Field Operations Manager
2026-08-18T17:28:50+00:00
Wildlife Conservation Society
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FULL_TIME
Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth Protected Area
Kampala
00256
Uganda
Nonprofit, and NGO
Management, Business Operations, Transportation & Logistics, Farming & Outdoors, Construction, Installation, Maintenance & Repair, Protective Services
2026-09-02T17:00:00+00:00
8
Description
Reports to: Sector Manager
Positions Managed: Logistics, Procurement and Infrastructure staff
Location: Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth Protected Area
Position Type: Full-time
Scope/Capacity: Country
Coordinates with: Deputy Director/ Warden-In Charge, Department Leads, Uganda Country Team, APAMU
Job Purpose
The Field Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operational running of Ishasha by overseeing procurement, supply chain management, field team management (including fence maintenance teams, bush clearing teams, etc.), transportation, and infrastructure development. Given the challenges of operating in a protected area in remote and challenging environments, the Field Operations Manager must have prior experience managing conservation field operations in a similar context.
This role requires the ability to plan, coordinate, and execute logistical operations under difficult conditions while ensuring all systems align with WCS SOPs and values. Depending on operational needs, the Field Operations Manager will move between the Sector Headquarters and the Country Office and will manage a team of logistics, procurement and support staff.
Responsibilities
1. Operations Planning and Management
- Develop and implement annual plans and budgets for all operations, aligned with the park’s five-year strategic plan and annual work plan.
- Support and advise heads of department and supervisors to resolve operational challenges efficiently and in a timely manner.
- Ensure full adherence to WCS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all activities under operational control.
- Coordinate with UWA QEPA staff in planning and execution of operations.
- Prepare and submit regular operational reports to the Sector Manager, including monthly KPI summaries and progress reports against the operations plan.
2. Procurement and Supply Chain Management
- Oversee procurement processes, in line with WCS SOPs, ensuring efficiency and accountability,
- Develop and maintain reliable supply chains to ensure the continuous availability of critical equipment, materials, and consumables,
- Work closely with the Finance Manager to ensure all procurement aligns with financial policies and budget constraints,
- Recruit and manage procurement and supply chain staff and oversee their work.
3. Infrastructure Development and Maintenance
- Oversee the construction and maintenance of the Sector Headquarters and key park infrastructure, ensuring operational readiness.
- Ensure all facilities are built to required specifications and minimum standards, integrating security and sustainability considerations.
- Develop a long-term infrastructure maintenance plan to support operational continuity.
- Recruit and oversee maintenance staff as necessary.
4. Logistics and Resource Management
- Develop and implement a logistics plan, ensuring the timely supply of food, water, fuel, medical supplies, and other consumables.
- Oversee equipment storage and deployment and conduct regular stock inventories.
- Establish appropriate storage and stockpiling solutions to mitigate supply chain disruptions.
- Ensure emergency reserves are in place for critical supplies.
- Oversee arrangements for travel and accommodation for visiting WCS regional and global staff and official visitors
5. Conservation Field Operations Support
- Oversee bush clearing teams, ensuring habitat management, visibility, and access requirements across the Protected Area are met.
- Oversee fence maintenance teams, ensuring the boundary fence is maintained to required standards and breaches are promptly identified and repaired.
- Coordinate logistical and operational support for ecological monitoring activities, working closely with the Ecology/Research team.
- Coordinate logistics for wildlife collaring operations, including transport, equipment, and field support for collaring exercises.
- Ensure field teams engaged in conservation management activities are appropriately equipped, trained, and supported.
6. Transport and Fleet Management
- Oversee the acquisition and deployment of a vehicle fleet tailored to the operational terrain.
- Implement vehicle maintenance schedules and ensure workshop facilities are established.
- Ensure all vehicle operations comply with safety and operational SOPs.
- Recruit and oversee drivers and maintenance staff and ensure that all drivers are appropriately trained.
Security and Risk Management
- Ensure infrastructure and logistical systems are designed with security considerations in mind, according to the Ishasha Security Plan.
