Business Development and Sustainability Manager (BSM) Full Time NEW

Location: Upemba National Park (UNP)

Starting Date: January 2026

Duration: The position is initially for 2 years (with a 6-month probationary period) with the prospect of extension

Have you ever wanted to be involved in something bigger than yourself? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to help oversee the protection of a long-forgotten national park, from its basic planning and strategy formation to its overall vision and development?

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the right person to be part of something potentially huge: a meaningful conservation initiative in constant progress, with the potential to become a conservation hot-spot in the near-future and that, if successful, will be used as a conservation management template for years to come. This is the dream ticket for the right person motivated by a desire to leave behind a biodiversity legacy and help reconnect people to one of Africa’s oldest national parks.

Information about Upemba National park:

Upemba National Park covers an area of approximately 13,600 km2 of spectacular wilderness in Katanga Province in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and close to Zambia. Upemba with legal protection since 1939, is one of the oldest parks in Africa. The park is linked to Kundelungu National Park and a number of game reserves, together forming a massive mosaic of protected areas.

Upemba boast a wide diversity of habitats, including a full transitional gradient from highland steppe through miombo woodland to both wooded and grassland savannah. There are numerous rivers, waterfalls, wetlands and gallery forests. The Lufira River and Lake Upemba, both within park boundaries, form a critical watershed for the region as well as the source of the mighty Congo River. The park’s wildlife populations suffered during the Congo war, and subsequent neglect and illegal poaching enabled bushmeat hunting to further decrease wildlife numbers. Nevertheless, many species remain and the park is a refuge for the last savannah elephants in Katanga as well as the last zebras in DRC. Other notable species include endemic Upemba lechwe, roan antelope, black sable, buffalos, leopards, giant ground hornbill and many other bird species.

The Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN) signed a Private-Public Partnership with the Forgotten Parks Foundation (FPF) delegating management responsibility to the Foundation for the next 15 years. Under this agreement Forgotten Parks Asbl is responsible for the management, monitoring and protection of Upemba, as well as for developing sustainable financing mechanisms to meet the on-going management costs.

Position Summary:

We are looking for a dynamic young professional with a background in economics, business development, and project management to strengthen the financial sustainability of Upemba National Park. This role will focus primarily on devising and implementing innovative, long-term revenue streams for the park—while also supporting project management, fundraising, and the introduction of tools and systems that enhance efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Development of Sustainable Revenue Streams
• Identify and design innovative models to generate revenues for the park (eco-enterprises, hydropower partnerships, tourism concessions, private sector collaborations).
• Develop feasibility studies, business plans, and joint ventures aligned with conservation and community objectives.
• Advise on governance frameworks for revenue-generating facilities and partnerships.
• Build capacity within the park team to manage and grow enterprises that contribute to long-term sustainability.
• Explore innovative financial mechanisms (trust funds, blended finance, green bonds, payment for ecosystem services).

Project Management

• Manage key projects in Upemba in collaboration with departmental heads.
• Prepare project timelines and plans with clear responsibilities.
• Ensure commitments and deadlines are met, maintaining quality, scope, and budget.
• Introduce and oversee the use of project management tools and provide training.
• Produce regular project reports for management, donors, and partners.

Fundraising and Donor Engagement

• Assist in preparing funding proposals, reports, and presentations.
• Manage submission timelines and donor deadlines.
• Support donor prospecting and outreach to diversify funding sources.
• Provide strategic input on aligning fundraising activities with long-term revenue generation strategies.

Requirements:

• Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
• Strong knowledge of business planning, joint ventures, and financial mechanisms.
• Experience in project management and fundraising.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with proven ability to innovate and problem-solve.
• Excellent communication, partnership-building, and reporting skills.
• Willingness and ability to live and work in demanding field conditions in Southeastern DR Congo (Grand Katanga)
• Fluency in spoken and written French and English
• Interest in conservation, sustainable development, and community impact.

Preferred:

• Previous working experience in relation to DRC and/or Africa is preferred
• Private sector experience in a high-pressure environment is preferred

Also:

• Have a passion for conservation and development work, and what Forgotten Parks is striving to achieve in and around Upemba
• Have common sense and be a creative thinker; not afraid to try something new
• Able to motivate and inspire others, and keen to share knowledge and skills
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
• Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction
• Work well independently as well as part of a team

What We Offer:
This position provides a unique opportunity to shape the financial future of one of Africa’s oldest national parks by developing sustainable revenue streams, while also gaining hands-on experience in project management and international fundraising.

Tagged as: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Forgotten Parks