Species Recovery Programme Manager

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To achieve ZSL’s vision of a world where wildlife thrives, we need to do more than stop declines and prevent extinctions, we need to drive the recovery of highly threatened species. ZSL has a long history in delivering targeted conservation interventions for species around the world, harnessing its expertise in species recovery.

The Species Recovery Programme Manager (maternity cover) will: i) coordinate the delivery of work under ZSL’s Species Plan, with a focus in particular on species in the Back from the Brink initiative (a programme of work focused on driving sustained, targeted actions to recover a set of highly threatened species from near extinction); ii) oversee programmes focussed on the recovery of specific target species under the Back from the Brink umbrella, in particular on Sahelo-Saharan antelopes; and iii) provide targeted technical support to teams and partners in the area of species recovery. The role will foster collaborations around ZSL seeking to identify opportunities to support and build out collaborative species recovery efforts. The role demands a dynamic, energetic, collaborative individual seeking to make a difference for species conservation within the scope of a maternity cover position.

Key responsibilities:

• Coordinate the delivery of ZSL’s Species Plan, in close collaboration with colleagues in
  field programmes, the zoos and Institute of Zoology involved in species recovery programmes,
  including leading and coordinating the Back from the Brink initiative, to ensure a coordinated,
  science-based, target-driven, programme of work focused on species recovery.
• Provide management oversight to existing species recovery programmes for desert antelopes
  and any future projects / programmes that may be developed, in collaboration with colleagues
  around ZSL and partners.
• Provide targeted technical support to ZSL country and UK teams, as well as partners, in
  species recovery, such as species recovery planning, population viability assessment, and
  structured decision making.
• Provide training and support in species conservation approaches and ecological research
  methodologies, including supervision of masters and PhD students, training/teaching EDGE
  fellows and masters courses, and to colleagues within ZSL where appropriate.
• Work with the Fundraising department, and other colleagues as appropriate, to seek new
  funding opportunities, develop and oversee fundraising proposals for the programme, and
  contribute to joint fundraising proposals with other programmes and departments in ZSL
• Be responsible for all elements of programmatic oversight and management, including
  budgeting and donor reporting.

ABOUT YOU

Experience

• PhD, or equivalent experience, in conservation science
• Demonstrated experience planning, or leading, threatened species recovery programmes/
  projects in situ, preferably in a developing-world context
• Demonstrated programme management experience, including writing and collaborating on
  fundraising bids/grants, staff management, budget oversight, project implementation, and donor
  reporting.

Knowledge and skills

• An excellent grasp of current international conservation issues supported by good
  knowledge of interdisciplinary approaches to conservation
• Robust skills in ecological research and advanced statistical methods, including
  familiarity with R or similar
• Strong organisational and project management skills with an ability to manage competing
  priorities
• A high standard of English writing skills, with evidence of a good (first author)
  publication track record in the peer-review literature
• Ability to think strategically with strong decision-making capability
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to work in different cultural settings with
  tact and diplomacy

This is a maternity cover role. Candidates should be in a position to take up the role by 01 October 2024. 

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate’s right to work
in the UK.

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.

ABOUT US

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
• Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension
• Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do
  everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you
• Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays
• Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential
  access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from
  their first day 
• Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a
  30% discount in online and retail shops
• Cycle2Work – our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle
• Season ticket loan – we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to
  buy a season ticket for travel between home and work 
• Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages 

NB: We reserve the right to close our advertisement early or extend the advertising date until a suitable candidate has been found.