Conservancy Outreach Coordinator - Kapiti Plains Estate Limited

Key Responsibilities

Conservation Engagement & Community Outreach

• Develop and implement a comprehensive conservation outreach strategy aligned with Kapiti's Conservation Management Plan.
• Lead community engagement activities with neighbouring pastoralist communities, landowners, and local stakeholders to foster positive relationships and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
• Coordinate education and awareness programs for schools, youth groups, and community organizations on topics including wildlife conservation, rangeland restoration, and sustainable livestock-wildlife coexistence.
• Organize and facilitate stakeholder dialogues, community forums, and learning exchanges involving relevant county government departments, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and conservation partners.
• Mobilize community participation in conservation initiatives, including rangeland restoration activities and wildlife monitoring programs.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for conservancy membership matters and community benefit-sharing discussions.
• Assist in the development of funding proposals (community engagement, conservation education, HWC mitigation, livelihood projects) for donors (e.g., GEF, UNDP, IUCN, WWF, EU, private foundations)

Maintenance Teams Supervision

• Supervise maintenance teams responsible for the upkeep of conservancy infrastructure, including fencing, water systems, roads, and staff facilities.
• Develop and implement preventive maintenance schedules to ensure the operational readiness of all conservancy assets.
• Coordinate with the Ranch Manager and research teams to prioritize maintenance activities that support research operations and conservation objectives.
• Ensure maintenance activities comply with ILRI safety standards and environmental guidelines.
• Manage inventory of maintenance supplies, tools, and equipment, and initiate procurement requests as needed.

Workshop Operations Management

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the conservancy workshop, ensuring it supports the maintenance, repair, and fabrication needs of the conservancy.
• Supervise workshop staff and coordinate workflow to ensure timely completion of work requests from various departments.
• Maintain accurate records of workshop activities, including job cards, material usage, and equipment maintenance logs.
• Ensure workshop operations adhere to occupational health and safety standards.
• Coordinate with external contractors and suppliers for specialized repairs or fabrication work as required.

Monitoring, Reporting & Documentation

• Maintain databases of outreach activities, participant records, and stakeholder contacts.
• Document success stories, lessons learned, and best practices from conservation engagement activities.
• Prepare quarterly and annual reports on outreach activities for internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the development of communication materials, including brochures, fact sheets, and social media content, in collaboration with ILRI communications teams.
• Support ILRI scientists and visiting researchers studying wildlife-livestock-disease interfaces, rangeland ecology, and climate adaptation
• Conduct ecological monitoring of rangeland health (vegetation cover, browse availability, erosion indicators, water quality)

Requirements

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Community Development, Environmental Science, Rangeland Management, Conservation Biology, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 - 10 years' experience in community outreach, conservation engagement, or program coordination, preferably within a conservancy or protected area context.
• Proven experience in supervising field teams, including maintenance or operations staff.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with proficiency in English and Kiswahili.
• Strong organizational and report-writing skills.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to work in a remote field setting.

Desirable

• Experience working within the Athi-Kapiti ecosystem or broader Kenyan rangeland conservation landscape.
• Knowledge of wildlife-livestock interface issues and community-based natural resource management approaches.
• Experience managing workshop operations or technical maintenance facilities.
• Familiarity with ILRI's research mandate or experience working in a research-institution setting.

Key Competencies

• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to navigate complex community dynamics and build trust with diverse groups.
• Team Leadership: Capacity to supervise and motivate field-based maintenance and workshop teams.
• Operational Coordination: Skill in balancing competing priorities across conservation, research, and infrastructure needs.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding of pastoralist livelihoods and community perspectives on conservation.
• Problem-Solving: Resourcefulness in addressing field-level challenges in a remote, semi-arid environment.