Panthera Corporation

Panthera is the only organization in the world that is devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world’s 40 wild cat species and their ecosystems. Utilizing the expertise of the world’s premier cat biologists, Panthera develops and implements global strategies for the most imperiled species. Representing the most comprehensive effort of its kind, Panthera partners with local and international NGOs, scientific institutions, local communities, governments around the globe, and citizens who want to help ensure a future for wild cats. Panthera Corporation consists of Panthera Corporation- USA and several foreign legal entities and foreign branch offices.  For more on Panthera, visit www.panthera.org. 

Position

Community Conservation, Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Coordinating Officer

Location

Southern Greater Kafue Ecosystem

Start Date

01 September 2026                                                                                             

Duration

1 year fixed-term contract

Position Purpose

The Officer will lead the coordination, implementation and monitoring of Panthera Zambia's community-based human-wildlife conflict mitigation and coexistence work across the Njoko-Loanja landscape and the Sichifulo, Mulobezi and Mufunta GMAs. The position will connect incident response, prevention, community safety, land-use planning, wildlife monitoring, livelihoods and local governance. The officer will report to the Community Conservation Coordinator and work closely with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), traditional leaders, community institutions, local authorities, partner NGOs and other stakeholders.

 The ideal candidate must be legally authorized to work in Zambia.

Job Description

Community Conservation, Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Coordinating Officer will perform the following responsibilities:

HWC prevention, response and coexistence

• Coordinate the development and implementation of a landscape-level HWC and coexistence workplan, with locally appropriate priorities for each programme area.
• Work with DNPW and community structures to strengthen safe, lawful and timely reporting, verification, referral and follow-up of HWC incidents.
• Support participatory mapping of HWC hotspots, seasonal risk areas, wildlife movement routes, water points, farms, livestock areas and settlement expansion.
• Coordinate evidence-based prevention measures, which may include early-warning systems, livestock husbandry, predator-resistant enclosures, crop-protection approaches, safe food and waste management, and targeted community awareness.
•   Develop and deliver practical safety and coexistence messages for communities living with elephants, large carnivores, hippos and other conflict-prone species.
• Establish, train and mentor community-based HWC focal persons or first-response teams in collaboration with DNPW and approved partners.
• Ensure that field interventions follow approved protocols, animal welfare requirements, community safeguarding standards and the legal mandate of DNPW.
• Track intervention performance and recommend adaptation, expansion or discontinuation based on evidence, community feedback, cost and conservation value.
• Link HWC interventions with land-use planning, corridor protection, natural resource governance and conservation incentive programs.
• Support learning exchanges and the documentation of effective coexistence practices across the four landscapes.

 Stakeholder engagement and partnership coordination

• Build and maintain effective relationships with DNPW, traditional leadership, CRBs, VAGs, CNRMCs, district authorities, community members, land users and partner NGOs.
• Facilitate inclusive community consultations, ensuring that women, youth, livestock keepers, farmers and other affected groups can contribute to intervention design and review.
• Support negotiations on community responsibilities, risk-reduction measures, access arrangements, information sharing and appropriate conservation incentives.
• Coordinate partner roles, meeting schedules and field activities to reduce duplication and ensure consistent technical messages.
• Represent Panthera at approved technical meetings, stakeholder forums and field missions, and provide clear follow-up actions to the line manager.
  
  

Programme management, data and reporting

• Prepare annual, quarterly and monthly workplans, activity budgets, procurement requests and field schedules in line with approved grants and Panthera procedures.
• Work with the Community Conservation Data Coordinator and relevant technical staff to maintain accurate, confidential and spatially referenced HWC records.
• Analyze incident patterns, response times, intervention uptake and outcomes, and translate findings into management recommendations and donor reporting.
• Submit monthly operating reports by the fifth working day of the following month and contribute to technical reports, proposals, presentations and donor updates.
• Supervise or mentor Community Conservation Officers, interns, enumerators or community focal persons assigned to HWC and coexistence activities.
• Identify implementation risks and emerging threats and recommend timely adjustments to program strategy, budgets and partnerships.

Key deliverables

• An approved, costed HWC and coexistence workplan for the four programme landscapes.
• A functioning incident reporting, referral and follow-up system aligned with DNPW responsibilities.
• Current HWC hotspot maps, seasonal risk profiles and community-specific prevention plans.
• Trained community focal persons or first-response teams with documented refresher support.
• Regular analysis showing incident trends, intervention results, lessons and recommended management actions.
• Complete and timely narrative, financial and donor-reporting inputs for assigned grants.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Management, Conservation Biology, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Community Development or a related field.
• At least one year of relevant experience in community conservation, HWC mitigation, wildlife management or rural natural resource programs; additional experience is an advantage.
• Practical understanding of HWC prevention and response approaches, community-based conservation and the roles of government and community institutions.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multiple field activities, partners, budgets and reporting deadlines.
• Experience supervising staff, interns, enumerators or community-based teams and setting clear performance expectations.
• Experience working with government agencies, traditional leaders, CRBs, community groups and NGOs.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, conflict-sensitivity and risk-communication skills.
• Experience with SMART, KoboToolbox, GIS, incident databases or related monitoring systems is highly desirable.
• Experience contributing to donor proposals, budgets and technical reporting is desirable.

 Core Competencies

• Excellent written and spoken English, with clear report-writing and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work respectfully across government, traditional leadership, community and NGO settings.
• Self-motivation, honesty, sound judgement, emotional intelligence and a results-oriented approach.
• Ability to work independently while remaining a dependable and collaborative team member.
• Initiative, resourcefulness and practical problem-solving under changing field conditions.
• Respect for confidentiality, safeguarding, community consent and responsible handling of organisational information and equipment.
• Ability to communicate in Lozi, Tonga, Nyanja, Toka-Leya or another language relevant to the programme landscape is strongly preferred.

Working conditions and compliance

• The role requires frequent travel and extended field assignments across remote rural areas, including work in variable weather, difficult terrain and basic accommodation or camping conditions.
• The post holder must comply with Panthera policies, standard operating procedures, safeguarding requirements and health and safety guidance.
• The post holder is responsible for the careful use, maintenance and documentation of assigned vehicles, motorcycles, field equipment, data devices and other organisational assets.
• Approved costs incurred during official assignments will be managed in accordance with Panthera policies and prior authorisation.
• A valid manual driver's licence and proven ability to operate a 4x4 vehicle safely in remote field conditions are required.

 How to Apply 

Applications close 20 August 2026. Please apply by visiting Panthera’s Career Page. Applicants must submit a CV and cover letter.  CVs must include three professional referees and their contact details.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.