Kafue Flats Restoration Partnership Operations Manager International Crane Foundation

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Title: Kafue Flats Restoration Partnership Operations Manager

Employer: International Crane Foundation

Based in: Blue Lagoon National Park, Kafue Flats, Zambia

Reporting lines: Reports to the Southern Africa Region Programme Manager, based at the International Crane Foundation Zambia Program Office in Lusaka, Zambia.  The Southern Africa Region Programme Manager also serves as the General Manager of the Kafue Flats Restoration Partnership.

Framework:   The International Crane Foundation is signing a 20-year agreement with the Zambia Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and WWF-Zambia for the co-management of the Kafue Flats, including two national parks (Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon) and the surrounding Kafue Flats Game Management Area. This agreement/partnership is referred to as the Kafue Flats Restoration Partnership (or KFRP), and supports core operations, law enforcement, park management, community engagement, ecological restoration, and research and monitoring for the Kafue Flats. The Kafue Flats faces severe threats related to illegal wildlife hunting, unsustainable levels of grazing, fisheries, and human activity, invasive species, mining, wildfires, and other management challenges. The KFRP seeks to restore the ecological health and biodiversity of the Kafue Flats and ensure sustainable livelihoods and improved well-being for the communities that depend on the natural resources of this floodplain system.  Our motto is “A Thriving Floodplain for All.”

The International Crane Foundation (ICF) is a Non-Governmental Organization that works worldwide to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds, and flyways on which they depend. ICF works across Africa through the International Crane Foundation/Endangered Wildlife Trust (ICF/EWT) Partnership, with the goal of achieving the long-term conservation, restoration, and sustainable utilization of wildlife resources and natural environments in Africa, through close partnerships with local communities, governments, agencies, universities, local NGOs, private sector, and other stakeholders.  ICF is registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee in Zambia.

Objective of the position: The KFRP Operations Manager brings leadership, innovation, accountability, and experience to our 20-year commitment to restore and manage the Kafue Flats. The KFRP Operations Manager is vital to the daily operation, infrastructure, and management of the KFRP, providing oversight of law enforcement and park management through the DNPW Area Wardens and their teams, and facilitating strong coordination and communication between law enforcement, park management, community relations, monitoring and evaluation, and ecological research and management under the KFRP. The KFRP Operations Manager ensures the development and implementation of the General Management Plans for the Kafue Flats and provides regular briefings to the KFRP Steering Committee.

ESSENTIAL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the successful implementation of the day-to-day operations and infrastructure of the KFRP, providing on-the-ground representation for the KFRP.
• Provide oversight and support for the DNPW Area Wardens* for Blue Lagoon and Lochinvar National Parks to ensure the effective training, deployment, and supervision of law enforcement staff, implementation of core law enforcement functions, and operational management of the two National Parks and Game Management Area under the DNPW.
• Ensure strong collaboration and communications between the DNPW, ICF/EWT, and WWF-Zambia roles and responsibilities, including strong linkages between the DNPW Area Wardens and the ICF/EWT Community Relations Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, and Restoration Ecologist.
• Co-lead the development and implementation of the General Management Plans for Blue Lagoon National Park, Lochinvar National Park, and the Kafue Flats Game Management Area with the DNPW, including monitoring, evaluation, and periodic revision of the plans.
• Provide regular briefings to the KFRP Steering Committee on implementation and progress for work plans and budgets related to the operations of the KFRP.
• Oversee the preparation of annual budgets, work plans, and technical progress reports for KFRP.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong internal team builder with ability to effectively lead and mentor staff and projects to successful outcomes and provide an atmosphere in which individual and professional growth, leadership and achievement are encouraged, recognized, and rewarded.
• Strong communicator with excellent verbal and written communication skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with field staff, communities and chiefs, project leaders, and high-level stakeholders.
• Strong external collaborator with interpersonal skills and commitment to building and maintaining strong relationships and partnerships.
• Strong project manager who can effectively plan, implement, and review project work plans.
• Strong budget manager with ability to oversee budget development and management, including ongoing tracking of expenses, revenue, and restricted sources.

QUALIFICATIONS PREFERRED

• Master’s Degree in a related field
• Minimum 10 years in conservation and protected area management, with proven track record managing projects and teams.
• Experience with multi-donor, multi-stakeholder integrated field programmes involving government and communities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365 Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point) and Adobe Acrobat.