JOB OVERVIEW:
The Chief Pilot will be responsible for managing, coordinating, and supporting aerial support functions throughout the operational areas within South Sudan and Ethiopia and adjoining areas of operation.
MAIN ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Pilot in Command of African Parks aircraft within the countries, including Cessna 206, Cessna 182, Cessna 172 and ICP Savannah aircraft.
- Safe and compliant flights supporting the following aerial support missions, including but not limited to logistic support flights, passenger flights, surveillance / reconnaissance flights, survey flights, research flights and general aerial support.
- Ensure all aerial support flights within the region are within the prescribed legal limitations, aircraft performance limits and aircrew experience limitations.
- Manage and ensure all aircraft, aircrew and infrastructure in country are in compliance with the applicable legal prescripts and African Parks SOPs.
- Manage and ensure all relevant operating permits are valid and in place, take the lead in organising national clearances and flight permits.
- Manage and ensure efficient and effective fleet aircraft maintenance, fuel management, spare parts management, and aviation stock and consumables in country.
- Active safety and risk management for aerial and ground support operations.
- Organize and coordinate any work that needs to be done on aircraft, including but not limited to scheduled maintenance, general aircraft care and cleaning, ad-hoc / non-scheduled maintenance and continued airworthiness.
- Ensure all aviation support structures, infrastructure and maintenance facilities including hangars, refuelling systems and runways are maintained and complies with the legal prescripts and the African Parks SOPs and technical standards.
- Duties to include the daily cleaning and continued care of all aircraft and aviation facilities / infrastructure.
- Procurement and sourcing of equipment or parts that might be needed through the official procurement channels.
- Assist with annual budget calculations and assure operations are within agreed budgets. Continuous evaluation of operations and expenditure to ensure cost effective operations and budget compliance.
- Assist in evaluation and implementation of new and planned aviation platforms and how these are to be used in order to function as force multipliers, this may include manned and unmanned aircraft.
- Assure that all paperwork is filed properly, completed, archived, and stored digitally.
- Assure that all metrics related to business processes, data-driven management, and operations management, are completed and delivered by their deadlines.
- Perform other duties as assigned and contribute to the success of the park’s operations in the region.
- Take the lead with recruitment and management of pilots and relief pilots.
- APN Head of Aviation
- Park Manager/s
- Park FOM/s
- Regional Procurement Manager
- Pilots / Engineers
- Heads of Departments
- Control room personnel
Minimum Qualifications and experience required:
- Required licenses issued by the applicable Civil Aviation authority, with ratings/certification on Cessna 206, Cessna 182, Cessna 172 and ICP Savannah aircraft.
- SACAA Commercial Pilots Licence.
- Valid and current instructors rating with demonstrable experience as instructor will be advantageous.
- Minimum 1500 hrs. total fixed wing flight, incl. min. 500 hrs. bush experience.
- Valid and current instrument flight rating.
- Valid and current Class 1 medical certificate.
- Minimum 3 years aviation oversight / management experience.
- Willing to be based in a remote area with minimal infrastructure and support.
- Experienced doing routine maintenance of aircraft, Rotax, Continental and Lycoming engines (as allowed for in the applicable Civil Aviation Regulations and the African Parks Aviation SOPs) would be an asset.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communications skills in English.
- Strong initiative, perseverance, and resilience.
- Good team player with experience working with multicultural teams.
- Strong personal integrity and dependability.
- Knowledge and passion for conservation and wildlife.
- Strong commitment to safe, efficient and compliant remote aerial operations.
How to apply
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply, please email your CV and cover letter to ssrecruitment@africanparks.org or hand delivery to African Parks office Thonping, Synergy Suites – Plot No 849, Block No 3-K South by Friday, 25 September 2026. Please mention the position name in the subject line of the email.
In case you do not hear from us within two weeks after the closing date, this means that your application was not successful. We thank you for your interest in working for African Parks.