Chief of Party, Hearth Luangwa Programme (COP)

FZS seeks a Chief of Party, Hearth Luangwa Programme (COP) to lead a five-year $10m USAID-funded Global Development Alliance (GDA) project for the Luangwa Valley Ecosystem of Zambia, focussing on the North Luangwa component. The project will leverage private sector partner resources and expertise to achieve integrated outcomes for biodiversity conservation, economic prosperity, human well-being, and governance in and around key Game Management Areas.

• The COP oversees all aspects of a major multi-sectoral project encompassing a large, complex geography and a wide range of diverse stakeholders linking livelihoods with the North Luangwa Landscape
• S/he will lead, develop and manage the Hearth project team and serves as the principal contact to external project stakeholders including USAID, private Alliance partners, other project partners, and public ministries
• The COP will manage the relationship with USAID and will be responsible for all performance, reporting, administration and compliance related to the project, financial oversight, operations and quality assurance for all activities including budgeting and financial reporting
• S/he will provide technical support to all components of the project and ensure that Luangwa Hearth coordinates activities with other USAID funded projects that have complementarity with Hearth and with FZS’s wider conservation program.

• University degree and 10 years’ experience in conservation or natural resource management practice or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Record of managing complex donor-funded programs including private sector engagement and/or biodiversity conservation, preferably in Africa.
• Experience directing a major program or project of strategic importance, including management/supervision of multi-disciplinary teams, subcontracts and meeting deadlines.
• Experience with the sole responsibility for the administration and financial management of a programme of at least $1 million/year
• Prior experience with USAID operating procedures, regulations, and reporting requirements, preferably as a COP or Deputy COP.
• Leadership experience developing a team culture and maintaining it to meet organisational goals and supervisory experience, including motivating, setting objectives, training and managing performance.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English.

The COP position is term-limited for five years and can be based at either FZS’ Lusaka or Mpika offices with frequent travels domestically to the North Luangwa Ecosystem.

Your application should contain a cover letter, your chronological CV as well as qualifying certificates. Your cover letter should answer the following questions:

• Why are you suitable for the advertised position?
• How should conservation organisations be involved in delivery of human development in buffer zones to core protected areas?
• With a growing wildlife population and growing human population, how can rural development be aligned with conservation objectives in order to benefit both humans and wildlife on the periphery of protected areas?

Please apply online by sending your electronic application documents (as one single pdf) and indicate your salary expectations and the earliest possible starting date.

Application deadline: 12th September 2021