Six Rivers Africa

Address: 3 Gamshard Road, Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Position Title: Zone Manager

Landscape: Nyerere

Zone: Zone A

Reports to: SRA Nyerere Programme Manager

Direct reports: All SRA staff and functions in Zone A

Location: Field-based in the Nyerere landscape at the Manane HQ

About Six Rivers Africa

Six Rivers Africa (SRA) is a non-profit working across southern Tanzania in the Nyerere and Ruaha landscapes. The organization’s work spans three main pillars including protection, restoration and people. Working within the National Parks and the surrounding Buffer Zones, SRA is committed to its partnership with the Tanzanian government and to ensuring that the health of the habitats, wildlife and communities around them are sustained for the years to come.

Six Rivers Africa (SRA) supports TANAPA in Nyerere under a cooperation agreement signed in 2023. TANAPA retains full authority over the park, its staff and its operations. SRA’s programme is delivered in line with annual plans and priorities agreed with TANAPA, and strengthens park protection through funding, equipment, infrastructure, aviation, ranger training and day-to-day operational support.

1. Purpose of the role

The Zone Manager is Six Rivers Africa (SRA) most senior representative reporting into the Nyerere Programme Manager. The Zone Manager works in direct collaboration with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). This is a demanding leadership role for an experienced conservation professional who can combine operational discipline with sound judgement and strong partnership and capacity building skills. The Zone Manager ensures that SRA’s resources are deployed efficiently, safely and accountably, and ensures a measurable contribution to TANAPA’s protection of one of Africa’s most important wild landscapes.

2. Key responsibilities

Operational management

• Manage all SRA staff and functions in the zone, setting priorities and making sure work is coordinated.
• Coordinate aviation tasking for the zone with the landscape aviation function, covering patrol resupply, rotation and emergency response.
• Oversee the zone's vehicles, equipment and infrastructure, road network development etc
• Manage the zone's operating budget and procurement within the SRA approval matrix, and contribute to landscape budget planning.
• Make sure the zone keeps accurate records, including patrol logs, staff attendance, incident reports and equipment registers.

Protection and Restoration

• Lead SRA's support to conservation, protection and law-enforcement work in the zone, under TANAPA direction.
• Contribute to annual protection planning and oversee the deployment of SRA-supported rangers, VGS, including patrol planning and rostering, in line with TANAPA-approved plans.
• Track trends in wildlife sightings, mortalities and law-enforcement incidents through the agreed data management and reporting system.
• Make sure incident reporting, ranger welfare and use-of-force protocols in the zone meet both international standards.

People

• Lead, mentor and manage the performance of all SRA staff in the zone, and support their recruitment, training, welfare and retention, working with human resources.
• Identify staff training needs in the zone
• Make sure SRA activity in the zone complies with SRA policy and with applicable TANAPA regulations across procurement, finance, safety and human resources.
• Report to the park director on zone performance, risk, incidents and budget.

3. Qualifications and experience

• A minimum of 10 years experience in protected-area management, conservation or ranger operations, including at least 3 years in a management role.
• A strong record of leading multi-disciplinary field teams, including ranger and protection operations, aviation, training programmes and capacity building in remote settings and in support of a government wildlife authority.
• Knowledge of the Tanzanian conservation regulatory environment and a proven ability to work under TANAPA or an equivalent government wildlife authority.
• Strong communication and reporting skills.
• Excellent budget management and procurement track record.
• Working knowledge of digital wildlife monitoring and reporting systems, GPS navigation and basic field data collection tools.
• A fixed wing pilot’s license is advantageous.
• Knowledge of Kiswahili is strongly preferred.

4. Key relationships

Programme Manager; fellow Zone Managers; SRA zone staff; Head of Maintenance; Aviation; TANAPA zone-level command; Finance and Administration; Human Resources; Nyerere Buffer Zone Manager; visiting partners and donors.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application letter and CV to the Chief Executive Officer via hr@sixriversafrica.com with the subject line "Zone A Manager, Nyerere landscape". Applications must be received no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, November 6, 2026.

Six Rivers Africa is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, or background. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.