Operations Manager

Operations Manager – Chimanimani National Park, Mozambique

Fauna & Flora International is recruiting an Operations Manager to be based in Manica, Sussundega, Chimanimani National Park, Mozambique.

At Fauna & Flora, our shared purpose is to protect the diversity of life on Earth, for the survival of the planet and its people. We work closely with local conservation partners around the world to save nature, together. We harness this collective expertise to inspire positive change globally.

Fauna & Flora has been involved in wildlife conservation and management in Mozambique for many years, and took on management of the Niassa Game Reserve with Sociedade para Gestão e Desenvolvimento da Reserva do Niassa (SGDRN) in the late 1990s. Alongside continued support to Niassa through various partnerships, and specifically through work in Chuilexi Conservancy, a vast 7,500km2 block in the east of the Niassa Reserve, Fauna & Flora’s portfolio within Mozambique also includes direct support to Chimanimani National Park (CNP) and a nascent marine programme.

The Opportunity: We are seeking an experienced protected area operations professional with substantial hands-on experience managing field operations in national parks, wildlife conservancies, game reserves, or similarly remote conservation landscapes. This is not a conventional office-based NGO operations role. The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience supporting protected area operations in challenging remote environments, including field logistics, ranger support, infrastructure oversight, emergency response, and operational coordination across large conservation landscapes.

The Operations Manager will lead and coordinate the essential operational functions that enable effective conservation delivery in Chimanimani National Park. You will oversee systems, park infrastructure, field work logistics, and compliance, ensuring that park operations run efficiently and support the achievement of conservation, community, and visitor‑focused objectives. Experience in protected area management is essential to this role.

As the lead operational professional on site, you will have a high degree of autonomy while working closely with the Chief Park Warden, the Fauna & Flora operations team, and a range of technical and field units. Your role will be diverse—covering operational planning; fleet and asset management; procurement; health, safety, and security; staff supervision; and coordination of technologies such as SMART and Garmin inReach.

Main Duties: In coordination with the Grants & Operations Manager, Mozambique, coordinate and implement all operational obligations under the co-management agreement between ANAC and Fauna & Flora for CNP, provide support for the daily operational activities at CNP, including—but not limited to—park infrastructure development, fleet and asset management, field logistics, human resources, communications, procurement, recruitment, compliance, governance, and financial management, safe and compliant operations with robust risk, health, safety and security (HSS) and operational support to law enforcement.

Terms and Conditions: Start Date: 30 September 2026. Duration of Contract: Permanent. Probation Period: Six months. Gross Salary Range: Competitive remuneration, based on experience and qualifications. Location: Chimanimani National Park (CNP), Chimoio, Mozambique with travel within Mozambique to Fauna & Flora project sites, and to Maputo. Benefits: 25 working days’ annual leave entitlement plus national public holidays observed in Mozambique. Medical Insurance, for you and up to three dependents. Hours of Work: This is a full-time position, working 40 hours per week Monday to Friday inclusive.

Duties

Operational Systems & Service Delivery

Lead the day-to-day operational functioning of CNP, ensuring systems, assets and personnel are in place to support conservation, law enforcement, community and visitor activities. Establish, maintain, and continuously improve operational systems including fleet, fuel, stores, and logistics pipelines for field operations. Ensure operational readiness for protected area emergency and incident response (e.g., wildlife security incidents, remote-field emergencies, fire, flood, accidents, security threats) in coordination with relevant units in the national park. Serve as the primary coordination point for operational support across park units, ensuring timely tasking and problem-solving. Effectively integrate and manage SMART and Garmin inReach technologies for patrol effort monitoring, including device functionality, data quality assurance, staff compliance with data collection protocols, and timely use of information for internal and donor reporting.

Park Infrastructure, Facilities & Asset Management

Oversee planning, construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of park infrastructure (ranger posts/outposts, roads/bridges, offices, staff housing, visitor facilities, radio communications networks) in line with ANAC standards and approved plans. Be accountable for the continuous functionality and effectiveness of the Operations room, ensuring it is adequately staffed, equipped, and managed to enable real-time coordination of law enforcement, emergency response, and operational decision-making. Apply environmental and social safeguards to infrastructure works, including method statements, supervision, and compliance documentation. Maintain accurate, up-to-date asset and property registers; ensure tagging, condition assessments and preventive maintenance scheduling with annual physical verification. Oversee management and maintenance of the park’s IT infrastructure, including internet systems, routers, network connectivity, and digital equipment. Manage the maintenance and functionality of all communication systems, including VHF/HF radios, satellite devices, and related accessories. Oversee all mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and general maintenance activities to ensure systems operate safely and efficiently.

Procurement, Contracts & Service Providers

Lead operational procurement: prepare technical specifications/TORs, support vendor sourcing and technical evaluations in compliance with SOPs, Mozambican law and donor compliance. Manage operational contracts and service providers (construction, maintenance, fleet service), tracking deliverables, quality and timelines. Ensure segregation of duties with Finance for financial approvals, payments and audits.

Health, Safety, Security (HSS) & Risk Management

Act as Operational Focal Point for HSS; develop and maintain site-specific risk assessments and emergency response plans. Implement incident reporting, investigation and corrective actions; conduct regular safety briefings and drills. Coordinate security protocols with Chief Park Warden, Head of Law Enforcement, and Country focal points (e.g. Grants & Operations Manager, Mozambique) as needed.

Human Resources & Team Management

Line-manage assigned operational staff, setting clear objectives, conducting regular catch-up meetings, and conducting regular performance check-ins. Lead recruitment processes for operational roles (where applicable), ensure effective induction, onboarding and deployment. Identify operational capacity gaps; contribute to annual training needs assessments and implementation of training plans (logistics, HSS, systems).

Planning, Coordination & Reporting

Provide operational inputs to annual work plans, infrastructure plans, and donor reports (non-financial sections). Track and report operational KPIs (e.g., fleet availability, infrastructure condition, procurement cycle times, incident statistics). Coordinate budget phasing for operational activities and ensure donor compliance and reporting, in coordination with the Grants & Operations Manager, Mozambique. Be responsible for the operational coordination of wildlife monitoring and management activities, including game counts, veterinary services, and related field operations, in collaboration with the Conservation team, ensuring appropriate logistics, staffing, equipment, and systems are in place. Work closely with the Law Enforcement team to coordinate field operations, ensuring effective operational planning, communications, and deployment, including the use and integration of SMART, Garmin inReach, radio, and other operational technologies.

Compliance & Co-management Obligations

Ensure operational compliance with the Co-management Agreement, Mozambican labour/safety/environmental legislation and Fauna & Flora standard operation procedures. Act as operational liaison with ANAC counterparts for park, infrastructure, assets, and logistics coordination. Apply and adopt ethical, sound, and responsible practices to achieve best practices in the management, financing, and sustainable development of the park, under the terms of the Co-management Agreement, the Business Plan and Mozambican legislation. Pro-actively contribute to the development of a joint business plan between Fauna & Flora and ANAC for the Project in year one of the agreement. Responsible for ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions stipulated to operate in the park, by tour operators and/or concessionaires in conjunction with PMU.

Other: Work as an active member of the Mozambique and wider Africa team and attend Mozambique and Africa team meetings and work planning sessions as required. Provide operational input, where appropriate and requested, on other work undertaken by the Mozambique and Africa programme. With agreement of the Grants & Operations Manager, Mozambique, perform any other tasks that may be requested from time to time, which are appropriate to the Operations Manager CNP’s skills and experience, and relevant to the scope of this role.

Requisites

Fluent written and spoken English. Minimum 7 years’ operational management experience within protected areas, wildlife conservancies, game reserves, anti-poaching programmes, mining, LNG or similarly remote conservation landscapes. Proven experience supporting protected area field operations, including ranger deployment logistics, field infrastructure, conservation operations, or law enforcement support. Excellent operational management skills, that are mindful of practicability, and proven experience in process management; logistics planning; risk management; health, safety and security management; and legal compliance. Excellent Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and data management skills, with proven ability use standard software packages and provide basic ICT support. Excellent people management skills, with ability to motivate and performance manage individuals to achieve excellence. Strong problem-solving skills. Strong verbal communication, networking and interpersonal skills, with ability and confidence to interact, negotiate and persuade at all levels. Strong prioritisation and time management skills. Ability to lead and manage both decisions and people, in line with other decision makers, in high stress environments. Proven track record in health, safety and security management. Proven track record in financial management, including across a number of contracts/grants. Proven track record of effective line management. Experience working under formal agreements (MoU, SGA, Co-management agreements) is highly desirable. Demonstrates Fauna & Flora’s values. Self-motivated, independent, and resourceful. Commitment to organisational and legal compliance, and responsible management of donor funds. Team player, with ability to seek out views of others and build positive working relationships. Able to work effectively in a supervisory role, supporting managers and decision makers. Confident in managing work in remote settings. Ability to work under pressure and to deal with challenges in a positive and constructive way. Commitment to working in a collaborative manner, sharing information and learning. Ability to work within a multi-cultural environment. Willingness and ability to travel regularly and at short notice within Mozambique. Willingness and ability to travel internationally when required. Full driving license and willingness to drive in Mozambique. Pre-existing right to work in Mozambique. Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Building Engineering, Infrastructure Management, or a closely related discipline is strongly preferred. Managing multi-functional operational areas (logistics, fleet, procurement, HR, infrastructure, finance, ITC, etc.).

Notes

Only shortlisted applicants will be

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