Academy Director - African Conservation Academy

Acre is proudly working with African Parks in their search for an Academy Director - African Conservation Academy.

The Company

Africa's protected areas are among the most extraordinary places on earth. They shelter irreplaceable biodiversity, sustain communities, and anchor some of the continent's most important ecosystems. But their long-term survival depends on something less visible than the landscapes themselves: the quality of the people leading them.

The African Conservation Academy is being built to address one of the sector's most pressing and persistent challenges - the shortage of skilled, confident leaders equipped to manage protected areas effectively. Most existing training is too academic, too long, or too disconnected from the realities of the job. The Academy is designed to be different: hands-on, practical, and built around the needs of working professionals from state, NGO, community, and private sector contexts.

Developed by African Parks in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board and the African Leadership University's School of Wildlife Conservation, the Academy will be based within Akagera National Park - immersing participants in the workings of a functioning, evolving protected area. The campus is in development, with pilot programmes planned for mid-2026 and full operations targeted for 2028.

The Role

This is a rare opportunity to build something that matters - from the ground up, at scale, with the backing of one of Africa's most respected conservation organisations.

Reporting to the Academy Board, the Director will lead the Academy from concept through to launch and long-term impact. The role begins with an intensive development phase - overseeing campus construction, finalising curricula, building a team, and putting the operational and financial foundations in place. As the Academy opens its doors, the focus shifts to programme delivery, institutional performance, and establishing the Academy as a flagship for conservation capacity-building on the continent.

Key responsibilities include

• Setting strategic direction and shaping business and financial plans
• Overseeing campus establishment, day-to-day operations, and team leadership
• Managing budgets and identifying revenue opportunities that support long-term sustainability
• Serving as the Academy's primary ambassador with government, African Parks, donors, and sector partners
• Ensuring a high-quality trainee experience from admissions through to programme completion

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a leader who shares the conviction that investing in people is one of the most powerful levers for conservation impact - and who has the experience, drive, and interpersonal depth to make this institution exceptional.

The right candidate will bring

• A minimum of 10 years' relevant experience, with at least 5 years in senior management
• Relevant tertiary qualifications
• Strong project and organisational management skills, with experience building and leading diverse teams
• Proven business or operational management experience with an entrepreneurial mindset
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• The ability to bridge strategic thinking with practical execution
• Fluency in English; proficiency in French, Portuguese, or an African language is an advantage

The Academy is at an early and defining moment. The person who takes this role will leave a lasting mark on how conservation leadership is developed across Africa - and on the wild places, the wildlife, and the communities that depend on them. If you have the skills and experience we are looking for, we would love to hear from you. Please apply or contact Greg Brittian at greg.brittian@acre.com for more details.