- Ensure staff are trained as appropriate in all aspects of WCS safety and security, including first aid.
- Work with the Law Enforcement Advisor and UWA counterparts to establish secure storage for equipment, firearms, and sensitive materials.
- Implement risk mitigation strategies for supply chain disruptions and infrastructure vulnerabilities.
- Coordinate emergency responses to incidents in the field as appropriate, according to the Ishasha Security Plan.
By the end of the start-up phase, the Field Operations Manager will have established a robust logistical framework that ensures operational sustainability, infrastructure resilience, and effective resource management for the Protected Area.
Qualification Requirements
Minimum Requirements and Job Skills (Required)
- At least 5 years of experience in logistics, construction, road maintenance, fleet management, and procurement in remote and challenging locations.
- Tertiary qualification in construction, logistics, conservation management, business management or a closely related technical field — essential.
- Relevant professional certifications in project management, logistics, and/or fleet/mechanical management — desirable.
- Ability to work well with local teams and willingness to provide mentorship.
- Excellent organizational skills with ability to multi-task and a practical can-do attitude to work.
- Good knowledge and understanding of a range of operations technical areas as outlined above.
- Practical skills in vehicle maintenance, construction, electrical installations, building maintenance, and other civil engineering tasks are highly desirable.
- Experience in wildlife fence construction and maintenance – desirable.
- Experience providing logistical or field support to ecological monitoring or wildlife research activities (e.g., collaring, telemetry) – desirable.
- Experience working with international organizations, non-profits, or the private sector and proven ability to work in a multicultural environment.
- Willingness to live and work in a remote location, with a high degree of resilience and problem-solving ability.
- Good written and oral communications.
- Fluency in English.
- Interest in conservation and commitment to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Additional Requirements
- Travel within country and to the regional office in Kigali as needed
* Develop and implement annual plans and budgets for all operations, aligned with the park’s five-year strategic plan and annual work plan. * Support and advise heads of department and supervisors to resolve operational challenges efficiently and in a timely manner. * Ensure full adherence to WCS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all activities under operational control. * Coordinate with UWA QEPA staff in planning and execution of operations. * Prepare and submit regular operational reports to the Sector Manager, including monthly KPI summaries and progress reports against the operations plan. * Oversee procurement processes, in line with WCS SOPs, ensuring efficiency and accountability, * Develop and maintain reliable supply chains to ensure the continuous availability of critical equipment, materials, and consumables, * Work closely with the Finance Manager to ensure all procurement aligns with financial policies and budget constraints, * Recruit and manage procurement and supply chain staff and oversee their work. * Oversee the construction and maintenance of the Sector Headquarters and key park infrastructure, ensuring operational readiness. * Ensure all facilities are built to required specifications and minimum standards, integrating security and sustainability considerations. * Develop a long-term infrastructure maintenance plan to support operational continuity. * Recruit and oversee maintenance staff as necessary. * Develop and implement a logistics plan, ensuring the timely supply of food, water, fuel, medical supplies, and other consumables. * Oversee equipment storage and deployment and conduct regular stock inventories. * Establish appropriate storage and stockpiling solutions to mitigate supply chain disruptions. * Ensure emergency reserves are in place for critical supplies. * Oversee arrangements for travel and accommodation for visiting WCS regional and global staff and official visitors * Oversee bush clearing teams, ensuring habitat management, visibility, and access requirements across the Protected Area are met. * Oversee fence maintenance teams, ensuring the boundary fence is maintained to required standards and breaches are promptly identified and repaired. * Coordinate logistical and operational support for ecological monitoring activities, working closely with the Ecology/Research team. * Coordinate logistics for wildlife collaring operations, including transport, equipment, and field support for collaring exercises. * Ensure field teams engaged in conservation management activities are appropriately equipped, trained, and supported. * Oversee the acquisition and deployment of a vehicle fleet tailored to the operational terrain. * Implement vehicle maintenance schedules and ensure workshop facilities are established. * Ensure all vehicle operations comply with safety and operational SOPs. * Recruit and oversee drivers and maintenance staff and ensure that all drivers are appropriately trained. * Ensure infrastructure and logistical systems are designed with security considerations in mind, according to the Ishasha Security Plan. * Ensure staff are trained as appropriate in all aspects of WCS safety and security, including first aid. * Work with the Law Enforcement Advisor and UWA counterparts to establish secure storage for equipment, firearms, and sensitive materials. * Implement risk mitigation strategies for supply chain disruptions and infrastructure vulnerabilities. * Coordinate emergency responses to incidents in the field as appropriate, according to the Ishasha Security Plan.
