Program Officer

The Programme Officer will support EPIF’s work across two interrelated areas: the secure management of ivory stockpiles and the implementation of human-elephant conflict (HEC) mitigation strategies. The role involves a mix of project management, technical coordination, and administrative support. It will require working closely with government and NGO partners, consultants, and EPIF colleagues to plan, deliver and monitor high-quality activities in line with EPIF’s strategy and donor requirements.

Key responsibilities

Project Management

1. Facilitate the development of workplans and budgets for active projects in collaboration with partners (government wildlife authorities, conservation NGOs, and other technical partners (e.g. consultants) across Africa.

2. Coordinate the delivery of project activities through liaising with Government and NGO partners or consultants.

3. Assist in the documentation processes and report writing upon activity completion (activity reports, blogs, photos and accounting (in conjunction with Head of Finance)).

4. Track project progress against objectives and timelines.

Technical Support

1. Provide technical input into activity development, planning and implementation,

2. Ivory projects: assessments of facilities and procedures; procedural development, training on the procedures and inventory process, inventory, and auditing

3. HEC projects: types of mitigation techniques to use, use of monitoring systems, and measuring the impact of the mitigation techniques.

Partner/Stakeholder Engagement

1. Develop and maintain relationships with government officials and other stakeholders.

2. Ensure adequate information flow, discussions and feedback among the various stakeholders of the project.

3. Represent and promote the EPIF and its work.

Monitoring and Evaluation

1. Ensure that the M&E data is available and grant regulations are adhered to.

Logistics and Administration

1. Organise logistics for field activities, workshops, and travel.

2. Draft and format official documents, meeting notes, reports, proofreading, and correspondence.

3. Oversee the work of consultants, subcontractors, and temporary staff, as needed.

Deliverables: Quarterly work plans with deliverables will be jointly agreed upon with the Director of Programs, based on the active grants’ annual work plans. These deliverables will vary and may include technical activity reports (for example, storeroom assessments, training logs, and inventory results); minutes of meetings attended and next steps; grant reporting; activity planning documentation (terms of reference, budgets, work plans, and letters); as well as communication media (such as blog posts).

Location: This is a remote working role, located in Africa, Europe or the United Kingdom, and within close proximity of an international airport. The EPIF does not pay for relocation costs.

Travel: The role will require regular international travel throughout Africa (at least two trips per quarter, with each trip lasting at least 7 days).

Reporting: Director of Programmes. The post will work closely with the rest of the EPIF’s senior leadership team, including the Head of Finance, Head of Operations, and other Directors.

Person specification

Essential Experience and Skills

You must possess/have a proven track record of:

1. University degree, or equivalent, in a relevant field.

2. At least 8 years’ cumulative experience in an international organisation or Government.

3. Demonstrable experience in project management and/or technical advisory roles.

4. Fluent in English or French and conversational in the second language.

5. Highly organised, with meticulous attention to detail, and a practical hands-on attitude to work. 

6. Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with multicultural and multidisciplinary partners.

7. An enthusiastic and committed self-starter who can work well independently.

8. Strong ICT skills and ease in using basic Office software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). The SMS is easy to understand, given good IT skills, and any necessary training would be provided to the prospective candidate.

Desirable Experience and Skills

1. Fluency in English and French.

2. Knowledge of CITES regulations.

3. Conducting security assessments.

4. Management of storerooms – stocks, audits, and inventories.

5. A good understanding of Africa and the conservation landscape on the continent.

   
   

   How to Apply

   
   

   The application deadline is 1700 on 31 July 2025.

   To apply for this role, please:

   
   

   1. Email info@elephantprotectioninitiative.org, with the subject line: Application – Project Officer

   2. Include a brief CV (no more than two pages in length) as well as a clear motivational covering letter (no more than two pages in length) as two separate PDF documents.

   3. Ensure that your covering letter does not simply reiterate the information already contained in your CV, but rather sets out what motivated you to apply for the role and why you feel that you would be a good fit for the role and the organisation.

   
   

   Applications which do not meet all of the criteria set out above will not be considered for review. Only shortlisted candidates, identified for interview, will be contacted. The EPI Foundation will not provide individual feedback on unsuccessful applications.