Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) is a global conservation organisation dedicated to conserving wildlife and ecosystems in protected areas and outstanding wild places. FZS maintains long-term programmes in Africa, South America, Asia, and Europe, with the Africa Programme active in five focal countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. FZS has partnered with Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) since 1986 in North Luangwa National Park and since 2017 in Nsumbu National Park.  The North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP) is a 40-year partnership between FZS and DNPW focused on securing the integrity of the North Luangwa landscape for social and economic benefit for present and future generations.
NLCP has achieved major milestones, including North Luangwa National Park’s inclusion on the IUCN Green List, zero elephant poaching in the park for the last 2 years, no rhino poached since the introduction in 2003, and increasing wildlife populations. The programme has advanced human-wildlife coexistence, supported community governance and livelihoods, expanded conservation education, and promoted gender inclusion in micro-finance initiatives. Building on these successes, NLCP is embarking on a renewed five-year strategy to extend and strengthen its impact through 2030 and beyond.

Are you an exceptional operational leader who can turn conservation ambition into disciplined, high-performing systems through organisation culture and values-based leadership?  The North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP) is seeking a Programme Operations Officer (POO) to provide executive oversight of Strategy, Organisational; culture and values, Tourism, Impact reporting, Nature based finance initiative management, Human resources, Finance, Administration, and MERL across one of Africa’s most important conservation landscapes.  This is a senior leadership role for someone who thrives in complex, remote environments and can combine strategic vision with rigorous execution.
The Programme Operations Officer ensures that NLCP’s institutional backbone enables conservation delivery at scale. Reporting to the Programme Manager and serving on the Senior Management Team, the position holder will lead and integrate Strategy, Tourism, Impact reporting, HR, Finance, Administration, MERL, and Tourism functions, drive financial sustainability and improve forecasting, cost control, and revenue diversification, oversee commercially viable, Nature Based Finance Initiatives (NBFI), conservation-aligned tourism operations, strengthen governance, compliance, and risk management systems, ensure high-quality impact reporting and performance accountability and deputise for the Programme Manager as required.  This role requires both strategic thinking and meticulous attention to detail, someone equally comfortable modelling, long-term financial sustainability and ensuring systems function efficiently day to day.

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. Appointment is subject to the submission of ZAQA-certified qualifications.