* Ability to work well with local teams and willingness to provide mentorship. * Excellent organizational skills with ability to multi-task and a practical can-do attitude to work. * Good knowledge and understanding of a range of operations technical areas as outlined above. * Practical skills in vehicle maintenance, construction, electrical installations, building maintenance, and other civil engineering tasks are highly desirable. * Experience in wildlife fence construction and maintenance – desirable. * Experience providing logistical or field support to ecological monitoring or wildlife research activities (e.g., collaring, telemetry) – desirable. * Experience working with international organizations, non-profits, or the private sector and proven ability to work in a multicultural environment. * Willingness to live and work in a remote location, with a high degree of resilience and problem-solving ability. * Good written and oral communications. * Fluency in English. * Interest in conservation and commitment to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
* At least 5 years of experience in logistics, construction, road maintenance, fleet management, and procurement in remote and challenging locations. * Tertiary qualification in construction, logistics, conservation management, business management or a closely related technical field — essential. * Relevant professional certifications in project management, logistics, and/or fleet/mechanical management — desirable.
JOB-6a849652c8039
Vacancy title:
Field Operations Manager
[Type: FULL_TIME, Industry: Nonprofit, and NGO, Category: Management, Business Operations, Transportation & Logistics, Farming & Outdoors, Construction, Installation, Maintenance & Repair, Protective Services]
Jobs at:
Wildlife Conservation Society
Deadline of this Job:
Wednesday, September 2 2026
Duty Station:
Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth Protected Area | Kampala
Summary
Date Posted: Tuesday, August 18 2026, Base Salary: Not Disclosed
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JOB DETAILS:
Description
Reports to: Sector Manager
Positions Managed: Logistics, Procurement and Infrastructure staff
Location: Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth Protected Area
Position Type: Full-time
Scope/Capacity: Country
Coordinates with: Deputy Director/ Warden-In Charge, Department Leads, Uganda Country Team, APAMU
Job Purpose
The Field Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operational running of Ishasha by overseeing procurement, supply chain management, field team management (including fence maintenance teams, bush clearing teams, etc.), transportation, and infrastructure development. Given the challenges of operating in a protected area in remote and challenging environments, the Field Operations Manager must have prior experience managing conservation field operations in a similar context.
This role requires the ability to plan, coordinate, and execute logistical operations under difficult conditions while ensuring all systems align with WCS SOPs and values. Depending on operational needs, the Field Operations Manager will move between the Sector Headquarters and the Country Office and will manage a team of logistics, procurement and support staff.
Responsibilities
1. Operations Planning and Management
- Develop and implement annual plans and budgets for all operations, aligned with the park’s five-year strategic plan and annual work plan.
- Support and advise heads of department and supervisors to resolve operational challenges efficiently and in a timely manner.
- Ensure full adherence to WCS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all activities under operational control.
- Coordinate with UWA QEPA staff in planning and execution of operations.
- Prepare and submit regular operational reports to the Sector Manager, including monthly KPI summaries and progress reports against the operations plan.
2. Procurement and Supply Chain Management
- Oversee procurement processes, in line with WCS SOPs, ensuring efficiency and accountability,
- Develop and maintain reliable supply chains to ensure the continuous availability of critical equipment, materials, and consumables,
- Work closely with the Finance Manager to ensure all procurement aligns with financial policies and budget constraints,
- Recruit and manage procurement and supply chain staff and oversee their work.
