Natural Capital
DUE: 30 NOV 2023
POSITION TITLE
Project Director
PLACE OF WORK
The Project Director will split his or her time between Harare and Rifa in the Zambezi Valley.
REPORTING TO
The Zambezi Wilderness Trust Board of Trustees and, specifically, to the CEO of Natural Capital.
OVERVIEW
The Zambezi Wilderness Trust (ZWT) is a progressive and pragmatic conservation organisation focused on the Rifa concession in the Middle Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe. The Project Director fulfils a crucial leadership role in formulating and directing the Trust’s efforts to secure, restore, grow and effectively manage the concession area to ensure habitat integrity and biodiversity intactness. The Project Director will recruit and direct an empowered team, while building bridges to foster strong relationships, nurture stakeholder partnerships, and embed sustainability into ZWT’s long-term project management model.
This position involves a combination of visionary leadership, strategic thinking, holistic conservation management, and oversight of revenue generating activities (such as ethical hunting, photographic tourism and carbon project development), while simultaneously strengthening government relations, enhancing community engagement, and promoting project advocacy with all ecosystem stakeholders.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Strategy and Leadership:
o Co-create the vision and long-term goals of the Zambezi Wilderness Trust, in consultation with the ZWT Board of Trustees and Natural Capital Executive.
o Communicate and implement this vision by effectively representing and promoting the organisation to all levels of government, as well as with local communities, Zambezi Valley stakeholders and the media.
o Lead, inspire and manage a diverse team of field personnel, administrative staff, and conservation and business development consultants.
o Foster a supportive environment that promotes collaboration, excellence and dedication to conservation project goals by actively encouraging an organisational culture built upon ZWT values and team spirit.
o Develop an operational environment and culture that attracts, develops, values and, ultimately, retains top talent.
o In consultation with the Trustees, oversee and coordinate the development of revenue generating activities in line with the conservation mission – including high-end tourism, ethical hunting, carbon projects and other forms of PES.
2.Conservation Management:
o Oversee the daily field operations of the Trust, ensuring effective conservation management activities, the protection of the wildlife, the implementation of research and monitoring projects, community engagement and development projects, and the safety of field personnel.
o Demonstrate outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to build a strong partnership with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) as well as other relevant government agencies to ensure their unwavering support for the activities of the Trust and, in particular, the concession management and anti-poaching activities.
o Ensure compliance with all acts, laws and legal standards that pertain to conservation and concession management activities in Zimbabwe and SADC.
o Oversee financial planning, resource allocation, budget development and cost management to maximise impact, while ensuring strong fiscal discipline.
o Manage and monitor all conservation projects and initiatives, measuring their effectiveness, as part of an adaptive management approach.
o Maintain oversight of all research and monitoring activities to gather data and report against KPIs, such as wildlife population growth, poaching trends, human- wildlife conflict incidents, community project development, etc.
3. Reporting and Evaluation:
o Prepare concise quarterly reports for the ZWT Board of Trustees, as well as investors and/or donors, on the progress and positive impact achieved by the Rifa project and its related activities.
o Conduct periodic audits to evaluate the effectiveness of protected area management activities, conservation initiatives, revenue generating plans, and community development projects.
4. Advocacy and Public Relations:
o Build effective channels of communication and invest in developing robust relationships with the various departments, stations and silos within ZPWMA, as this is critical to ZWT successfully implementing its wider project ambitions.
o Effectively represent ZWT at all levels, from meeting with local communities and council boards to senior ZPWMA executives and other government officials, as well as with key partner organisations and the press.
o Advocate for stronger resource protection policies and law enforcement to protect wildlife diversity and numbers, including ecosystem-wide collaboration and cross-border conservation initiatives.
o Jointly plan and implement educational outreach and media campaigns that create awareness, educate the public, and enhance mainstream support for wildlife conservation efforts.
QUALITIES AND COMPETENCIES
- Deep passion and genuine commitment to wildlife conservation.
- Strategic, independent thinker who thrives in a macro-managed environment.
- strong business acumen and a business-minded approach to conservation project development and management.
- Personal values should align with the organisation and include: integrity, trust, commitment, compassion, and fairness.
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with a high level of EQ.
- Desire to recruit, build and manage a high performance team by promoting understanding, acceptance, equality, diversity and a plurality of views, as a way to
- strengthen the team and optimise project outcomes.
- Effective time management skills and the ability to successfully balance multiple
- important competing priorities, while delegating less important tasks.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree (a masters would be preferable) in a relevant conservation and/or management field, such as wildlife management or business administration.
- Proven track record in conservation leadership and previous project management experience, especially working successfully with ZPWMA. Any leadership training courses or related qualifications would be considered an advantage.
- Holistic experience with implementing impactful wildlife conservation projects, anti- poaching strategies and environmental protection practices, including using conservation technologies to manage project teams and assets more effectively.
- Relevant qualifications and experience in budgeting and financial management.
- Prior protected area management experience or similar project oversight roles.
- Knowledge of legal frameworks and regulations related to wildlife conservation in
- Zimbabwe (and the wider SADC region) would be considered advantageous.
- Previous negotiations and advocacy experience.
- Prior experience with cultivating relationships, developing funding proposals and
- reporting back to donors on project-related grants.
- Fluent in spoken and written English with strong writing skills and experience producing
- project concept notes, proposals and reports.
- Ability to communicate in Shona would be advantageous.
TO APPLY
- Candidates should submit a one-page cover letter and a concise CV with references to: admin@zambeziwildernesstrust.org
- The application window is open until the end of November 2023, but applications will be assessed in real time with short-listed candidates contacted for interviews.
- Preference will be given to recruiting and employing a suitable Zimbabwean candidate to fill this position.
- Zambezi Wilderness Trust is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are encouraged to apply.
- Remuneration package (commensurate with qualifications and experience), along with start date, will be discussed and agreed during the interview process.
Zambezi Wilderness Trust, P.O. Box 7, Chirundu, ZIMBABWE