Senior Technical Specialist (Protected and Conserved Areas)

ZSL is on a mission to restore wildlife and create a world where nature thrives. Effective and equitable Protected Areas (PAs) and Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) are at the heart of that vision. We are seeking a Senior Technical Specialist (Protected and Conserved Areas) to lead our global work in improving the management effectiveness of PAs and OECMs, ensuring these vital landscapes and seascapes deliver for biodiversity, ecosystems, and people.

Based within ZSL’s Monitoring & Technology Programme, this strategic and hands-on role is pivotal in supporting area-based conservation efforts across continents. You’ll drive and advance the use of key monitoring and assessment tools like SMART and the METT, delivering hands-on technical support, training, and guidance to partners at site, national and global levels. You’ll help conservation teams and governments to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based monitoring systems and adaptive management frameworks that strengthen decision-making and maximise conservation impact.

You'll also play an important role in shaping global best practice, working through networks like the SMART Partnership to build the capacity of people living and working in PAs and OECMs to conserve the planet’s most threatened species and habitats.

This role offers the opportunity for international travel, up to approximately 45 days per year, depending on project requirements.

This is a 12-month fixed-term role, 37.5 hours per week, with a salary of £36,750 – £43,050 per annum, depending on experience.

Key responsibilities:  

• Significant experience managing conservation projects, particularly in or for PAs or OECMs.
• Proven experience working with conservation area monitoring platforms such as SMART and EarthRanger.
• Experience delivering technical training and capacity development in conservation or related fields, and authoring technical guidance materials, training guides, best practice resources, and/or peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience evaluating the effectiveness of conservation interventions.
• Strong understanding of PAME tools (e.g., METT, RAPPAM, IMET)
• Strong understanding of adaptive management frameworks relevant to PCAs (e.g., Conservation Standards.)

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