Greater Kaza Conservation Director
The Nature Conservancy
Lusaka, Zambia
What We Can Achieve Together:
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.
The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) is one of TNC Africa’s Big 5 Irreplaceable Landscapes where the organization is aiming to achieve system level impact. Our strategy for Greater KAZA centres on a catalytic and convening role to support the coordination of global, regional and on the ground partners to deliver durable system level impact including preserving connectivity, ensuring effective community-led management of protected areas, and securing competitive sustainable use of natural resources including supporting a thriving connected fisheries and wildlife corridors. Building out from its strong local programs in Zambia and Angola with one conservancy approach, TNC is bringing Transformational Financing, innovation, science and community resource rights expertise to support the shared program.
We’re Looking for You:
The Greater KAZA Conservation Manager is responsible for facilitating and implementing TNC KAZA’s strategic conservation priorities- freshwater and terrestrial systems. They provide guidance to partners and coordinate protected area management and expansion applying appropriate mechanisms – protection, stewardship, OECMs, advise on technical aspects, and overseeing relations with partners, government and community stakeholders. This position provides technical back-stopping partners on coordinated and collaborative conservation work in the KAZA landscape namely conservation organizations, partners, and the academic community. They negotiate and propose innovative solutions including Protected and Conserved Areas expansion and improved management of PCAs options with government agencies, NGOs, partners and landowners to conserve and protect natural landscapes towards KAZA vision and TNC 2030 Goals. The Conservation Manager is an expert in protection mechanisms/tools/approaches for terrestrial and freshwater and advises on their application for conservation advancement. Responsible for implementing and achieving the TNC KAZA Irreplaceable Landscape conservation priorities by overseeing and representing the Conservancy in relationships and negotiations key partners implementing conservation and rural development work in KAZA landscape
May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
The Conservation Manager reports to the KAZA Landscape Director and will be based in Livingstone, Zambia. They work internally with the Africa BU strategy and Global teams and will supervise staff that may grow to about 4 or more staff.
What You’ll Bring:
- BA/BS degree and 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Proficient in the National Protected and Conserved Area Management legislations in the KAZA region
- Experience in managing complex or multiple projects including workloads and budgets under deadlines in the NGO sector.
- Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance.
- Experience collaborating and building relationships with government and NGO partners to meet shared objectives.
- Experience in biodiversity stewardship, protected area management plan development.
- Experience in fine scale conservation planning.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Demonstrated fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects, donor cultivation and writing funding proposals
- Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
- Experience negotiating.
Desired Qualifications
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- At least 10 years’ experience with protected area expansion and terrestrial and freshwater protection mechanisms.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and protected area expansion mechanisms/tools.
- Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans.
- Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation in Africa and beyond
- Experience in conservation planning and systems thinking.
- Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
- Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
- Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
- Politically savvy.
Who We Are:
The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.
One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”
What We Bring:
Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!
TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.
Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Employees must submit their application by logging into Workday and applying via the Jobs Hub.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.
TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
