Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, November 16, 2021 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Human-Wildlife Interaction Coordinator (HWIC)

Frankfurt Zoological Society conserves wildlife and ecosystems focussing on protected areas and outstanding wild places. FZS maintains long-term conservation programmes in Africa, South America, Asia, and Europe. The Africa Programme is FZS’ largest and oldest and is active in five focal countries: The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe (www.fzs.org).

FZS Zambia (FZS-Z) has been active in the North Luangwa Ecosystem since 1986 and Nsumbu since 2017, working to conserve these globally important wilderness areas. FZS-Z supports effective and efficient protected area management, with a focus on law enforcement and community outreach with a focus on empowering host custodians in GMAs to manage their own resources. Particularly, the North Luangwa Ecosystem Programme (NLCP) has the mission of ‘Linking Livelihoods and Landscapes’. NLCP works using the following strategies:

1. Protect=Conserve=Preserve- This aims to implement robust and adaptive large landscape enforcement tactics and capability to protect, conserve, and preserve wildlife habitats and ecological services;

2. Empower=Educate=Enterprise- This aims to implement creative and beneficial initiatives to empower, educate and deliver enterprise opportunities for neighbouring communities and wider Zambian society;

3. Communicate=Connect=Change- This aims to implement focused messaging to communicate and connect with stakeholders and partners for effective and positive change; and

4. Structure=Systems=Support- This aims to implement a clear and enduring organization and financial structure with efficient systems to support a mentally and physically healthy team.

Learn more at https://fzs.org/en/projects  about our conservation programme .

JOB DESCRIPTION: HUMAN-WILDLIFE INTERACTION COORDINATOR (HWIC) (1 POSITION)
This Human-Wildlife Coordinator will help to implement and improve a consistent and effective bottom-up community engagement programme in the North Luangwa Ecosystem in line with NLCP’s Human-Wildlife Interaction Strategy. The community engagement programme aims to work with custodian communities in the chiefdoms of the Game management Areas surrounding the North Luangwa National Park in line with the partnership between Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW).

1. Job title:

Human-Wildlife Interaction Coordinator (HWI Coordinator)

2. Reporting to:

Community Outreach Manager

Working Closely with:

NLCP Project Leader

FZS Strategic Livelihoods Advisor

DNPW Area Warden

DNPW Extension Officer

3. Reports

Community Conservation Officer

Community Liaison Assistant;

Human-Wildlife Interaction Field enumerators.

4. Location/Station

Chifunda Chiefdom, in the North Luangwa Ecosystem

5. Frequency of reporting:

Monthly

6. Objective

This is a field-based coordinator position to implement and help improve a consistent and effective bottom-up community engagement programme. The primary objective is to reduce HWI through policy, technical, capacity building and adoption of mechanisms in priority elephant areas. This role aims to develop a systemic and holistic understanding of the human-wildlife interface and, through appropriate interventions, holistically manage and reduce the impacts emanating from negative human wildlife interactions. Emphasis will be placed on human-elephant conflict.

7. Duties

The HWI Coordinator shall be responsible for the effective implementation, engagement and technical oversight of field activities for the HWI programme in the North Luangwa Ecosystem. Specifically, the duties shall be as follows:

a) Providing technical expertise, advice, education and awareness on human-wildlife interaction management (e.g. managing attractants and public safety response) to localized stakeholders;

b) Supporting resource management partnerships and initiatives to mitigate human-wildlife interactions (e.g. DNPW, NGO’s, agricultural cooperatives and Community Resource Boards).

c) Providing leadership to intern placements and unclassified staff on behalf of supervisor, including assigning daily work, monitoring the quality and quantity of work, reporting on progress; ensuring staff compliance to the Occupational Health and Safety requirements that apply to work.

d) Conducting operational field program activities such as attractant assessment and mitigation, carrying out site inspections and field surveys on foot, in vehicles, boats or aircraft; organizing, scheduling and coordinating human and equipment needs for resource management projects such as wildlife surveys, human-wildlife interaction management projects; providing technical guidance to assigned employees; collecting and inputting data such as human-wildlife interactions and wildlife presence surveys; and providing input to operational plans to ensure operations are within guidelines and policies;

e) Performing technical activities such as gathering, assembling and compiling technical information for databases; preparing reports and making recommendations on related matters (e.g. elephant response action reports, wildlife survey reports, hazard assessment reports).

f) Other duties: Management has the right to assign additional duties.
The incumbent shall ensure that workers take precautions to protect the health and safety of themselves and others by complying with such NLCP Health, Safety and Environment policy, procedures or accepted workplace practices as may be appropriate. The incumbent shall advise workers of actual and potential dangers in the workplace and take the required precautions.

