Categories: Vacancies, October 2026

Community Development Manager

Location: Ethiopia

Organization: African Parks

Deadline: 7 April 2025

Job Description

Job Reference Number: AP-223
Department: Community Development
Industry: Research
Job Type: Contract
Positions Available: 1
Salary: Market Related

Gambella National Park was established as a protected area in 1973 and is 4,575 km² in size. It forms the northern anchor of a much larger contiguous system, with a network of protected areas in southern Ethiopia and neighboring South Sudan. The park hosts several wildlife species including an important population of Nile Lechwe, Ethiopia’s largest population of elephant, healthy lion populations

Job Description

The Community Manager will coordinate all community-level work in Gambella National Park. Together with the Park Manager, the Community Manager will help to conceptualise and implement a strategy to build a constituency for conservation amongst local communities through a 3E+ Strategy, overlapping with the development of a Land Use Management Plan (LUMP) programme to the benefit of both the people and the wildlife living in the region. The Community Manager supervises the management of a constituency for conservation in Gambella National Park.

MAIN ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervision of the Community/Sustainable Development Department, associated operations and of the implementation and monitoring of 3E+ Strategy

Ensure the direct supervision, coordination and monitoring of the Department, including its teams (community, sustainable development), budget, activities and operations (vehicles, infrastructures, logistics in collaboration with the Operations Departments)
Development and implementation of Community Conservation Initiatives.
Understand the AP Community 3E+ SOP and guidelines and identify opportunities and needs as to the 3E+ strategy.
Implementation of the 3E+ Community Engagement Strategy in Gambella NP, its surroundings and with partners.
Identify partners and funding opportunities 3E+ activities in Gambella NP.
Manage the community activities in all AP activity hubs in Gambella National Park.
Identify quick win community development projects such as WASH, Schools, and Healthcare.
Participate in the sensitization and consultation of/with communities and state and local authorities on conservation and park interventions.
Contribute to the creation of a land-use vision through supportive data and spatial presentations of the current situation.

Job Requirements

Academic & experience required

At least 8 years’ experience working to establish similar community programs;
5 years’ experience working in a Senior Position within Protected Area Management or similar environment an advantage;
Demonstrated ability to work under trying conditions in the field for extended periods of time;
Knowledge and experience working in a rural, remote and multi-cultural environment;
Experience working with similar groups of teams and coordinating their actions and attending to their needs;

Inter-personal & technical skills required

Culturally sensitive, able and interested in working across multi-ethnic groups.
Emotional intelligence, patience & communication skills, using calm, listening but firm and solutions-centred demeanour for effective team management;
Trusted and disciplined person, demonstrating sensitivity to sometimes missed cultural keys to having a productive relationship;
Organized and structured, with attention to details and procedures;
Able to work independently as well as a team player;
Creative “outside of the box” thinking;
Showing a high level of respect for staff and people, demonstrating team approach to staff management;
Strong willingness to live and work for long periods in remote areas;
Excellent writing, reporting and presenting skills;
Computer literate – Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook;