Field Ecologist

Fixed-term, Full-time · ZMB: Chama

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 through the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP) and in Nsumbu since 2017, working to conserve these globally important wilderness areas. FZS ZM supports effective and efficient protected area management, focusing on law enforcement, conservation education and empowering communities in GMAs to manage their own resources. FZS ZM continues to seek to expand its activities both geographically and thematically.

About the Position

This position offers an exciting opportunity for an early career conservationist to support the implementation of an applied ecological monitoring and research programme across the terrestrial and aquatic landscapes of the Musalangu Game Management Area (GMA) in the North Luangwa landscape. The Field Ecologist will conduct ecological monitoring and research to improve our understanding of wildlife populations, their habitat, and the impact of human activities on the landscape. The results will be used to inform management decisions aimed at landscape-scale conservation impact. The Field Ecologist will work closely with the NLCP management team, partners and stakeholders including the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), Community Resource Boards (CRBs) and concession holders to support the organisation’s objectives.

Your Tasks

Implement climate and hydrological monitoring programmes, including the installation and management of weather stations, water level loggers, and regular water quality monitoring.
Contribute to the assessment of remote sensing outputs e.g., land cover, vegetation mapping, and burn scar monitoring by conducting ground truthing to assess classification accuracy.
Facilitate systematic vegetation surveys to contribute to the classification and mapping of vegetation types in the landscape and monitor changes in vegetation over time.
Monitor the distribution and prevalence of active fires and burn scars by remote sensing; support the Conservation Technical Advisor (Musalangu) with critical information for fire management and firefighting response.
Conduct wildlife monitoring surveys, including carnivore monitoring, camera trapping, ground transects, and aerial surveys to measure the population status and trends of large herbivore and carnivore populations in the landscape.
Oversee the integration of wildlife monitoring data into the annual quota-setting process to ensure off-take remains within sustainable biological limits. Coordinate monitoring programs across safari, resident, and bona fide hunting sectors to ensure ethical and sustainable wildlife use.
Support the FZS Zambia Wildlife Veterinarian with wildlife capture and immobilisation programmes for the purpose of research and monitoring, de-snaring, poisoning response, disease management, and translocation.
Manage ecological monitoring databases, ensuring data are clean, accurate, and securely stored. Analyse and report on ecological monitoring data in collaboration with the Ecology and Conservation Science Manager to inform conservation management decisions.

Your Profile

A University degree in Ecology, Wildlife Management, Natural Resources Management, or any related subject and 3-5 years field experience.
Experience in ecological survey techniques (e.g. wildlife photography, camera trap surveys, distance sampling surveys, aquatic biodiversity monitoring techniques etc.)
Able to work effectively in a team environment, including in a leadership role, as well as the ability to work independently with minimal supervision
Comfortable and capable conducting strenuous work in remote and rugged field environments
Proficiency in GIS, including desktop, online, and mobile applications (ArcGIS Online, Survey123, Field Maps etc).
Experience driving a manual vehicle with valid licence

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.
Form part of an experienced and dedicated team working to secure outstanding wild places.
A fair and competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience

Your Application

Application Deadline

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.

Applications Deadline: 2nd April, 2026.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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About us

Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) is an internationally operating conservation organisation based in Germany that has been supporting conservation projects in Africa, South America, South East Asia and Europe for many decades. Following our mission to conserve wildlife and ecosystems we are focusing on protected areas and outstanding wild places.

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This is your call from the WILD!

Thank you for answering to our call from the WILD.
Please fill in the following short form. Should you have any difficulties in uploading your files, please contact us by mail at jobs@fzs.org.