Position: Park Manager

Reporting to: Regional Operations Manager

Direct reports include, but are not limited to:  Senior Operations Manager, Community & Extension Manager, Tourism Manager, Finance Manager, HR Manager, and Funding & Reporting Manager.

Contract type: 2-year fixed term (Renewable)

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation responsible for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks and protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities across Africa. We currently manage 24 protected areas across 14 countries, covering more than 20 million hectares, making this one of the largest conservation portfolios in the world.

Operating across Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Zambia, Ethiopia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, African Parks delivers conservation outcomes at scale through disciplined operational management, stakeholder partnership, and long-term financial sustainability.

We are seeking an exceptional Park Manager to lead one of Africa’s exceptional protected areas. This demanding, high-accountability executive role sits at the intersection of strategy, operations, people leadership, financial management, sustainability, and multi-stakeholder governance in a highly rewarding operational environment.

The successful candidate will serve as the Chief Executive of the park, providing leadership to a multidisciplinary management team and overseeing all aspects of strategy execution, stakeholder engagement, financial performance, infrastructure development, tourism operations, conservation law and organisational culture. Conservation knowledge is an advantage, but the ability to lead, manage, and deliver in a demanding operational environment is the core requirement.

The Park Manager will be responsible for the integrated management and sustainable development of the park in accordance with the Partnership Agreement between the Government and African Parks.

The Park Manager is accountable for the overall leadership and performance of the park, requiring proven executive capability across five integrated management domains: Strategic Leadership, Operational Excellence, Financial Stewardship, People Leadership and Stakeholder Governance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Develop and execute the park strategy in alignment with the Partnership Agreement, African Parks’ strategic objectives and the five-year business plan.
• Translate strategic priorities into measurable operational outcomes, including annual activity plans, capital and operational budgets.
• Identify and drive sustainable development opportunities, growth, innovation, and organisational performance.

1. Operational Excellence

• Ensure the effective management of all park operations and infrastructure, including law enforcement, conservation, community and commercial.
• Oversee implementation of annual work plans and major capital projects.
• Ensure resources, systems and processes are aligned to deliver strategic objectives.
• Ensure all activities are conducted in accordance with African Parks policies and standard operating procedures.
• Oversee logistics, construction, anti-poaching operations, and research and monitoring programmes.

1. Financial Management and Sustainability

• Take full accountability for the park’s financial performance, annual budgets, compliance, financial discipline, controls, and resource allocation.
• Ensure strong governance, compliance and risk management practices.
• Ensure rigorous procurement compliance and financial controls across all departments.
• Provide accurate financial and operational reports to the Park Board, African Parks, and relevant stakeholders.
• Identify and develop sustainable revenue streams including tourism, donor funding and nature-based solutions.
• Drive financial sustainability and operational efficiency.

1. People Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary leadership team to deliver the park’s strategic, operational and financial objectives. Build a strong values-based culture focused on accountability, collaboration and results.
• Recruit, manage, and evaluate contracted staff, while supporting career development and succession planning.
• Champion the development of local talent and succession pipelines.
• Embed a strong organisational culture grounded in accountability, integrity, and performance.

1. Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the principal representative of the park with government authorities, donors, local communities, traditional leaders, private sector partners and other stakeholders.
• Build strategic partnerships that strengthen the long-term success of the protected area.
• Maintain strong relationships with boards, committees and oversight structures.
• Maintain compliance with the Partnership Agreement and all relevant regulatory requirements.

1. Conservation and Community Impact

• Champion conservation outcomes through strong leadership of specialist conservation teams.
• Support initiatives that improve livelihoods, create employment opportunities and strengthen community partnerships.
• Ensure the protected area delivers measurable ecological and socio-economic impact.

WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE

• A fully functioning, well-governed park with all departments established, resourced, and operating to African Parks standards.
• A financially sustainable operation with diversified revenue streams and disciplined expenditure management.
• Measurable improvement in conservation outcomes, anti-poaching effectiveness, and ecological indicators.
• Strong, trust-based relationships with government, communities, and key donors.
• A high-performing, locally representative team with clear succession and development pathways.
• A culture of accountability, transparency, and values-based leadership embedded across the Park Management Unit.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

We are seeking a proven general park manager with the leadership depth, operational capability, and business acumen to run a complex, multi-disciplinary organisation in a demanding environment. Experience in conservation, natural resources, or related sectors is an advantage but transferable leadership from comparable settings is equally valued.

• A degree in Business, Finance, Public Administration, Natural Resource Management, Tourism, Conservation or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years of senior leadership experience managing complex organisations, business units or large-scale operations.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams in challenging and remote environments.
• Strong financial, commercial and operational management capability and experience.
• Proven ability to manage senior stakeholder relationships, including government officials, boards, donors, private partners and community leaders.
• Experience in tourism, conservation, infrastructure, development, hospitality, NGO, public sector or related industries.
• Strong strategic thinking, communication and decision-making skills.
• Proven project management capability delivering capital and operational projects on time and to budget
• High levels of resilience, adaptability and personal integrity.

DESIRABLE

• Experience working in Africa or other emerging markets.
• Experience within conservation, conservation law, tourism, natural resource management, wildlife protection, or development sectors.
• Experience managing donor-funded programmes or public-private partnerships.

WHY JOIN AFRICAN PARKS IN KAFUE?

This is an opportunity to lead one of Africa’s most important landscapes and create lasting impact for people, wildlife and future generations. The role offers the challenge of running a complex enterprise where conservation success depends on strong leadership, financial sustainability, stakeholder alignment and operational excellence.

African Parks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

African Parks is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. Employment decisions are made based on merit, qualifications, and organisational needs. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, ethnic or social origin, nationality, religion, age, disability, sex, gender, marital status, HIV status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Applications should include a detailed CV and a motivation letter outlining relevant leadership experience.