Job Summary
- Type: contract
- Location: Beitbridge
- Category: Project Management
- Closing Date: 2026-09-10
Key Responsibilities
- Hands-On Project Management and Field Presence Maintain a regular field presence across grazing sites, bomas, restoration activities and community engagements.
- Work alongside the Implementation Manager to resolve operational challenges, including stewardship agreements, grazing disputes, enterprise activation and community issues.
- Co-lead key implementation milestones, including farmer mobilisation, Community Based Organisation establishment, enterprise launches and restoration campaigns.
- Monitor project plans, budgets and deliverables, identifying delays early and taking corrective action.
- Provide visible leadership and build trust with the site team, professional herders and communities.
- Strategic Leadership and Programme Accountability Hold overall accountability for programme delivery in line with the Grant Agreement and enterprise-led implementation model.
- Set strategic direction and annual priorities, and approve site work plans.
- Ensure alignment with the broader Herding for Health model and coordinate with Peace Parks Foundation and regional implementation partners.
- Escalate material risks, delays and scope changes to the Chief Community Development Officer and obtain Grantor approval where required.
- Stakeholder Relationships Build and maintain strong relationships with the Grantor, local authorities, ZimParks, traditional leaders and community governance structures.
- Engage directly with farmers and communities to manage expectations, address concerns and resolve grievances.
- Represent the programme at national, international, donor and cross-programme engagements.
- Develop relationships with private-sector and enterprise partners supporting the Community Based Organisation and livestock value chain.
- Supervision of the Implementation Manager and Site Team Directly supervise and performance-manage the Implementation Manager.
- Provide regular field-based guidance, coaching and decision support.
- Review and approve staffing, budget and procurement decisions beyond agreed operational thresholds.
- Ensure the site team has the resources and support required to deliver the project plan.
- Provide hands-on support during critical implementation periods, disputes, enterprise launches and stakeholder visits.
- Budget and Contractual Compliance Hold overall responsibility for the programme budget and ensure expenditure remains within approved limits.
- Ensure compliant, auditable project accounts and record retention in accordance with grant requirements.
- Oversee the interim fiduciary arrangement with Nature Valley Trust pending Peace Parks Foundation’s local entity registration.
- Act as the primary contact for Grantor audits, field visits and information requests.
- Reporting Review and sign off quarterly technical and financial reports.
- Provide regular updates to the Chief Community Development Officer.
- Coordinate reporting with relevant programme colleagues.
- Ensure final programme reporting accurately reflects achievements and use of funds.
- Cross-Programme Coordination Work closely with the Peace Parks Foundation Herding for Health Project Manager to ensure alignment with regional standards and lessons learned.
- Coordinate with the Community Development Lead on community development strategy.
- Engage specialist support functions, including Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, technical advisory and restoration teams.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, natural resource management, rural/community development, or a related field.
- A postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
- Minimum 8-10 years’ experience in programme/project management, with a demonstrated track record of hands-on, field-based delivery.
- Experience managing or overseeing other managers in a rural development, conservation, or livestock/rangeland context.
- Demonstrated experience holding contractual and financial accountability for donor-funded programmes, including budget oversight, donor reporting and compliance.
- Beitbridge District experience is an advantage.
- Strong track record of building relationships with communal farming communities, traditional leadership structures, government departments and donors in Zimbabwe.
- Familiarity with the Herding for Health model, holistic rangeland management, or similar livestock/conservation integration approaches is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated people-management and coaching experience.
How to Apply
REF Code: RR_2026_ZIM_003
About the Company
Peace Park Foundation, founded in 1997 by Dr Anton Rupert, President Nelson Mandela and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, is an organisation that aims to re-establish, renew and conserve large ecosystems in Africa, transcending man-made boundaries by creating regionally integrated and sustainably managed networks of Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs). Peace Parks Foundation has been involved in the establishment and development of ten of the 18 TFCAs found throughout southern Africa, all of which are in various stages of development. The establishment of each TFCA, or peace park, is complex and far-reaching, and involves several phases of activity, which can take many years to achieve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications or certifications are typically required for a Herding for Health Project Manager role in Zimbabwe?
A bachelor’s degree in veterinary science, public health, environmental management, or project management is commonly expected; postgraduate qualifications or short courses in One Health, community-based natural resource management, or PRINCE2/PMP are increasingly valued by employers like Peace Parks Foundation. Relevant field experience in livestock health, zoonotic disease prevention, or cross-sectoral conservation projects in southern Africa strengthens applications.
What does a typical day look like for this role in the Zimbabwean context?
Day-to-day responsibilities include coordinating with communal herders, district veterinary officers, and local NGOs across border areas like Gonarezhou or Chipinge; facilitating participatory workshops on animal health and human-wildlife coexistence. Travel to rural districts is frequent, requiring adaptability to variable road conditions, limited connectivity, and engagement with traditional leadership structures.
How does Zimbabwean work culture influence expectations for this project management role?
Respect for hierarchy and relationship-building through face-to-face engagement is essential—formal introductions with village heads and district administrators are customary before initiating activities. Punctuality is valued, but flexibility around community schedules (e.g., market days or seasonal farming cycles) is expected and built into project timelines.
What realistic career progression paths exist for someone starting in this role within Zimbabwe’s conservation and health sector?
Successful performance can lead to senior project coordination roles with regional bodies like SADC or FAO, or transition into technical advisory positions with Zimbabwe’s Department of Veterinary Services or the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Development. Some professionals pursue further specialisation in zoonotic disease surveillance or climate-resilient pastoralism, often supported by partnerships with local universities such as UZ or NUST.
What benefits (leave, medical aid, pension) are typically offered for this type of role in Zimbabwe?
Employers usually provide at least 30 days’ annual leave, statutory sick leave under the Labour Act, and enrolment in the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) pension scheme. Medical aid coverage varies by employer but often includes participation in group schemes like NSSA’s health component or private providers such as FBC Health or Zimnat, with employee contributions deducted pre-tax.
How should I apply, and what do Zimbabwean employers specifically look for in candidates for this role?
Applications are typically submitted via email or online portals with a tailored CV highlighting cross-sectoral fieldwork, fluency in Shona or other local languages, and evidence of stakeholder engagement in communal areas. Employers prioritise demonstrated cultural competence, practical problem-solving in resource-constrained settings, and alignment with Zimbabwe’s National Livestock Policy and One Health Framework over generic project management credentials.