Communications Officer / Technical Analyst

Main Duties:-

1. Lead on communicating MCDI’s work and achievements to an international audience.
   1. Manage the content of MCDI’s website.
   2. Provide publicity materials (written and photographic) to external partners and to media.
   3. Raise MCDI’s profile with regular technical and non-technical articles for publication.
2. Provide technical analyst support to MCDI when needed.
   1. Analyse and write up results of MCDI’s monitoring and evaluation activities.
   2. Advise on appropriate technical protocols for monitoring and evaluation.
   3. Provide technical input and suggestions on MCDI activities as requested.
   4. Train MCDI staff in various technical skills and monitoring protocols.
   5. Support with writing funding applications.
3. Assist in coordinating MCDI’s research-related activities and partnerships.
   1. Advise on research methodologies appropriate to MCDI’s area of operations.
   2. Coordinate research with longer term monitoring and evaluation work.
   3. Help manage the relationships between MCDI and partner research institutions.

There is an opportunity to develop this role into a full technical adviser role over time.

Qualifications / Experience:-

We are looking for a dynamic technical writer / conservation scientist with the ability to think outside the box and contribute to a diverse programme of practical conservation, community develpment and technical monitoring. Excellent communication skills are a must and should be combined with strong analytical ability. This is a cross disciplinary role: candidates with a varied skill-set and experiences will be preferred to those from a straight biological background. Substantial prior experience is not a pre-requisite – this position would be suitable for those early in their career – but the candidate must be able to demonstrate their raw talent in communications. Candidates who show the potential for developing into a full technical adviser will be preferred.

Minimum:

1. A master's level degree in a relevant discipline (does not have to be biological).

2. Basic computer literacy including expertise in MS Word and Excel.

3. High level of fluency in written English (to publishable standards).

4. At least 1 year's previous experience in Africa or other developing countries.

Additional skills/experience of relevance include:

5. Previously published technical and non-technical articles.

6. Experience in web publishing / blogging.

7. Skill in photography and photo-editing.

8. Proficiency in GPS / GIS.

9. Ability to speak and understand Swahili.

General background available on www.mpingoconservation.org.

Start Date: Oct/Nov 2012

Duration: Initial contract will be for one year with the option to renew if funding is available.

Interested candidates should send a CV and covering email to jobs1201@mpingoconservation.org, stating how they heard about the opportunity. Please do not enclose degree certificates or transcripts at this stage. Deadline for applications is 31^st August 2012. Candidates must be prepared to come either to UK or Tanzania to be interviewed, or conduct a telephone interview at their own expense (though this can be done by Skype; face-to-face interviews are normally advantageous to the candidate). Interviews will take place during September. Only those invited for interview will be contacted. If you do not hear from us by 15^th September then you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.