We’re looking for someone highly motivated and passionate about conservation, communities and tangible long-lasting impact to join the TNC Zambia team. As a senior position within the Zambia management team, this is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative, innovative individual to contribute to the country programme by building upon the successes of the EKNA project achieved in the first three years of its execution and laying the foundations for the long term outcomes of the project.

Reporting to the Zambia Country Director, the position will be based at the TNC offices in Lusaka,  Zambia. This is a term-limited position, extending to the end of the project in September 2026.

Specifically, the Chief of Party:

• Provides technical leadership for and supervisory management of the large, complex and multi-sectoral USAID/Zambia-funded Kafue Eastern Kafue Nature Alliance Project
• Is responsible for project compliance, financial oversight, operations and quality assurance for all activities including budgeting and financial reporting
• Serves as the primary project liaison with USAID, communicates regularly with USAID and USAID funded activities and attend all USAID partner meetings
• Supervises the monitoring of key deliverables, outputs and outcomes as per Work Plans and grantee/contractor agreements.
• Cultivates and develops partnerships with key stakeholders including government agencies, the project’s private sector Alliance partners, implementing partners, collaborating partners and communities
• Manages and retains a high quality and effective multi-disciplinary staff with responsibility for performance management, training and career development and provides assistance to all levels of personnel on expertise related issues and requests.
• Manages all the project’s sub-agreements and contracts
• Prepares and submits annual work plans and quarterly and annual performance reports, and ensure progress towards program objectives, including through field visits
• Supervises and provides technical input into the project’s monitoring, evaluation, research and learning functions and supervises compliance with USAID MEL requirements including data quality assessments and data entry into USAID portals
• Provides robust technical input and support to all components of the project and the staff and partners responsible for them, ensuring the project achieves lasting outcomes and results
• Works closely with the other members of the TNC Zambia conservation team to ensure the seamless integration of the EKNA project into broader conservation objectives and contribution of the project to country goals.
• Makes independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and judgment.
• Works closely with the other members of the TNC Zambia and regional conservation teams to ensure the seamless integration of the EKNA project into broader conservation objectives and contribution of the project to country and regional goals.
• Is willing to undertake frequent travel domestically and evening and weekend hours and work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations and under physically demanding circumstances.
• Make independent strategic decisions frequently based on analysis, ambiguous information, experience and judgment

Minimum Qualifications:

• BA/BSc degree or higher in a relevant field (business administration, agribusiness, agri financing, conservation practice, etc.),
• A minimum of ten years of relevant experience and progressively increasing management responsibility in international development projects on biodiversity conservation, conservation-oriented market and investment development and small and medium-sized agribusinesses programmes
• Prior experience with USAID operating procedures, regulations, and reporting requirements.
• Experience directing a major program or project of strategic importance, including management/supervision of multi-disciplinary teams, subcontracts and meeting deadlines.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, training and managing performance.
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, private sector partners, community institutions at the provincial/district level, and government agencies.
• Experience and influence in conservation-related policy dialogue
• Skills in facilitating, negotiating and conflict management in multi-stakeholder environments.
• Excellent report writing, analytical, and communication skills, including oral presentation skills, knowledge management, in English.
• Competence in computer skills (e.g. Excel, Word)

Desired Qualifications:

• MA/MSc/MBA degree in a relevant field
• Over 10 years’ experience leading and managing complex conservation or development programmes and multidisciplinary teams in Zambia or Sub-Saharan Africa, preferably as COP or Deputy COP under a USAID project.
• Experience working with current trends and practices in conservation and sustainable management of natural resources
• Experience in conservation-oriented market and investment development in partnership with private sector actors and platforms
• Understanding of biodiversity conservation in Zambian or Sub-Saharan African context, including the socio-economic aspects of conservation and sustainable financing for conservation.
• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.