Senior Community Officer

Job description

About The Project:

Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) is an international conservation organisation dedicated to conserving wildlife and ecosystems in some of the world’s most outstanding wild places. FZS maintains long-term conservation programmes in Africa, South America, Asia, and Europe.

FZS Zambia, through the North Luangwa Conservation Programme (NLCP), has been active in the North Luangwa ecosystem since 1986 and currently supports conservation and community development across protected areas and surrounding Game Management Areas.

Under the EU NaturAfrica–funded “Connecting Livelihoods and Landscape (CoLiLa)” project, FZS is expanding its work within the Malawi–Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area (MAZA TFCA), strengthening biodiversity conservation, inclusive livelihoods, and community-based governance.

About The Position:

The Senior Community Officer will support the implementation of Approved Annual Operational Plans by guiding, coordinating, and backstopping field teams in the delivery of Chiefdom Implementation Plans within assigned chiefdoms.

The role focuses on community engagement, stakeholder coordination, governance support to CRBs, VAGs, CFMGs, cooperatives and other CBOs, FPIC, grievance redress mechanisms, conservation education, human-wildlife coexistence, land-use planning, GMP implementation, livelihoods, enterprise development, value chain support, community monitoring, and reporting.

The position serves as a link between field teams, community structures, and the Community Conservation and Livelihoods Department, ensuring effective communication of activities, feedback, grievances, risks, and lessons from assigned chiefdoms.

Your Tasks:

• Implementation Support for Approved Annual Operational and Chiefdom Implementation Plans
• Community Engagement and Stakeholder Coordination
• Governance Support to CCC, CRBs, VAGs, CFMGs, Cooperatives and CBOs
• Safeguards, Grievance Redress and Community Feedback
• Land Use Planning, GMP Implementation and Natural Resource Governance
• Coordinate community-level implementation of Human–Wildlife Coexistence (HWCoex) interventions, including prevention, mitigation, and response measures
• Support the implementation of conservation education activities in schools and communities in a manner that complements and reinforces the work of the Conservation Education Specialist.
• Livelihoods, Enterprise Development and Value Chain Support
• Support routine field data collection, community-based monitoring, monthly data uploads, and verification of activity outputs
• Ensure that the organisational structure of the NLCP is adhered to and develop any workplans, reports, SOPs, policies required by the department together with programme management.
• Field teams supported to develop, update, and track Chiefdom Implementation Plans for assigned chiefdoms.

Your Profile:

• Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management, Wildlife Management, Forestry Sciences, Community Development, or a related field
• Postgraduate qualification is an added advantage
• Minimum 7 years’ experience in community-based conservation or natural resource management
• Proven experience working with community governance structures in rural settings
• Practical experience in HWCoex interventions and community engagement
• Experience supervising field teams
• Familiarity with donor-funded projects is an advantage
• Key Competencies & Attributes
  • Strong leadership and mentoring skills
  • Excellent community facilitation and communication skills
  • Ability to manage conflict sensitively and professionally
  • Strong organisational and reporting skills
  • Willingness to work in remote field locations

We Offer:

• Meaningful work contributing to biodiversity conservation and community resilience
• Opportunity to work in a unique transboundary conservation landscape
• Supportive and professional working environment
• Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience

Your Application:

If you are passionate and ready to take on this challenge, please submit your Curriculum Vitae (max 3 pages) and Cover Letter (max 1 page) detailing your relevant experience by clicking Apply for this Job.

Applicants should include three (3) traceable referees with a brief description of the working relationship and contact details. The appointment is subject to the submission of ZAQA-certified qualifications.

Application Deadline: 23rd October 2026.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

About Us

Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) is an international conservation organization based in Frankfurt, Germany. We make a vital contribution to safeguarding global biodiversity. To this end, we support and implement conservation projects in Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, as well as Eastern and Central Europe, with a particular focus on the protection of large wilderness areas. Our projects and programs are designed to be long-term and sustainable. Our goal is to protect and preserve large, biodiversity-rich landscapes.