Field Operations Manager

About The Project

Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) is an international conservation organisation dedicated to conserving wildlife and ecosystems in some of the world’s most outstanding wild places. FZS maintains long-term conservation programmes in Africa, South America, Asia, and Europe.

The Nsumbu Tanganyika Conservation Programme (NTCP) is a partnership between the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) and Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), working to secure the integrity of the Nsumbu-Tanganyika landscape for present and future generations.The programme is growing geographically and operationally, with work extending across the wider Nsumbu-Mweru landscape and preparations for the planned reintroduction of black rhino.

About The Position

NTCP is looking for an experienced, practical and solutions-focused Field Operations Manager to help drive the next phase of growth of one of Zambia’s long-term protected-area conservation programmes.

This is not primarily a desk-based management position.

We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable developing an annual operational plan, examining costs and maintenance records, working through a difficult infrastructure problem with a site team, challenging an inefficient system, and developing supervisors to take greater responsibility.

The Field Operations Manager (FOM) will lead and coordinate field operations, infrastructure, workshop, fleet and maintenance functions across the programme.

The role will have particular responsibility for NTCP’s growing vehicle and boat fleet, workshop operations, infrastructure development and maintenance, the Rhino Sanctuary and Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ), fire management, stores and logistics, and operational support to law enforcement.

Your Tasks:

• Lead the Field Operations Department in accordance with the NTCP organisational structure, strategy and programme objectives.

• Develop departmental strategies, annual work plans, budgets, KPIs, SOPs, policies and operational reports.

• Provide strategic oversight of NTCP’s vehicles, boats, motorcycles and associated transport assets.

• Oversee development and maintenance of the approximately 500 km² Rhino Sanctuary and Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ).

• Develop and implement an infrastructure development and preventative maintenance plan covering existing and anticipated NTCP requirements.

• Provide strategic leadership for NTCP’s fire-management programme.

• Oversee procurement of workshop spares, construction materials, consumables and other operational requirements.

• Oversee workforce deployment and productivity to ensure operational targets are achieved efficiently.

• Coordinate logistical, fleet and operational support provided to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) within the NTCP mandate.

• Mentor and develop Zambian staff, strengthening supervisory and leadership capacity and creating opportunities for progressively greater responsibility.

Your Profile:

We are interested in applicants who can show that they have actually managed complex field operations, rather than simply supported them.

You may come from conservation or protected-area management, engineering, construction, logistics, fleet management or another demanding remote operational environment.

The successful candidate will combine technical understanding with strong management ability.Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction, logistics years, protected-area management, conservation, natural resource management or another relevant discipline.