Kafue Conservation Director The Nature Conservancy

OFFICE LOCATION
Lusaka, Zambia

TNC’s Lusaka Office

WHO WE ARE
The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”

Since establishing the Africa Programme in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the nine countries we operate.

TNC’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management, and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development, and sustainable food production working together and strengthening our resolve in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stands to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

In Zambia, TNC has a primary geographical focus on the Greater Kafue Ecosystem (GKE). This is Zambia’s largest conservation landscape, a 66,000 sq. km complex of great biodiversity value, dominated by the 22,000 sq. km Kafue National Park and nine Game Management Areas (GMAs) under communal tenure that span an additional 44,000 sq. km. TNC is working with communities and diverse public and private stakeholders in this ecosystem to strengthen community tenure over natural resources, develop effective natural resource governance and management systems and create sustainable conservation management and revenue generation models for the landscape.

TNC in Zambia is rapidly scaling up its terrestrial conservation work in the GKE landscape, particularly in relation to working with government, communities and conservation partners to catalyse and support innovative forms of conservation governance and management in the Kafue GMAs, providing technical, scientific and financial support to evolving conservation models. Working closely with its public, private and community partners, TNC will be at the forefront of shaping a new approach to landscape-level conservation in one of the largest protected landscapes in Africa.

In order to ensure a holistic and integrated approach to conservation and sustainable development in the landscape, TNC is also now embarking on an ambitious initiative to bring freshwater protection and the sustainable utilization of aquatic resources into its wider conservation strategy. To achieve this, TNC has recently launched the Kafue Sustainable Fisheries Programme, which focuses on supporting fishing communities, Government and conservation partners to develop community-based fisheries in six target fisheries across the GKE as a key foundation for integrated conservation.

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER
The Kafue Conservation Director provides technical, scientific and programmatic leadership to TNC’s expanding terrestrial and freshwater conservation initiatives in the Kafue Ecosystem.

The Kafue Conservation Director oversees field operations for TNC’s conservation actions within the GMAs, providing technical and scientific support to Government, local communities, and their partners to develop and execute conservation, land management and financing plans that support the long-term conservation and sustainable utilization of the natural resources of this vast landscape and conform to a larger, landscape-level strategic plan.

A key responsibility within this body of work is the successful implementation of TNC’s newly established Kafue Sustainable Fisheries Programme. The Kafue Conservation Director is responsible for the strategic direction and technical oversight of the programme and oversees all aspects of a major initiative encompassing a large, remote geography and a wide range of diverse stakeholders. They oversee and manage sustainable fisheries resources management and aquatic biodiversity conservation including all aspects of protection, science, stewardship, and stakeholder relations. They ensure that the programme collaborates and coordinates activities with TNC’s wider Zambia conservation strategy and with the Africa regional freshwater protection and fisheries strategies. They will also provide input and technical support to the regional freshwater protection and fisheries programmes.

This position will report to the Zambia Country Director, supervise a team and work closely with the TNC Zambia conservation team. It will also coordinate and work closely with the TNC Africa regional strategy teams. It will be based in TNC’s Lusaka Office and will involve significant travel to the field.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU
Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, TNC creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together.

We’re looking for someone who is passionate, and a motivated problem-solver.

This is an exciting new position within the Zambia conservation team, responsible for leading a rapidly growing body of integrated terrestrial and freshwater conservation work across the Kafue landscape and ensuring durable outcomes for conservation and local communities.

