The Zambia Primate Project (ZPP) is a Zambian registered non-profit primate welfare organisation that was established in 2009 with its base in Kafue National Park. It also operates nationally for primate rescues. The mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release back to the wild orphaned, injured and captive monkeys and baboons in Zambia.

The organisation is small but with high impact, currently employing just 7 full-time field staff. See www.zambiaprimateproject.org ZPP is currently establishing a new position of Executive Director (ED) to head the organisation and to lead it into the future after a recent expansion phase. This exciting opportunity requires a selfmotivated individual with a passion for working towards the conservation of primates, experience in general wildlife rehabilitation and proven NGO management skills. The ED will report to the Board of Trustees.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Administration

• Provide day-to-day leadership and administrative management in the support of the implementation of ZPP’s programmes, including intelligence gathering, primate rescue, primate rehabilitation, primate release and education/sensitisation of the public.
• Be responsible for human resource management, staff development and staff discipline.
• Be responsible for managing key external relationships such as those with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, NGOs, major donors and other stakeholders at a local, national and international level.
• Produce and circulate the organisation’s quarterly report and annual report
• Make regular social media posts and ensure the website is kept up-to-date.
• Write grant proposals and funding applications to support existing operations, ensure continuous funding for the year ahead and expand the organisation as and when needed.

 Finances

• Work closely with the consultant Financial Services Provider to oversee the financial reporting of ZPP.
• Prepare, manage and control the annual budget.
• Authorise the monthly cash operational budget and ad hoc expenditure for the Operations Manager and other staff.
• Be a signatory on project bank accounts.
• Authorise and monitor the finances of all major and minor capital works and renovations.
• Carry out monitoring and evaluation of all projects and compile an annual Monitoring and Evaluation Report.

3. Support of Project and Field Operations

• Support the Operations Manager and his Field Team in their work to rescue, rehabilitate and release primates.
• Support the Operations Manager with some Lusaka based assignments, meetings, networking, procurement of supplies, administrative tasks etc.
• Establish and implement internationally and nationally recognised legislation and protocols for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of primates and ensure the Field Staff fully understand and comply with them.
• Ensure all field projects are fully documented in hard or soft copy as relevant. Establish new databases where necessary.
• Facilitate and participate in donor/supporter visits to ZPP project sites as required.

Required qualifications, skills and experience

• A degree, preferably in a conservation/wildlife related subject, business management or project management.
• Knowledge of project and organisational financial management tools and systems.
• Practical experience in animal rehabilitation. Experience in primate rehabilitation would be a distinct advantage.
• Proven skills in project management, including organisational financial management tools and systems, preferably with several years’ experience of running an NGO or charitable enterprise in Africa.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate staff
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills (both verbal and written) adaptable to a wide variety of audiences and circumstances.
• Fluent spoken and written English.
• Experience in working with Government departments, donors, and a broad range of people from diverse backgrounds.
• A sincere desire to work for a small, grass roots Zambian NGO with all the associated logistical challenges and financial restrictions.
• Proven successful experience in training, building capacity in and empowering staff.
• Knowledge of funding sources for animal welfare / wildlife NGOs and successful experience of fund raising and grant writing.
• Experience in organisational and project planning and monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Proficiency in public presentations and managing relationships with key donors and other stakeholders.
• Willingness to camp in basic field conditions when necessary.

Application Process

Only candidates who meet the specified requirements should apply. Applicants should email a letter of motivation, current CV and three contactable references to Anna Tolan, Secretary of the Board to ZPP, via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

A full job description is available on request. Please note that only tented accommodation at the Primate Transit Home in Kafue National Park is provided. There is flexibility in the main location of the position being sited in Lusaka for candidates seeking more permanent accommodation but this would be at their own expense and subject to negotiation.

Closing date: Wednesday 6th January 2021

Available to start: January 2021 Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.

Full Job Description Below 

Title of Position: Executive Director

Location: Lusaka and Kafue National Park

Reports to: Board of Trustees

Job Status: Full time position with a 2-year contract and employment permit (subject to Department

of Immigration approval). Renewable.

ACRONYMS

DNPW – Department of National Parks and Wildlife

ED – Executive Director

OP – Operations Manager

ZPP – Zambia Primate Project

1. ZAMBIA PRIMATE PROJECT

ZPP is a Zambian registered non-profit primate welfare organisation that was established in 2009 with its base in Kafue National Park but also operates nationally for primate rescues. The mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release back to the wild orphaned, injured and captive monkeys and baboons in Zambia. The organisation is small but with high impact, currently employing just 6 full-time field staff. See www.zambiaprimateproject.org

2. POSITION OVERVIEW

The position of Executive Director (ED) is newly created. The ED is responsible for the overall administrative management and leadership of ZPP’s staff, projects, programmes, assets and facilities.

It is suitable for someone with NGO management experience in the field of conservation and the management of animal rehabilitation projects, particularly primates.

3. KEY STAKEHOLDER INTERACTION

• The ED reports to the Board of Trustees.
• The ED is the line supervisor for the Operations Manager and the contracted Financial
• Services Provider.
• The ED will develop close working relationships with all ED staff, volunteers, Board of Trustees, key donors, and other national and local stakeholders and partners, and represent the organisation in a professional and appropriate manner at all times.

