Species Recovery Programme Manager

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.

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.

•  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 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.  

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