Senior Project Officer (ITHCP)

Overview of the role:  

The Senior Project Officer (SPO) will lead the implementation and monitoring of project activities at the field level under ZSL’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP) Phase IV project within the Kamdi wildlife corridor, to ensure the attainment of project outcomes in adherence with donor requirements. The ITHCP is International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN’s) flagship tiger initiative, funded by the German Cooperation through KfW Development Bank, which is a multi-country grant-making programme that funds practical, science-based projects across priority tiger landscapes in Asia. ZSL has supported this initiative in Nepal since 2014.

The role will act as a fulltime presence within the project site, responsible for coordinating the delivery of all project activities at the field-level in coordination with stakeholders and partners, including internal ZSL colleagues, local government, site-based conservation partners, and beneficiary Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs). The role will also monitor the progress of the project against its stated objectives, leading upon the adaptive management of the project.

Key responsibilities:  

• Lead the overall planning, implementation, and reporting of project activities at the field level, to deliver impactful results in attainment of the project’s stated outcomes, in compliance with donor requirements.
• Lead coordination, management and monitoring of site-based implementing partners.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with the Division Forest Office, Community Forest User Committees (CFUCs) and implementing partners to foster a supportive environment that facilitates the efficient and effective implementation of project activities
• Establish data collection, management, and monitoring systems for ZSL and site-based partners, for the purposes of internal and external reporting and adaptive management.
• Supervise and provide technical backstopping to the field project team, including partner staff, to ensure that planned activities are implemented effectively and in accordance with the agreed plan.
• Prepare education materials, impact/case stories to document and showcase project impacts.

• Master's degree in a relevant discipline (Environment science/management, forestry, wildlife, natural resource management or other relevant discipline); 3 years of work experience in conservation accepted in lieu of masters’ degree.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience with good track record in the implementation of biodiversity conservation projects, or wider conservation programmes in Nepal.
• Experience in designing and implementing human–wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation interventions, including community-based approaches.
• Familiarity with the relevant policies and laws regarding communities’ use of natural resources, tenure system, forestry, and wildlife conservation motivators.
• Familiarity with results-based management, logical frameworks, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems.
• Experience in stakeholder coordination and partnership building, particularly with government agencies.

We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.  

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.  

What do we offer? 

At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include: 

• Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct 
• Holidays – 19 days paid annual leave during each 12-month period worked, plus national and public holidays as per the Labor Act of Nepal.  
• Wellbeing – Accidental insurance for staff and medical insurance for staff (including family members) 
• Maternity leave and paternity leave available as per Labor act of Nepal.