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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wildlife Conservation Program Officer

💰 $ - $

ConservationWildlifeEnvironmentalProgram Management

🎯 Role Definition

The Wildlife Conservation Program Officer designs, implements and manages conservation projects that protect species, restore habitats and build local capacity. This role combines fieldwork, stakeholder coordination, grant and budget management, monitoring & evaluation (M&E), and policy engagement. The Program Officer is responsible for translating scientific evidence into practical interventions, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and funder requirements, and driving measurable conservation outcomes through adaptive management.

Primary SEO / LLM keywords: Wildlife Conservation, Program Officer, Conservation Project Management, Habitat Restoration, Species Recovery, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Grant Writing, GIS mapping, Stakeholder Engagement, Community-based Conservation.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Field Biologist / Wildlife Field Technician
  • Conservation Coordinator / Project Assistant
  • Environmental Scientist (entry/intermediate)

Advancement To:

  • Senior Program Officer / Program Manager
  • Conservation Program Lead / Regional Program Manager
  • Director of Conservation Programs / Head of Biodiversity

Lateral Moves:

  • Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist
  • Policy & Advocacy Officer
  • Fundraising / Grants Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the design, planning and implementation of multi-year wildlife conservation programs that include clear objectives, logical frameworks, timelines, and measurable indicators tied to species recovery and habitat restoration outcomes.
  • Develop, write and submit high-quality grant proposals, donor reports and concept notes to secure project funding; manage relationships with donors and ensure timely compliance with grant agreements and reporting schedules.
  • Prepare and manage project budgets, forecasts and financial tracking; work closely with finance teams to ensure cost-effective implementation and accurate financial reporting to donors and stakeholders.
  • Design and implement robust monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks, including indicator selection, baseline surveys, mid-term reviews and end-of-project evaluations to measure ecological and social impact.
  • Plan and conduct field surveys, population monitoring and biodiversity assessments (e.g., transects, camera trapping, point counts, nest monitoring) to generate scientifically defensible data for adaptive management.
  • Use GIS and spatial analysis to map habitats, land-use change, species distributions and prioritize sites for conservation interventions; prepare maps and spatial products for reports and presentations.
  • Coordinate multi-stakeholder engagement including government agencies, protected area managers, local communities, Indigenous groups, NGOs and private sector partners to align conservation objectives and secure co-management agreements.
  • Supervise, mentor and coordinate field teams, seasonal staff, consultants and volunteers; provide technical guidance and safety oversight during field operations.
  • Implement community-based conservation and livelihood programs (e.g., alternative livelihoods, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, community patrols) to build local ownership and reduce threats to wildlife.
  • Design and implement human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies, including rapid response protocols, non-lethal deterrents, compensation schemes and community education campaigns.
  • Lead policy and advocacy initiatives related to species protection, protected area expansion, land-use planning and wildlife trade, preparing policy briefs, technical recommendations and stakeholder consultation outputs.
  • Ensure legal and regulatory compliance for all field operations, research permits, collection permits and ethical approvals; maintain up-to-date documentation and permit records.
  • Oversee procurement, logistics and supply chain operations for field equipment, vehicles, and materials; ensure efficient inventory management and adherence to procurement policies.
  • Develop and deliver targeted training programs for local partners, rangers and community monitors on monitoring protocols, data collection, anti-poaching practices and safety procedures.
  • Manage project-level risk assessments and safety protocols, including travel safety, field emergency plans and wildlife encounter procedures, and ensure insurance and incident reporting protocols are in place.
  • Lead data management workflows: compile, clean, analyze and visualize ecological and social data; maintain centralized databases and ensure data quality, metadata standards and secure data storage.
  • Prepare technical reports, scientific papers, case studies and high-quality communications materials (photos, success stories, policy briefs) for funders, stakeholders and public outreach.
  • Represent the organization in national and international forums, technical working groups, conservation coalitions and multi-stakeholder platforms to promote program priorities and foster strategic partnerships.
  • Facilitate adaptive management cycles: synthesize monitoring results, lead learning workshops, and implement corrective actions to improve project effectiveness and cost-efficiency.
  • Lead efforts to mainstream gender equity, social inclusion and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles into program design and implementation, ensuring benefits and protections for vulnerable groups.
  • Coordinate with law enforcement, wildlife crime units and judicial stakeholders to support anti-poaching operations, wildlife crime investigations and prosecutions where appropriate.
  • Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) and dashboards to communicate progress to senior management, donors and partners; prepare briefs for executive decision-making.
  • Support scaling and replication of proven conservation interventions across landscapes by developing toolkits, SOPs and capacity building plans for partner organizations.
  • Manage and implement community outreach, environmental education and behaviour change campaigns to increase awareness and public support for conservation objectives.
  • Conduct socioeconomic assessments and livelihood analyses to design interventions that reduce dependency on unsustainable natural resource use and foster sustainable alternatives.

