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Jobs
Expedition Leader for The Wilderness Project
| Organisation: | The Wilderness Project |
| Sector: | Conservation |
| Location: | Pan Africa, South Africa |
| Closing date: | 15 November 2025 |
The Expedition Leader will conduct active river-based expeditions, leading research and
expedition teams to fulfill TWP's science and research objectives across the major river basins of Sub-Saharan Africa—the Nile, Okavango, Congo, and Zambezi. This role requires regular travel throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, including Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Uganda,
Tanzania, the DRC, and South Sudan for fieldwork, expeditions, meetings, and conferences.
The position involves spending approximately half the year away from home.
Key Responsibilities
●
Implement and oversee river and field expeditions aligned with TWP's mission and
vision, primarily using the 21st Century River Baselines methodology
●
Manage teams conducting scientific studies and research, ensuring compliance with
methodologies, quality control standards, and scientific reporting requirements
●
Collaborate with researchers, communications staff, and report writers to complete
scientific data analysis and compile reports and publicly accessible datasets
●
Plan, build, and manage river and land-based teams
●
Lead reconnaissance, planning, and operational execution of expeditions
●
Analyse data and write reports immediately following research expeditions
●
Develop proposals and content for future expeditions
●
Identify, develop, and manage boat captains, camp managers, and researchers to build
expeditionary teams
●
Build capacity within in-country departments and universities
●
Work with management and research teams to assess and prioritise future expeditions
toward the goal of completing 200 river baselines by 2030
●
Establish and maintain research permits and MOUs with relevant organisations
●
Liaise with scientific collaborators regarding expedition timeframes and objectives
●
Ensure field studies meet both scientific standards and TWP requirements
●
Represent TWP at scientific meetings and conferences to build organisational
awareness within the research community
●
Produce monthly reports summarizing activities and outlining upcoming plans
Reporting Structure
Reports to the Operations Manager on operational matters related to river expeditions and other
TWP activities. Works closely with logistics and land support teams on expedition operations
and field research communications.
Required Qualifications and Skills
Education:
●
MSc or PhD in an appropriate field (desirable but not essential)
Experience:
●
Leading teams in remote and challenging environments
●
Strong logistical planning and organisational skills
Technical Skills:
●
Proficiency with MS Office, GIS, and Google Workspace tools (Sheets, Docs)
●
Strong numerical and data analysis abilities
●
Valid driver's license with 4x4 driving experience
Personal Attributes:
●
Comfortable camping and working outdoors in the wild
●
Physical fitness to perform work in rugged terrain
●
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
●
Strong attention to detail and time management
●
Professional yet approachable demeanor when engaging with stakeholders
●
Proactive, enthusiastic problem-solver able to work independently and within culturally
diverse teams
●
Hands-on and motivated to achieve personal and team goals
●
Research-oriented with an adaptive, forward-thinking approach
●
Accountable and willing to set and meet work goals
●
Flexible and adaptable to change
●
Implement and oversee river and field expeditions aligned with TWP's mission and
vision, primarily using the 21st Century River Baselines methodology
●
Manage teams conducting scientific studies and research, ensuring compliance with
methodologies, quality control standards, and scientific reporting requirements
●
Collaborate with researchers, communications staff, and report writers to complete
scientific data analysis and compile reports and publicly accessible datasets
●
Plan, build, and manage river and land-based teams
●
Lead reconnaissance, planning, and operational execution of expeditions
●
Analyse data and write reports immediately following research expeditions
●
Develop proposals and content for future expeditions
●
Identify, develop, and manage boat captains, camp managers, and researchers to build
expeditionary teams
●
Build capacity within in-country departments and universities
●
Work with management and research teams to assess and prioritise future expeditions
toward the goal of completing 200 river baselines by 2030
●
Establish and maintain research permits and MOUs with relevant organisations
●
Liaise with scientific collaborators regarding expedition timeframes and objectives
●
Ensure field studies meet both scientific standards and TWP requirements
●
Represent TWP at scientific meetings and conferences to build organisational
awareness within the research community
●
Produce monthly reports summarizing activities and outlining upcoming plans
Reporting Structure
Reports to the Operations Manager on operational matters related to river expeditions and other
TWP activities. Works closely with logistics and land support teams on expedition operations
and field research communications.
Required Qualifications and Skills
Education:
●
MSc or PhD in an appropriate field (desirable but not essential)
Experience:
●
Leading teams in remote and challenging environments
●
Strong logistical planning and organisational skills
Technical Skills:
●
Proficiency with MS Office, GIS, and Google Workspace tools (Sheets, Docs)
●
Strong numerical and data analysis abilities
●
Valid driver's license with 4x4 driving experience
Personal Attributes:
●
Comfortable camping and working outdoors in the wild
●
Physical fitness to perform work in rugged terrain
●
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
●
Strong attention to detail and time management
●
Professional yet approachable demeanor when engaging with stakeholders
●
Proactive, enthusiastic problem-solver able to work independently and within culturally
diverse teams
●
Hands-on and motivated to achieve personal and team goals
●
Research-oriented with an adaptive, forward-thinking approach
●
Accountable and willing to set and meet work goals
●
Flexible and adaptable to change
Contact details
| Contact person: | Johan van der Westhuizen |
| Contact number: | NA |
| Email: | johan@thewildernessproject.org |
