Community Conservation Senior Manager

Community Conservation Senior Manager

Zambia

01 November 2026                                                                                      

1 year fixed-term contract

• Oversee the implementation and expansion of the Wildlife Values programme, ensuring transparent wildlife sightings data collection, verification, incentive disbursement, and annual wildlife sightings review workshops with each CNRMC.
• Support CNRMCs in the selection and community-led implementation of livelihood development projects funded through Wildlife Values income.
• Identify and develop additional wildlife and natural resource-based livelihood and revenue streams for communities, including ecotourism, sustainable hunting, carbon markets, biodiversity financing mechanisms, and access to Constituency Development Fund (CDF) opportunities.
• Oversee women's empowerment programmes including sewing groups, business training, and marketing support, ensuring genuine participation across gender and age groups.
• Support COCOBA (community conservation banking) and linkages to sustainable financing mechanisms at local government level.

• →Identifying, developing, and submitting high-quality grant proposals to bilateral, multilateral, and philanthropic donors.
• → Managing active grant portfolios: preparing and submitting narrative and financial reports, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with all donor requirements.
• →Preparing project budgets for new proposals in coordination with the Finance team.
• →Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of funding landscapes and trends relevant to community conservation, CBNRM, and HWC in Southern and East Africa.
• →Directly supervise the Community Conservation Coordinator; provide oversight of CCOs and other field staff through the Coordinator.
• → Design staff workplans and provide regular, timely progress updates to the Zambia Country Director and Regional Hub Director.
• →Mentor and build the capacity of community conservation team members, with particular emphasis on report writing and grant writing skills, in accordance with Panthera's succession management approach.
• →Where requested, contribute to the development and refinement of community conservation approaches at other Panthera sites across the Southern and East Africa Regional Programme.
• →Draft and submit high-quality technical, programmatic, and financial reports to donors, the Country Director, and the Regional Hub Director, ensuring compliance with Panthera and donor reporting requirements, timelines, and standards, and providing accurate updates on project progress, outcomes, challenges, and lessons learned.

• Oversee the management, training, and support of Community Conservation Officers (CCOs), including SMART data collection, HWC task force coordination, and deployment of non-lethal mitigation measures (e.g., chili bombs, beehive fences, or other emerging tested and effective measures).
• Ensure HWC incident response systems function effectively and that communities are capacitated to lead mitigation activities.
• Track and analyse HWC trends and adapt programme responses accordingly, liaising with DNPW on incidents requiring government response.

• Oversee community-based wildlife monitoring including camera trap surveys, community sightings logbooks, and wildlife census activities.
• Establish and maintain a species inventory for the conservancy area; coordinate a long-term, data-driven monitoring programme in conjunction with CNRMCs.
• Ensure wildlife data informs programme evaluation, adaptive management, and Panthera-wide science outputs.
•   Identify high-priority wildlife sanctuary areas and work with communities and traditional leadership to establish temporary protections pending formal conservancy establishment.
• Evaluate whether Community Conservation interventions are achieving their intended outcomes, including reducing HWC, increasing equitable community benefits, strengthening local governance and legitimacy, influencing land-use practices, and delivering measurable conservation gains.

• Oversee the Eco-club programme across primary and secondary schools in the programme area, including formation of new clubs, distribution of educational materials, and support for quarterly environmental awareness campaigns.
• Ensure teacher and environmental champion training programmes are designed and delivered effectively.
• Provide strategic oversight and guidance to strengthen conservation awareness and stewardship among youth and local communities, ensuring alignment with the Wildlife Values programme's communications and engagement strategy.  

Requirements

• Advanced degree (MSc or equivalent) in conservation, wildlife management, natural resource management, rural development, social sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in community-based conservation or natural resource management in sub-Saharan Africa, with significant field-level programme implementation
• Proven track record in grant writing and fundraising, with demonstrated success securing and managing substantial grants from bilateral, multilateral, or major philanthropic donors.
• Strong understanding of CBNRM principles, community governance, and conservation policy in the African context.
• Demonstrable experience in human-wildlife conflict management and mitigation.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and developing field-based teams.
• Strong project management skills including work planning, budget management, and multi-donor reporting.
• Excellent written and spoken English; strong scientific and technical writing skills.
• Willingness and ability to undertake frequent travel to remote and logistically challenging field sites, including extended multi-day stays.
• Valid driver's license with 4WD experience in remote terrain.

• Experience working in Zambia or the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA landscape.
• Knowledge of Zambia's wildlife legislation, protected area management systems, and DNPW processes for conservancy establishment.
• Experience with Conservation Performance Payments, Payments for Ecosystem Services, or similar benefit-sharing mechanisms.
• Familiarity with SMART data collection tools and community-based monitoring approaches.
• Experience in environmental education programme design and delivery.
• Published scientific or technical work related to community conservation, HWC, or CBNRM.

Panthera is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Applications close 16 October, 2026. Please apply by visiting Panthera’s Career Page Careers | Panthera. Applicants must submit a CV and cover letter.  CVs must include three professional referees and their contact details.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.