Roles & Responsibilities

Provide technical, strategic and scientific leadership to TNC’s conservation work in the Kafue Ecosystem, working closely with Government, conservation partners, communities, stakeholders and TNC’s global and regional science and conservation capacity to make the Kafue landscape a world-leading example of integrated conservation and sustainable development.
Disseminate best practices, provide training and analyses, and develop key partnerships with public, private and academic organizations in the terrestrial and freshwater conservation sectors in order to identify and resolve technical issues and to communicate solutions, innovative scientific methods, analysis, tools and frameworks to address biodiversity conservation needs.
Recruit, retain and manages a high-quality and effective multi-disciplinary conservation team with responsibility for performance management, training, and career development.
Works closely with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Forestry Department, Department of Fisheries and other government agencies, other conservation partners and local communities to develop and implement conservation and natural resource management plans for Kafue’s GMAs, both at the level of the GKE landscape as a whole and at individual GMA levels.
Identifies key science, conservation and sustainable finance resources within TNC’s global and regional teams that can deliver world-class technical and financial support to the Kafue landscape
Develops and manages a conservation science programme, initiating and coordinating scientific studies including socio-ecological baseline surveys, biodiversity and vegetation monitoring, remote sensing, etc., that increase the body of knowledge related to the GKE and inform conservation management decisions
Coordinates the research, monitoring and co-management work streams under TNC’s Kafue Sustainable Fisheries Programme for the advancement of the programme’s freshwater biodiversity protection and fisheries co-management goals
Is responsible for all performance, financial management and budgeting, reporting, administration, and compliance related to the Kafue Sustainable Fisheries Programme.
Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with the Department of Fisheries and other partners, and negotiates fisheries co-management and freshwater conservation agreements that contribute to conservation and community development outcomes
Provides scientific direction and practical technical support to the programme’s socio-economic and ecological baseline data collection and ongoing monitoring initiatives
Provides technical support to the development of community-based fisheries co-management structures and resource use and conservation plans.
Collaborates with relevant government institutions and other partners to develop and strengthen legal frameworks for co-management and sustainable financing in fisheries and other natural resource sectors
Collaborates closely with TNC Africa’s freshwater conservation and fisheries teams and provides technical support to regional programmes, equivalent to 10% of time
Provides technical support, capacity development and mentorship to the Department of Fisheries and Zambian post-graduate students in the fisheries sector.
Works as part of TNC Zambia’s conservation team, ensuring close communication, collaboration and learning with peers in the team and alignment of terrestrial and freshwater conservation goals to TNC’s overall conservation strategy.
Works with TNC Zambia’s monitoring and evaluation team to design and implement a terrestrial and freshwater programme results measurement and monitoring framework aligned to TNC Zambia’s overall M&E framework and TNC’s 2030 Goals.
Makes independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and judgment.
May require frequent travel domestically and during evening and weekend hours.
May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations and under physically demanding circumstances.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING
Minimum Qualifications:

BA/BS degree in Natural Resource Management, Wildlife or Fisheries Management, Biology or a similar relevant field.
At least 10 years of experience in conservation practice and programme management and/or fisheries-specific research and/or management.
Zambian freshwater ecosystems/fisheries, with strengths in ecological and social research and/or fisheries management experience.
Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance.
Experience in strategic partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and government agencies.
Experience in the statistical analyses of scientific data, and geographical information systems and the spatial representation of data.
Experience in engaging and working with communities on conservation or natural resource management issues.
Communication skills in written, spoken, and graphical means in English.
Competence in computer skills (e.g. Excel, Word).
Full and valid Zambian Driving License.
Desired Qualifications:

A passion for Zambia’s rivers, wildlife and wild spaces.
At least an MSc in a related field and 10-12 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated experience influencing, developing and implementing conservation policy and plans
Developing practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives and experience conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives.
Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing natural resource management plans
Familiarity with co-management or community-based natural resource management principles and the legislative provisions that facilitate a co-management approach.
Experience with improved fire management planning and monitoring would be an advantage
Experience in socio-ecological research and execution of qualitative and quantitative research projects.
Skills in facilitating, negotiating and conflict management
Ability to work independently with strong self-motivation
Knowledge of current trends and practices in Zambian freshwater and terrestrial conservation
WHAT WE BRING
Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the world’s most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation worldwide!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package, including health care benefits, Retirement Pension Stipend, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, and other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work environment that supports the health, well-being, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!