Transboundary Freshwater & Fisheries Manager

Job description

The Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Landscape teams of Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are partnering to develop and implement strategies to conserve and manage freshwater ecosystems and fisheries as well as freshwater biodiversity. TNC and NNF do this by working with KAZA Partner States, International and National NGOs, as well as local communities. The Regional Lead: Transboundary Freshwater & Fisheries will be part of this team and will provide technical and programmatic support and leadership for freshwater ecosystem conservation, freshwater fisheries and biodiversity programs and projects across the KAZA Landscape, with a focus on the Cubango-Okavango, Cuando and Zambezi River systems. The position will report to TNC’s KAZA Landscape Director, coordinate closely with Angola and Zambia TNC Country Directors and work with other NGO partners, KAZA Partner States and key institutions to support freshwater ecosystems protection and management, community-based fisheries, aquatic biodiversity assessments, freshwater fisheries management, and monitoring and reporting.

We’re Looking for You:

Are you looking for a career to help people and nature? Guided by science, the collaborating partners create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that people and nature can thrive together. We’re looking for someone who is passionate, motivated problem-solver.

The Transboundary Freshwater & Fisheries Manager will support multiple field programs in their development of freshwater and freshwater fisheries programs, including the deployment of freshwater conservation plans. They will develop and implement monitoring and evaluation programs, creating and adapting tools to support project implementation and adaptive management. This position will also work with NNF and TNC teams in promoting the importance of fisheries and freshwater biodiversity protection and conservation in international fora and will develop and cultivate relationships with key partners and stakeholders.

The Transboundary Freshwater & Fisheries Manager will serve as a strategic integrator between NNF and TNC, facilitating collaboration, strengthening institutional alignment, and improving engagement with KAZA structures, ZAMCOM, OKACOM, SADC, Member States, and other relevant actors.

The role will ensure that community-based fisheries management remains central within broader freshwater and watershed-scale strategies, while supporting basin-scale science, policy harmonization, and sustainable finance approaches.

The Transboundary Freshwater & Fisheries Manager will be responsible for the following:

Strategic Coordination & Partnership Strengthening (25%)

• Build strong collaboration and coordination with TNC Angola and Zambia country teams and with partners in the rest of KAZA Partner States on freshwater and fisheries

• Work closely with TNC Africa Business Units (e.g. Science and Freshwater Protection and fisheries) and Global Freshwater Fisheries teams

• Facilitate alignment between NNF and TNC freshwater and fisheries workstreams.

• Maintain momentum of agreed coordination actions and track follow-ups.

• Support structured engagement with WWF and other NGOs as appropriate.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of partnership norms and principles.

Fisheries Governance & Community-Based Management (30%)

• Strengthen and support community-based fisheries management.

• Promote transboundary fisheries policy integration across KAZA Member States.

• Support co-management systems linking communities to basin and regional policy platforms.

• Ensure fisheries remain embedded as a core component of freshwater resilience strategies.

Basin-Scale Freshwater Integration (20%)

• Support basin-scale approaches addressing connectivity, environmental flows, and habitat integrity.

• Integrate community priorities within broader freshwater ecosystem protection frameworks.

• Strengthen linkages between groundwater science, climate adaptation, and source water protection initiatives.

Science, Monitoring & Knowledge Systems (15%)

• Promote standardized monitoring protocols across partner landscapes.

• Support socio-ecological monitoring linking fisheries, biodiversity, and watershed health.

• Improve data-sharing systems and support evidence-based decision-making processes.

Regional Engagement & Finance (10%)

• Support coordinated engagement with KAZA Secretariat, basin commissions, and Member States.

• Contribute to mobilization of sustainable finance aligned with freshwater and fisheries priorities.

• Assist in preparation and delivery of regional freshwater and fisheries convenings (e.g. Freshwater and Fisheries Sub-Working Group) or symposia.

• Support with resource mobilization/fundraising and donor engagement

The Transboundary Freshwater & Fisheries Manager will travel and work across the KAZA Landscape countries of Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, and will provide thought leadership on opportunities for and barriers to freshwater and freshwater fisheries conservation globally. Because this is a cross-boundary position, the ideal candidate must be able to work in English. Portuguese will be a distinct advantage.

The position will report to the KAZA Landscape Director of TNC and will coordinate closely with Angola and Zambia Country Directors and Namibia Nature Foundation’s Executive Director. The role will operate under a clearly agreed joint workplan and partnership norms.

This position involves domestic, regional and international travel, depending on needs, and the ideal candidate must be comfortable working in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, in hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.

The Transboundary Freshwater & Fisheries Manager will be based in either Livingstone, Zambia. They will work internally with the Africa Business Unit Strategy and with Global teams and will supervise staff that may grow to a team of 4 or more.

What You’ll Bring:

• BA/BS degree and more than 7 years’ experience in conservation practice or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficient in the National Protected and Conserved Area Management legislations in the KAZA region
• Experience in managing complex or multiple projects including workloads and budgets under deadlines in the NGO sector.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, setting objectives, and managing performance.
•  Experience collaborating and building relationships with government and NGO partners to meet shared objectives.
•  Experience in biodiversity stewardship, protected area management plan development.
• Experience in fine scale conservation planning.
• Communicates clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
•  Demonstrated fundraising experience, including identifying donor prospects, donor cultivation and writing funding proposals
•  Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and/or government agencies.
•  Experience negotiating

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

• Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
• At least 10 years’ experience with protected area expansion and terrestrial and freshwater protection mechanisms., freshwater or wetlands management, inland fisheries or similar
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant discipline(s) and protected area expansion mechanisms/tools.
• Demonstrated experience influencing, developing, and implementing conservation policy and plans.
• Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation in Southern Africa and beyond
• Experience in conservation planning and systems thinking.
• Ability to develop practical applications of scientific concepts and technical innovations for conservation purposes.
• Knowledge of methods and standards of biodiversity information systems and initiatives or related field.
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means in English and other relevant languages.
• Politically savvy.
• Fluency in Portuguese.

This position requires a valid driver’s license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered “high risk drivers.” To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit the Auto Safety information page. Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee’s motor vehicle record.

Who We Are:

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring:

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org  with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.