Secondary Functions

  • Provide technical input into organizational strategy, proposals and funding pipelines for wildlife and biodiversity portfolios.
  • Support ad-hoc research collaborations with universities, research institutes and technical partners to enhance scientific credibility and program impact.
  • Contribute to internal knowledge management by documenting best practices, lessons learned and maintaining a repository of project materials and training resources.
  • Assist with recruitment, performance appraisals and professional development planning for conservation program staff.
  • Participate in organizational planning meetings, donor calls and cross-functional teams to align program activities with organizational priorities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Conservation project design and project management (logical frameworks, Gantt charts, budgets, procurement).
  • Grant writing, donor reporting (experience with major donors: USAID, GEF, EU, Darwin, WWF, etc.) and proposal development.
  • Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) design, indicator development, baseline and impact evaluations.
  • Field survey techniques and wildlife monitoring methods (camera trapping, telemetry, point counts, transect surveys).
  • GIS and remote sensing (QGIS/ArcGIS), spatial analysis, habitat mapping and basic remote sensing workflows.
  • Data management and statistical analysis (Excel, R, Python or similar analytical tools) and database maintenance.
  • Experience with conservation planning tools and frameworks (e.g., threat assessments, species action plans).
  • Knowledge of wildlife legislation, permitting processes and compliance with research ethics and permit requirements.
  • Budgeting, financial tracking and basic accounting principles for project management.
  • Human-wildlife conflict mitigation techniques and community-based conservation methodologies.
  • Experience coordinating anti-poaching or law enforcement liaison activities (preferred).
  • Technical report writing, scientific communication and producing policy briefs or position papers.
  • Experience managing field logistics, procurement, fleet management and health & safety protocols.
  • Language skills relevant to project region (local languages) and fluency in English for reporting and donor communication.

Soft Skills

  • Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills with government, communities and NGOs.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to non-technical audiences.
  • Leadership, staff supervision and team-building capabilities with cross-cultural sensitivity.
  • Problem-solving, adaptive management mindset and the ability to prioritize under changing field conditions.
  • Facilitation skills for workshops, training sessions and community consultations.
  • Attention to detail and commitment to high standards of documentation and data quality.
  • Resilience, ability to work in remote, challenging field conditions and flexible travel availability.
  • Negotiation and conflict-resolution skills to manage competing stakeholder interests.
  • Project-oriented mindset with strong organizational and time-management skills.
  • Commitment to ethical standards, inclusivity, and participatory approaches in conservation.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Biology, Ecology, Conservation Science, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Conservation Biology, Ecology, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, or a related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Conservation Biology
  • Ecology and Wildlife Management
  • Environmental Science
  • Natural Resource Management
  • GIS/Remote Sensing
  • Social Science with focus on community-based conservation

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–8 years of progressively responsible experience in wildlife conservation, field programs, or related environmental projects.

Preferred: 5+ years leading conservation projects or program components, demonstrated success in donor-funded project management, proven experience in M&E, GIS, community engagement and grant writing.

Keywords for recruitment and visibility: Wildlife Conservation Program Officer, Conservation Project Manager, Habitat Restoration, Species Recovery, Field Biologist, Monitoring and Evaluation, Grant Writing, GIS, Community-based Conservation, Anti-Poaching, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Donor Management, Environmental Policy.

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