OVERVIEW

Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust (CWET) is a dynamic and award-winning conservation education NGO that centres its operations in Mfuwe, a rapidly growing rural settlement close to South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. The primary aim of the organisation is to educate local children and communities about wildlife, the environment and conservation. The organisation is small but high impact, with 22 full time employees. See www.chipembele.org

CWET is seeking a high calibre and passionate conservationist with extensive experience in NGO leadership to fill this role and manage all its staff, programmes, governance and development.

Self-motivation and passion are key to the success of the position and the programme as a whole. It is located at the Chipembele Conservation Education Outreach Offices in the grounds of Mfuwe Secondary School, Mfuwe. It would best be suited to someone with a mature personality who is passionate about conserving nature in a remote African setting and who wants to run an organisation that is working at grass roots level to achieve that goal.

The position is available now and a long-term commitment to the position is sought.

Title of Position: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Mfuwe, Eastern Province, Zambia

Reports to: Board of Trustees

Job Status: 2-year contract (renewable)

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

1. MAJOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION

1.1 Strategy & policy implementation:

• Develops and implements CWET’s strategy and policies in consultation with the Board of Trustees to ensure they are in line with the organisation’s vision.
• Leads, maintains and develops CWET as a successful and significant wildlife conservation education organisation in Zambia.

1.2 Organisational responsibility:

Oversees, supports, mentors and motivates all staff so they feel enabled and empowered to:

• Implement projects and programmes imaginatively, effectively and efficiently.
• Complies with all regulatory and governance frameworks.
• Upholds the highest ethical standards.

1.3 Representation & spokesperson:

Serves as the main professional ‘front of CWET’ in its engagement with the government, private sector, local community, other NGOs, supporters, other stakeholders and the media.

2. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 Oversight, accountability & governance compliance:

• Exercises leadership over all management and operational activities, including the conservation education programme, communications, finances, legal issues, fundraising, human resources, administration and information technology.
• Ensures fulfilment of all compliance needs required by the Zambian authorities.
• Enforces in-house policies, rules and procedures.
• Carries out recruitment of staff and staff discipline.

2.2 Fundraising:

• Spearheads and manages the development, implementation and monitoring of fundraising initiatives among individual and corporate donors and writes grants to appropriate grant-making bodies.
• Ensures that CWET is financially self-sustaining and able to annually support all its programmes, administration and staff remuneration.

2.3 Institutional development & capacity building:

• Develops, implements and updates high-quality strategies and plans in line with objectives approved by the Board of Trustees.
• Encourages, mentors and leads a high-performance management team and builds a very driven, enabled and empowered workforce, in line with CWET’s financial constraints and strategic plans.

2.4 Driving performance & achieving impact:

• Delivers successful results from a modern and dynamic conservation education programme and ensures the monitoring and evaluation policy effectively supports this.
• Promotes effective networking, engagement, communication and collaboration with like-minded organisations locally, nationally and internationally.

3. QUALIFICATIONS

3.1 Essential:

A degree in business administration, project management, NGO management, development studies or a conservation related subject.

3.2 Highly desirable:

A postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject.

4. PERSONAL CRITERIA

4.1 Essential mind-set:

• Genuine passion for nature conservation and sustainable development, coupled with a belief in the CWET Mission – ‘To teach Zambian children and communities the value of wildlife and their environment so they may be conserved for present and future generations’.
• Entrepreneurship and thriving on taking up new challenges by seizing or creating new opportunities with imaginative and yet practical solutions.
• Personal drive and dynamism.
• Open-mindedness and receptiveness to new ideas.
• A commitment to a team-orientated and consultative approach in the planning, negotiation and management of programmes and projects.
• High standards of integrity
• Sensitive and empathetic personality but can be firm when necessary.
• A sharp eye for detail, but without losing a helicopter vision for broad directions of the organisation.

4.2 Essential Criteria:

• Minimum 5 years of senior management experience, preferably at CEO level, and a proven track record of success in a non-profit environment.
• Successful experience at a senior level in planning, developing and implementing projects and programmes, providing direction, initiating change and implementing improvements to enhance the quality of the organisation’s service and management.
• Demonstrated success in fund raising and grant writing.
• Demonstrated experience of project and organisational financial management tools and systems, including budgets and forecasting.
• Strong leadership qualities, including strategic vision, sound judgement, and ability to inspire
• Superior interpersonal and organisational skills with abilities to influence, persuade, and interface effectively with local community members, leaders in the corporate, political and public service hierarchies, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to set strategic direction and priorities, and deliver the required outcomes.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of funding sources, issues and challenges in the delivery of contemporary conservation and education programmes within a rural African setting.
• Demonstrated innovativeness and learning agility.
• Advanced skills in marketing and social media that can be used to positively and widely promote the work of CWET at local, national and international level
• Demonstrated ability to manage conflict openly and constructively, and negotiate solutions across diverse viewpoints amongst staff and agencies.
• Proven track record of building and managing cohesive, effective teams, especially in indigenous staff.
• Fluent English and high-level skills in clear, logical and concise written communication for diverse purposes and readership.
• Proficiency in public presentations and managing relationships with key donors and other stakeholders.

4.3 Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in Africa and/or remote rural settings amongst disadvantaged communities.
• Experience or knowledge of contemporary wildlife/conservation issues and Africa.
• Experience in dealing with children, Government departments, local communities and a broad range of people from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience of education systems and the challenges of working with poorly resourced educational establishments in Africa.
• Experience of working with non-government organisations, knowledge of governance and regulatory compliance in Zambia.
• Knowledge of Quick Books accounting software
• Understanding of and sincere desire to work and live in a remote yet rapidly developing rural area of Africa with all the associated logistical challenges.

5. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

5.1 Internal:

• Interacts regularly with CWET staff, volunteers and those hosted by CWET to build cohesive and positive working relationships within the organisation.
• Monitors work plans and reports outcomes periodically to the Board of Trustees.
• Ensures a good and collaborative working relationship with the Board of Trustees.

5.2 External:

• Positively engages with donors, government agencies, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, the media, and the private sector.
• Works collaboratively with other conservation and community related NGOs and government agencies.

6. OTHER CONDITIONS

• If the successful applicant is not a Zambian citizen or resident s/he will be required to satisfactorily fulfil the legal requirements of the Ministry of Immigration for entry into Zambia and would be subject to approval of a Zambian employment permit.
• A police clearance certificate for working with children and/or vulnerable clients is required from the CEO’s country of origin, dated within 6 months of the application.
• A current valid and full driver’s licence is essential. Experience of 4-wheel off-road driving would be an advantage.
• There will be an initial 3-month probationary period
• All air fares, other travel expenses and relocation costs at the job start-up are at the CEO’s expense.
• Full medical insurance with medical evacuation cover for emergencies is essential and must be obtained at the CEO’s own expense.
• A flexible approach to working hours is required; some out of hours work and travel out of the area are inevitable from time to time.

• A covering letter stipulating why you are an ideal candidate and what you would bring to the organisation
• A current curriculum vitae
• Names and e-mail addresses of 3 professional referees who are familiar with your qualifications and work experience and with whom you have worked under during the last 5 years
• Only candidates meeting the required criteria will be contacted. If you have not been contacted within a week after the deadline, please consider that your application has not been accepted.