Programme Manager (SERCA Impact & Capacity)

The Zoological Society of London and the SMART‑EarthRanger Conservation Alliance (SERCA) are seeking a Programme Manager to lead delivery of a major international programme focused on strengthening the management effectiveness of protected and conserved areas across Africa and beyond, through improved monitoring, reporting, and adaptive management using SERCA tools. The Programme Manager will play a central role in improving how conservation area teams collect, analyse, report, and use monitoring data to inform decision‑making, translating SERCA’s tools (SMART and EarthRanger) into improved conservation outcomes in protected and conserved areas.

This will be achieved through strengthening field capacity, embedding adaptive management practices, and aligning monitoring systems with management effectiveness and reporting requirements. The role is responsible for overall programme leadership and coordinated delivery across multiple organisations, partners, and geographies, including oversight of training, technical guidance, and monitoring and reporting frameworks, and support for their effective implementation in real‑world conservation contexts.

The position can be based at ZSL’s Head Office in Regent’s Park, London, or at ZSL’s registered offices in Kenya or Cameroon. Candidates must have the existing right to work in the country where they wish to be based. Salary will align with ZSL’s local pay scales for that location, with the London‑based salary range being £47,912 – £50,574 per annum, depending on experience. This role includes international travel, expected to be up to approximately 45 days per year depending on programme requirements.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead delivery and coordination of a major multi‑partner conservation programme across multiple countries and organisations.
• Manage programme planning, budgets, reporting, partnerships, and coordination of staff, consultants, and partner contributions.
• Oversee development and delivery of training programmes, learning systems, and technical guidance focused on effective use of SERCA tools for conservation monitoring, reporting, and decision‑making.
• Lead development of monitoring frameworks, adaptive management approaches, and management effectiveness and reporting workflows, and implementation standards that support improved management of protected and conserved areas.
• Support implementing sites and partners to strengthen monitoring workflows, data quality, reporting, and use of SERCA data in management processes.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of SERCA tools and approaches, and development of future programme phases and funding proposals.

About You:

• Significant experience managing complex, multi‑partner conservation projects, particularly in protected and conserved areas.
• Proven experience designing and delivering training programmes in conservation or related fields and producing technical guidance or training materials.
• Significant experience supporting use of conservation area monitoring platforms, including SMART and/or EarthRanger.
• Experience applying protected and conserved area management effectiveness assessment approaches (e.g. METT, IMET, RAPPAM).
• Experience developing conservation monitoring frameworks, indicators, or evaluation systems, and supporting the application of monitoring data to inform management decision‑making (adaptive management).

EEO and Diversity Statement:

ZSL recognises that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role is subject to standard pre‑employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK.