African Parks Network is looking for a park manager, Zakouma National Park, Tchad

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with Governments and local communities. We currently manage 23 national parks and protected areas across 13 countries, covering over 20 million hectares in Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. Our mission is to restore and protect Africa’s wild spaces, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for local communities and the preservation of biodiversity.

Zakouma National Park (ZNP), managed by African Parks since 2010, is a flagship protected area in Chad and a key component of the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem (GZE), which also includes the Siniaka Minia National Park and Bahr Salamat Wildlife Reserve. Zakouma faces ongoing challenges such as poaching, habitat degradation, and human-wildlife conflict but remains critical for biodiversity conservation in the Sahelo-Sudanian zone. Recent successes include significant recoveries in elephant and buffalo populations and strengthening anti-poaching efforts.

The Park Manager will play a pivotal role in continuing these successes while fostering collaboration with local communities, government agencies, and partners to ensure the long-term ecological and socio-economic resilience of Zakouma.

Job Overview

The Park Manager (PM) is responsible for the overall management and strategic leadership of Zakouma National Park. This includes ensuring the effective implementation of conservation and community development programs, overseeing park operations, managing the Park Management Unit (PMU), and maintaining strong stakeholder relations.

Primary Functions and Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Strategy Development

·         Provide leadership in refining and executing Zakouma’s conservation and sustainability strategies.

·         Develop and implement the annual work plan, budgets, and business plans as approved by the park board.

1. Team Recruitment and Management

·         Recruit, lead, and manage the Park Management Unit (PMU) to ensure operational effectiveness.

·         Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

1. Project Coordination

·         Oversee all park operations including anti-poaching, community engagement, biodiversity monitoring, and revenue generation.

·         Ensure integration of participatory processes compliant with FPIC (Free, Prior and Informed Consent) in land use and community development plans.

1. Conservation Advocacy and Community Engagement

·         Strengthen partnerships with local communities, traditional leaders, government authorities, and financial partners.

·         Represent Zakouma National Park at meetings and present strategy, results, budgets, and plans to the park board.

1. Monitoring and Reporting

·         Monitor implementation of all programs and ensure compliance with agreements between African Parks and the Government of Chad.

·         Ensure timely and accurate reporting aligned with African Parks Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

• Biodiversity Improvement: Tangible growth in key species populations and improved ecosystem integrity.
• Community Engagement: Strong, trust-based relationships with local communities, demonstrated by active participation in conservation initiatives and improved Community Conservation Index (CCI) scores.
• Effective Resource Management: Sound financial management with adherence to approved budgets, no funding gaps, and transparent operations.
• Achievement of Development Goals: Delivery of objectives set in the five-year business plan

• Local PMU
• Local Authorities and local community
• Other Park Directors
• Regional Team

Education:

• University degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s) in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Wildlife Conservation, Ecology, or related field.

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years proven experience in managing national parks, nature reserves, or conservation projects in tropical or semi-arid environments, preferably in Central Africa or similar contexts.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Proven track record in coordinating complex projects involving biodiversity protection, community development, and financial management.
• Experience in anti-poaching operations and collaboration with law enforcement is a strong asset.
• Experience working with institutional donors and managing external funding.

Technical Skills and Expertise:

• Strong knowledge of Sahel-Sudanian ecosystems and conservation challenges in the region.
• Proficiency in strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.
• Solid skills in financial management, including budgeting and expenditure tracking.
• Proficient in common IT tools (MS Office, project management software, databases).
• Familiarity with community engagement standards and protocols, particularly FPIC.

Language Skills:

• Excellent command of French (spoken and written) is essential.
• Good professional proficiency in English is desirable.
• Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage.

Personal Qualities and Competencies:

• Strong leadership with ability to motivate and unify a team.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize effectively.
• High adaptability and resilience to work in remote and challenging environments.
• Strong interpersonal skills and diplomacy.
• High professional ethics, integrity, and alignment with African Parks values.
• Willingness and capacity to commit long-term in a rural setting.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications, including a CV and a cover letter outlining their qualifications and relevant experience, by 15 July 2025 to: African Parks Direct Hire directhire@africanparks.org or to  centralafrica.hr@africanparks.org