4. KEY EMPLOYMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Administration

• Provide day-to-day leadership and administrative management in the support of the implementation of ZPP’s programmes.
• Oversee and develop all administrative operations and programmes of the organisation including intelligence gathering, primate rescue, primate rehabilitation, primate release and education/sensitisation of the public.
• Efficiently and effectively manage financial, human and capital resources, in line with best practice standards, financial constraints and the organisation’s strategic plans.
• Be responsible for human resource management, staff development and staff discipline.
• Be responsible for managing key external relationships such as those with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, NGOs, major donors and other stakeholders at a local, national and international level, and as such represent the organisation in a professional and appropriate manner.
• Compile or approve and standardise all external communication messaging and materials across all media formats including website, social media, reports etc.
• Regularly communicate with and update the main project donors.
• Produce the organisation’s quarterly report and annual report, and distribute to the stakeholder and supporter database.
• Make regular Facebook posts including the use of news, photos and video clips provided by the Operations Manager.
• Ensure the website is kept up-to-date.
• Organise training and build capacity in the staff, resulting in their professional and personal development, upgrading of skill-sets and potential career progression.
• Write grant proposals and funding applications to support existing operations, ensure continuous funding for the year ahead and expand the organisation as and when

Finances

• Manage and pay the fees of the consultant Financial Services Provider for book keeping, banking, payroll and administrative support.
• Work closely with the Financial Services Provider to oversee the financial reporting of ZPP.
• Ensure that clear and accurate financial records of all project expenditure and income are kept and that the organisation meets all its statutory requirements.
• Prepare, manage and control the annual budget.
• Authorise the monthly cash operational budget and ad hoc expenditure for the Operations Manager and other staff.
• Be a signatory on project bank accounts.
• Authorise and monitor the finances of all major and minor capital works and Carry out monitoring and evaluation of all projects and compile an annual Monitoring and Evaluation Report.

Support of Project and Field Operations

• Support the Operations Manager and his Field team in their work to rescue, rehabilitate and release primates.
• Support the Operations Manager with some Lusaka based assignments, meetings, networking, errands, procurement of supplies, administrative tasks etc.
• Ensure Zambian legislation is complied with for the rescue, rehabilitation and release ofm primates, and that staff are aware of and strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of the National Park.
• Establish and implement internationally and nationally recognised legislation and protocols for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of primates and ensure the Field Staff fully understand and comply with them. Update the protocols regularly
• Ensure all field projects are fully documented in hard or soft copy as relevant. Establish
• new databases where necessary.
• Facilitate and participate in donor/supporter visits to ZPP project sites as required.

5. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• A degree, preferably in a conservation/wildlife related subject, business management or project management.
• Practical experience in animal rehabilitation. Experience in primate rehabilitation would be a distinct advantage.
• Proven skills in project management, including organisational financial management tools and systems, preferably with several years’ experience of running an NGO or charitable enterprise in Africa.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate staff, with a commitment to a team- orientated and consultative approach in the planning, negotiation and management of programmes and projects.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal communication skills, (both verbal and written) adaptable to a wide variety of audiences and circumstances.
• Proven successful experience at a senior level in planning, developing and implementing new initiatives providing direction / initiating change and implementing improvements to enhance the quality of the organisation’s service and management.
• Experience in working with Government departments, donors, and a broad range of people from diverse backgrounds.
• A sincere desire to work for a small, grass roots Zambian NGO with all the associated logistical challenges and financial restrictions.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills, adaptable to a wide variety of audiences and circumstances.
• Proven successful experience in training, building capacity in and empowering staff.
• Proven successful experience at a senior level in planning, developing and implementing new initiatives providing direction / initiating change and implementing improvements to enhance the quality of the organisation’s service and management.
• Knowledge of funding sources for animal welfare / wildlife NGOs and successful experience of fund raising and grant writing.
• Knowledge of project and organisational financial management tools and systems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage conflicts and to consult, mediate and negotiate acceptable solutions across diverse viewpoints amongst staff and agencies.
• Experience in organisational and project planning and monitoring and evaluation
• Proficiency in public presentations and managing relationships with key donors and other stakeholders.
• Willingness to camp in basic field conditions when necessary.
• Fluent spoken and written English

6. JOB BENEFITS

• Salary package including annual salary and personal local use of a 4-wheel drive vehicle
• 30 days annual leave p.a.

9. OTHER CONDITIONS

• If the successful applicant is not a Zambian citizen or resident s/he will be required to satisfactorily fulfil the legal requirements of the Ministry of Immigration for entry into Zambia and would be subject to approval of a Zambian employment permit.
• A current valid and full driver’s licence is essential. Experience of driving 4-whel drive vehicles and off-road driving is preferable.
• There will be an initial 3-month probationary period. After reciprocal agreement a 21-month contract will be offered which is renewable subject to approval by the Board.
• Working hours are nominally 6 days/45 hours per week. A very flexible approach to working hours is required; some out of hours work is inevitable from time to time.
• All air fares, other travel expenses and relocation costs at the job start-up are at the ED’s expense
• Full medical insurance with medical evacuation cover for emergencies is essential and must be obtained at the ED’s own expense.
• Please note that only tented accommodation at the Primate Transit Home in Kafue National Park is provided. There is flexibility in the main location of the position being sited in Lusaka for candidates seeking more permanent accommodation but this would be at their own expense.