Programme Manager (Full-Time / 2 Year Fixed-Term Contract)

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. 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. Through the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists and our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos, we guide and enable others in the UK and all across the world. Inspiring, informing, empowering – working for wildlife.

With global biodiversity in rapid decline and a growing number of species on the brink of extinction, advances in technology are becoming ever more important in helping us to monitor the status biodiversity and to solve these conservation challenges. ZSL is working with a range of partners to design, develop, manufacture and deploy innovative and integrated tools and technologies that will revolutionise our ability to monitor species and habitats and to identify and respond to threats and measure the effectiveness of these interventions. We aim to more efficiently and effectively collect, process and analyse data at different spatial and temporal scales.

ZSL’s Conservation Technology Programme is a joint initiative between the Conservation Programmes department and the Institute of Zoology. The Programme Manager will have oversight of the Society’s Conservation Technology strategy, crafting a new and shared vision for the Society’s strategic engagement in the sector and ensuring internal coordination on conservation technology projects and developments. The position will lead a team currently comprising five people and have overall responsibility for the implementation of ongoing global projects, including the delivery of Instant Detect (ZSL’s remote camera trap system using satellite communication), and the provision of targeted technical advice and support to the organization’s conservation projects, including ZSL’s overseas programmes. The Programme Manager will work closely with fellows and students in the Institute of Zoology to advance the scientific underpinnings of ZSL’s technology work and to publish its learnings. The role also has oversight of ZSL’s contributions to the SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) Partnership, WILDLABS and other relevant initiatives.

This senior management role requires a confident, resilient and proactive individual who has gravitas and is capable of making strategic decisions for the programme. The successful candidate will be highly collaborative, possess exceptional people management skills, have a strong technical background, be comfortable engaging with diverse audiences on conservation technology, including corporates, and have experience running large, complex projects.

• In the context of ZSL's overall strategy, oversee the successful development and implementation of a shared conservation technology strategy across the Society, working closely with staff across the organization, including in the overseas programmes, the Institute of Zoology, Living Collections and the Information Technology department.
• Provide overall leadership and management of ZSL's Conservation Technology Programme.
• Lead and support the provision of technical advice, expertise and support to ZSL's overseas programmes, and other programmes and departments across ZSL as appropriate, on the use and deployment of technological solutions, including camera-traps, tracking tags, and wireless communications protocols.
• In liaison with other appropriate staff at ZSL, develop and maintain effective working relationships with sponsors, technical partners and donors to generate and secure funding for projects.
• Represent ZSL at national and international conferences and workshops as needed, and in key fora and partnerships, including, but not limited to, the SMART Partnership, WildLabs, and others.
• 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 budget planning and management for all work within the Conservation Technology programme.
• Oversee the production of financial and programmatic reports from projects to donors and for ZSL's internal purposes, and ensure all projects within the programme are on-track with deliverables, budget and reporting.
• Work with programme staff to oversee project design, implementation and management.
• Represent ZSL in the media as needed; this may include television, radio and newspaper interviews.
• Contribute towards the publication of peer-reviewed papers and ensure that the programme maintains a good record in publishing the results and learnings of its work.
• Ensure that all staff in the programme follow administrative processes as necessary. In particular, they will ensure that health and safety processes are followed, that all project records are kept up-to-date in the ZSL Projects Database and that monthly reports are completed in a timely fashion.

The successful candidate will have:

• A PhD qualification in a relevant subject area or equivalent experience.
• Experience in working at a strategic level with some level of senior decision-making.
• Experience of the field of conservation technology and/or emerging technologies that could benefit conservation, including software and hardware solutions.
• Demonstrated experience in staff management and budget management.
• Proven ability to build and manage corporate relationships.
• A proven ability to write successful fundraising proposals for well planned projects.
• Extensive experience overseeing the management, implementation and reporting of large projects.
• A good grasp of current conservation issues, ideally with some time spent working in the field.
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English. An ability to effectively communicate complex information about ZSL’s conservation technology work to different audiences is critical.
• A highly collaborative nature.
• An ability to manage competing priorities and delegate effectively.

Please note: This position will be offered on an initial full-time, 2 year fixed-term position with the possibility of becoming permanent and the post-holder will be based at ZSL’s Main Offices in London, Regents Park. This is a fantastic opportunity for an individual looking to take on a senior post within an established international organisation where there will be exposure to a variety of departments.

Benefit Package:

The role offers a competitive salary plus a comprehensive benefits package including 25 days holiday, stakeholder pension where the employer minimum contribution is 6%, complimentary zoo tickets and more!

Applicants will need to upload their CV and covering letter (detailing relevant experience and skills, stating why they want the position and including details of availability) and can do this by clicking the "Apply for this job online" button. If you have any queries regarding this position or when applying through the system please contact Human Resources at hr@zsl.org.

Closing date for applications: Midnight Wednesday 14 November 2018.

The Zoological Society of London is a charity registered in England and Wales: no. 208728.

ZSL kindly requests no contact from agencies or media sales please regarding this position.