8. Knowledge

Knowledge and understanding of community-based natural resources management (CBNRM), human-wildlife interaction management and ecological sustainability principles and practices required to organize and conduct field inspections, surveys and projects such as wildlife surveys and population inventories to promote natural resource management and human-wildlife interaction management awareness and education by participating in partnership projects such as human-wildlife interaction mitigation and inclusion into livelihood activities with agricultural cooperatives, to provide technical advice to general public, custodian communities, CRB’s and provide technical input to program management.
Knowledge of related government legislation, policies, procedures, directives and guidelines (e.g. Wildlife Act 2015)
Knowledge of data management standards and operating practices for information gathering (e.g. data collection and inventory techniques, data preparation and entry/digitizing) to collect and input data, ensuring complete, accurate information is available.
Knowledge of relevant administrative policies, procedures and best practices as well as work plan procedures (e.g. to track project expenditures, to ensure approved budget is not exceeded); and provide input into the budget planning process to provide information about funding required for planned projects (e.g. specialized equipment costs, unit price estimates for contract work).
Knowledge of field equipment operations to perform field maintenance, adjustments and repair of equipment, Global Positioning System (GPS), hand held data computers, vehicles, outboard motors and boats, in accordance with user’s manuals (e.g. change spark plugs, tires, adjust fuel mix), to provide calibration or to return equipment to appropriate formal maintenance location from field operations.
Knowledge of personal computers/software including word-processing, excel data base, electronic mail, internet to prepare correspondence and reports, input and retrieve data, and track expenditures; use internet and e-mail.

9. Skills

Interpersonal skills to build effective working relationships and liaise effectively with wide variety of stakeholders (e g DNPW, CRB’s, external consultants, agricultural cooperatives, NGO’s and custodian communities) and deal with diverse requests and concerns related to human-wildlife interaction management, inclusive of forestry, fish and wildlife programmes.
Analytical and problem-solving skills to make field-level decisions to determine the approach to a task or to resolve an issue or conflict, resolve technical problems in operational field situations by gathering/analyzing information on site, determining options, and to deal with issues and problem situations, particularly in remote field situations (e.g. mitigation to prevent wildlife interactions).
Leadership skills to assign work to staff on behalf of the supervisor, including assigning daily work, monitoring the quality and quantity of work and reporting on progress.
Oral/written communication skills to respond, both orally and in writing, to inquiries on matters such as reports, resource data and, maps; communicate and share information with professional staff in human-wildlife interaction management and partnerships to further understanding of projects; conduct field tours and represent the organization at workshops or educational tours; and to present information/ideas and recommendations when dealing with human-wildlife interaction mitigation.
Planning and coordinating skills to organize, schedule and coordinate human and equipment resources (e.g. vehicle transportation) for resources management with resource agencies involved in natural resources management and the custodian communities.

10. General

Adhere to annual FZS and donor budgets, following FZS and donor financial management policy and procedures for proper and transparent use of project funds;
Ensure responsible use and care of any project assets and equipment assigned to the community outreach team, including vehicles for field teams.
To attend such meetings, seminars and conferences as may be directed to do;
Work closely with the office of the DNPW Area Warden, NLE and other DNPW/FD/DOF staff within the operational area;
Perform any other duties that may be delegated in line with NLCP’s strategy.

11. Qualifications:

The position holder shall:

A valid driving license.
Holder of Diploma (Degree is an added advantage) in social science, wildlife management, community development or rural development.
At least 3-5 years of practical field experience in working with rural communities.
Must possess fair knowledge and workings of CBNRM, principles of good governance, and general wildlife and natural resources management in Zambia
Clear understanding of existing natural resources and wildlife policies; legal frameworks and legislation will be an advantage.
Practical experience working with traditional authorities will be an added advantage.
Strong governance and livelihoods skills will be an advantage.

Other attributes:

Self-motivated, disciplined and determined to work within the flexibility nature of the work
Good communication skills
Ability and willingness to work in a rural setting
Ability to work as team
Ability to adhere to work ethics

Knowledge in wildlife behaviour

12. Behavioural Competencies

Teamwork: Cooperate, support and work well with others to achieve project goals. Share information, and contribute effectively to FZS` objectives and solving problems.
Planning and organising: Plan and organise complex activities and work on multiple tasks. Determine actions, time frames and required resources for projects and monitor progress. Set goals and budget estimates effectively, and manage time effectively.
Problem analysis: Pointing out problems, recognising important information and establishing connections between various data. Tracing potential causes for problems.
Initiative: Recognising opportunities and acting on them. Pro-active, self-starting rather than passively accepting; actively influences events.
Flexibility: Adaptable, resourceful, and receptive to new ideas; willing and able to adjust to changing circumstances.
Integrity: Honest, reliable, and maintain high ethical standards. Show respect and fairness when dealing with others

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 36

Level of Education: Associate Degree

Job application procedure
Only candidates who meet the specified qualifications should apply. Please submit an application with the following:

1. Cover Letter – 1-page description of why you are suitable for the Human-Wildlife Coordinator role

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) – 4 pages describing your experience, qualifications and 3 traceable referees.

Send via email the stated documentation only (5 pages) (NO NRCs, NO Driving Licences, NO certificates) to jobs.zambia@fzs.org  make sure to indicate in the email subject line the position you are applying for or drop your applications at the Frankfurt Zoological Society Lundazi/Mpika Offices

Applications should be addressed to: The Community Outreach Manager, North Luangwa Conservation Programme, Frankfurt Zoological Society, P.O Box 450189, Mpika

Closing Date: 23rd November 2021 at 23:59. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. FZS-NLCP is an equal opportunity employer, and everyone is free to apply. Women and custodian residents of Chikwa, Chifunda, Lundu, Mukungule and Nabwalya Chiefdoms are encouraged to apply.

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