• Fauna & Flora | Saving Nature Together

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

• Description

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 in Reach 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