions for wildlife recovery and sustainable development from both the public and private sectors.
The Field Operations Manager provides strategic, operational and financial oversight to ensure all activities meet annual implementation targets, budgets and compliance standards. The role supervises sector teams, drives data informed decision making, strengthens governance structures, and ensures the programe meets its KPIs. Strong collaboration and cultural understanding of community and traditional leadership is required to drive success. All resource protection operations need to be co-managed with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) existing personnel and Area Management Unit structures, building capacity and effectiveness for the DNPW to deliver its legal mandate. This is a leadership role requiring strong coordination, high accountability, and consistent delivery of high-quality conservation outcomes across the GMAs from a field-based approach, improving and creating enabling conditions for wildlife recovery and sustainable development from both the public and private sectors.
Your Tasks
- Lead integrated planning and delivery of all GMA activities, providing overall operational, administrative, financial and HR oversight to ensure timely implementation, budget compliance, KPI tracking and reporting.
- Manage all GMA field operations, including infrastructure development (offices, staff housing, roads, checkpoints), fire management, Mutundu and Kapelembe Camps, staffing, logistics, inventories, safety, mobility assets, and communications systems.
- Oversee and coordinate law enforcement operations with DNPW, the FZS Resource Protection Manager and AMU structures, ensuring effective patrol coverage, SMART reporting, and high standards of training, discipline, accountability and readiness.
- In close collaboration with the NTCP Integrated Landscape Unit, coordinate human–wildlife conflict response, support transparent financial and administrative management by Community Resource Boards, and deliver conservation education and participatory governance initiatives across schools and communities.
- Coordinate and supervise all safari hunting operations, ensuring ethical standards, high-quality service delivery and data-driven quota setting aligned with conservation objectives.
- Plan and deliver wildlife translocations, reintroductions and annual ecological monitoring programmes (camera traps, transects and hunting monitoring) in coordination with FZS Ecology & Conservation Science Managers.
Your Profile
- Bachelor’s degree in Conservation, Project Management, Wildlife Management or any other related field (Master of Science degree preferred) or similar in a relevant field and 5 -10 years’ experience in conservation project management or protected area operations.
- Proven oversight experience in law enforcement support, infrastructure development, community governance, or ecological monitoring.
- Professional or Safari hunting experience and acceptance of role of the hunting industry in conservation
- Demonstrated experience in wildlife translocations and reintroductions
- Strong budgeting, procurement business planning and compliance management abilities.
- Experience supporting the development of nature-based financing initiatives
- Experience leading multidisciplinary field teams in remote, culturally diverse settings.
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to maintain accurate records and structured systems.
- Strong planning, scheduling, and multitasking capabilities under pressure.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital reporting systems; familiarity with SMART and GIS tools.
- Excellent written and verbal communication for reporting and stakeholder engagement.
- Proactive, dependable, and able to maintain operational efficiency while supporting team processes.
- High attention to detail, consistency, and quality across governance, monitoring, and field operations.
We Offer
- Engaging and meaningful work contributing to long‑term conservation of a globally significant landscape.
- Opportunity to work in an extraordinary wilderness area and support a dynamic, mission‑driven field team.
- Being part of an experienced and dedicated FZS program team with opportunities for learning, growth and impact.
- A fair and competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Your Application
If you are passionate and ready to take on this challenge, please submit your Curriculum Vitae and Cover Letter detailing your relevant experience and motivation by clicking apply for this job below.
Please include three (3) traceable references with a short description of your working relationship and their contact details. Appointment is subject to the submission of ZAQA-certified qualifications.
Application Deadline: 6th of March, 2026
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Please include three (3) traceable references with a short description of your working relationship and their contact details. Appointment is subject to the submission of ZAQA-certified qualifications.
Application Deadline: 6th of March, 2026
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.