3. Infrastructure Development and Maintenance
- Oversee the construction and maintenance of the Sector Headquarters and key park infrastructure, ensuring operational readiness.
- Ensure all facilities are built to required specifications and minimum standards, integrating security and sustainability considerations.
- Develop a long-term infrastructure maintenance plan to support operational continuity.
- Recruit and oversee maintenance staff as necessary.
4. Logistics and Resource Management
- Develop and implement a logistics plan, ensuring the timely supply of food, water, fuel, medical supplies, and other consumables.
- Oversee equipment storage and deployment and conduct regular stock inventories.
- Establish appropriate storage and stockpiling solutions to mitigate supply chain disruptions.
- Ensure emergency reserves are in place for critical supplies.
- Oversee arrangements for travel and accommodation for visiting WCS regional and global staff and official visitors
5. Conservation Field Operations Support
- Oversee bush clearing teams, ensuring habitat management, visibility, and access requirements across the Protected Area are met.
- Oversee fence maintenance teams, ensuring the boundary fence is maintained to required standards and breaches are promptly identified and repaired.
- Coordinate logistical and operational support for ecological monitoring activities, working closely with the Ecology/Research team.
- Coordinate logistics for wildlife collaring operations, including transport, equipment, and field support for collaring exercises.
- Ensure field teams engaged in conservation management activities are appropriately equipped, trained, and supported.
6. Transport and Fleet Management
- Oversee the acquisition and deployment of a vehicle fleet tailored to the operational terrain.
- Implement vehicle maintenance schedules and ensure workshop facilities are established.
- Ensure all vehicle operations comply with safety and operational SOPs.
- Recruit and oversee drivers and maintenance staff and ensure that all drivers are appropriately trained.
Security and Risk Management
- Ensure infrastructure and logistical systems are designed with security considerations in mind, according to the Ishasha Security Plan.
- Ensure staff are trained as appropriate in all aspects of WCS safety and security, including first aid.
- Work with the Law Enforcement Advisor and UWA counterparts to establish secure storage for equipment, firearms, and sensitive materials.
- Implement risk mitigation strategies for supply chain disruptions and infrastructure vulnerabilities.
- Coordinate emergency responses to incidents in the field as appropriate, according to the Ishasha Security Plan.
By the end of the start-up phase, the Field Operations Manager will have established a robust logistical framework that ensures operational sustainability, infrastructure resilience, and effective resource management for the Protected Area.
Qualification Requirements
Minimum Requirements and Job Skills (Required)
- At least 5 years of experience in logistics, construction, road maintenance, fleet management, and procurement in remote and challenging locations.
- Tertiary qualification in construction, logistics, conservation management, business management or a closely related technical field — essential.
- Relevant professional certifications in project management, logistics, and/or fleet/mechanical management — desirable.
- Ability to work well with local teams and willingness to provide mentorship.
- Excellent organizational skills with ability to multi-task and a practical can-do attitude to work.
- Good knowledge and understanding of a range of operations technical areas as outlined above.
- Practical skills in vehicle maintenance, construction, electrical installations, building maintenance, and other civil engineering tasks are highly desirable.
- Experience in wildlife fence construction and maintenance – desirable.
- Experience providing logistical or field support to ecological monitoring or wildlife research activities (e.g., collaring, telemetry) – desirable.
- Experience working with international organizations, non-profits, or the private sector and proven ability to work in a multicultural environment.
- Willingness to live and work in a remote location, with a high degree of resilience and problem-solving ability.
- Good written and oral communications.
- Fluency in English.
- Interest in conservation and commitment to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Additional Requirements
- Travel within country and to the regional office in Kigali as needed
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 12
Level of Education: bachelor degree
Job application procedure
Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications, skills, and experience should apply through the application tab by September 2nd, 2026. We review received applications on a rolling basis.
Application Link:Click Here to Apply Now
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