General Manager

Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) is one of Malawi’s leading conservation charities, working across
five main programme areas: wildlife rescue and welfare; biodiversity research; conservation
justice; environmental education; and campaigning. We are looking for a dynamic leader to
become the new General Manager (GM) of one of our flagship projects, Lilongwe Wildlife Centre
(LWC). 

LWC is a protected nature reserve run by LWT under concession from the Department of National
Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). As well as hosting the country’s only wildlife sanctuary, the site
is also a key eco-tourism destination, offering a range of nature-based attractions and
experiences for local and international audiences. It is also home to LWT’s environmental
education centre, which offers experiential learning for Malawian youth of all ages from the
heart of a protected forest. LWC also hosts international volunteers who undertake placements
with our sanctuary and veterinary team. Over the last few years we have undertaken significant
development work to improve the infrastructure and facilities for our wildlife rescue,
education and eco-tourism work at LWC. We are now looking for a senior manager to build on this
work and support LWC to fulfil its mission as a critical eco-tourism site and thriving nature
reserve. 

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the GM will be responsible for overseeing the broad
portfolio of programmes that operate from the LWC site. A critical part of the role will be
implementing an ambitious new three-year business plan, a key focus of which is ensuring
financial sustainability for LWC through the development of a range of income-generating
activities. A proactive and problem-solving approach to the challenges of running a busy,
multi-purpose site is of paramount importance in this role and the GM will be required to work
closely with multiple areas of the organisation to achieve success. This is an exciting
opportunity for a skilled manager and strategic thinker to put their expertise to use in a
unique setting for a small but high-impact conservation organisation.

Education and Work Experience Requirements:

Essential:

• At least five years’ demonstrable experience in a similar management role, ideally in an
  accredited wildlife sanctuary or nature conservation project which included animal management
  and a schools/visitor programme
• Passion for nature conservation
• Demonstrable leadership and people management skills; experience of working in diverse
  teams and proactively supporting team members to reach their potential
• Demonstrable experience in financial management (with budgets of up to $200,000 / year)
• Proven experience of working independently and carrying out assignments to a high standard
  within budget and timelines
• Excellent verbal communication and writing skills
• Ability to work well under pressure, juggle competing priorities and meet deadlines
• Experience of living and working in a low-income country
• Excellent computer proficiency (Microsoft Office Professional including Excel)
• Fluent English (written and spoken)
• Physically fit
• Full clean driving licence

Preferable:

• Relevant qualifications in wildlife conservation/animal management or tourism
• Demonstrable experience managing and working in partnership with other organisations,
  including government partners
• Demonstrable experience in procurement and stock management
• Experience in site maintenance and management
• Experience of living or working in Southern or Eastern Africa

A detailed job description can be found on our website. 

To apply

Please send a CV (maximum of two pages) and covering letter (maximum of two pages) detailing
your suitability for the role to [email protected] no later than 9am on 2 September
2024. Please send both documents as attachments to the email and use the job title in the email subject
line. Applications exceeding the page limits will not be considered.

LWT is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All employment decisions are based
on qualifications and experience, merit and organisational need and all reasonable adjustments
will be made where possible.