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Title

Terrestrial Conservation Advisor

Posted
Reference   (Please mention Stopdodo/Environment Jobs in your application)
Sectors Terrestrial / Aquatic Ecology & Conservation
Location Papua New Guinea - Australasia
Town/City Goroka
Type Fixed Term and Permanent Roles
Status Full Time
Level Mid Level
Deadline 20/10/2017
Company Name Wildlife Conservation Society
Contact Name Asia Program
Email asiaprogram@wcs.org
Website Further Details / Applications
Also Listing:
Description
WCS is now seeking a dynamic, experienced individual with knowledge of terrestrial
conservation issues in tropical developing countries to provide technical oversight of and
support for its terrestrial conservation program in Papua New Guinea. The position
requires strong terrestrial ecology/biology expertise, extensive management and program
development experience and a genuine commitment to the mission of WCS. The position is
based in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.

Position: Terrestrial Conservation Advisor, Papua New Guinea
Reports to: WCS Papua New Guinea Country Program Director
Location: Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea
Start date: February 2018
Contract: Full-time position

Background

Founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and
inspiring people to value nature. WCS is the longest established international non-government
conservation organisation within Papua New Guinea (PNG). At key and representative
landscapes and seascapes, from the country’s coral islands to its forested highlands. WCS works
with local communities and provincial, national and international partners, to sustainably manage
and conserve the biodiversity and cultural values of Papua New Guinea’s wildlife and wild
places. WCS PNG vision is “Gutpela sindaun, gutpela bus, gutpela solwara” (“Empowered
people with healthy forests and seas”).

This position is responsible for the technical oversight of and support for the WCS PNG

Terrestrial Program in areas of: project management and implementation; project development
and reporting; local staff capacity building; and data analysis and publication. Current program
implementation priorities include: designing sustainable forest management and livelihood
schemes; analytical assessment of sustainable wildlife use; integrating community-based
conservation with national policies for REDD+, protected area development and climate change
adaptation. The position is also responsible for species specific conservation programs which
include: Admiralty cuscus, Green turtle, Goodfellow’s tree kangaroo, and Vulturine Parrot and
have an emphasis on bio-cultural use. The position reports to the PNG Country Program Director
and works closely with the PNG senior management team, PNG applied science team, WCS
Melanesia Regional Director and other WCS Asia staff. The position oversees all technical
assistance to terrestrial conservation activities and maintains appropriate communication with
WCS project leads, key donors, funding agencies, local government institutions and NGO
partners.

This position is based in Goroka in PNG and requires significant travel within PNG and may

require some travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Contributing to the development of an updated strategy for WCS' terrestrial conservation
work in PNG.
• Technical oversight of WCS PNG’s terrestrial conservation programmatic activities
including species specific projects.
• Improving WCS PNG terrestrial conservation activities through the analysis of program
and project outcomes.
• Managing a portfolio of terrestrial conservation projects including work plans, budgets,
staff, and deliverables.
• Coordinating programmatic activities in line with administrative and financial aspects of
WCS PNG Program.
• Writing technical reports to donors, government agencies, and other WCS offices.
• Authoring scientific papers, books, and popular articles, and supporting other WCS PNG
staff to do so.
• Proactively supporting the development of high quality communication pieces for
increasing the profile of WCS PNG terrestrial program and its technical activities.
• Influencing policy development by sharing program results and lessons learned with
government partners and other key stakeholders.
• Contributing to the identification of fundraising opportunities, draft proposals, and
develop and maintain good working relationships and/or partnerships with donors,
government, NGOs, private sector and other key stakeholders.
• Leading WCS PNG’s terrestrial conservation scientific research and publications.
• Designing protocols for field data collection, data management, and analysis.
• Capacity building of WCS PNG terrestrial conservation technical staff and local partners.
• Contribute to performance reviews of WCS PNG terrestrial conservation team and the
recruitment of new staff and short-term specialists.

Qualifications and requirements
• PhD or Masters degree and experience in a field related to in situ conservation.
• Proven ability to write fundraising proposals and manage grants and donor reports.
• Demonstrated success in delivering conservation interventions. Experience within the context
of a tropical developing country is desirable.
• Experience in program implementation and project management.
• Strong scientific analytical skills, including: experimental design, statistical analysis
(knowledge of program R is critical), and data management.
• Experience in community-based and collaborative terrestrial conservation initiatives.
Experience in REDD+, silviculture and wildlife monitoring is desirable.
• Background knowledge of natural resource management and bio-cultural issues in Papua
New Guinea is advantageous.
• Demonstrated success in publishing scientific articles in peer reviewed journals and ability to
communicate scientific information to a general audience.
• Ability to work sensitively and effectively with people of diverse cultures, value systems,
perspectives and levels of education, and to manage and work with staff and partners in these
contexts.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Professional proficiency in English. Working knowledge of Tok Pisin is advantageous.
• Ability and strong willingness to mentor and build local staff and partner capacity in
community-driven natural resource management, field research, conservation biology,
conservation advocacy, and project management.
• Effective “roll up the sleeves” work ethic, with attention to detail.
• Willingness to travel within PNG and internationally.
• Genuine commitment to the mission of WCS.

Application process
Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications should apply by emailing an application
letter and CV together with salary requirements and the names and contact information of three
references to: asiaprogram@wcs.org by October 20, 2017 deadline. Please include “PNG
TCA” in the subject line of your email. Candidates must also apply online via the WCS career
portal at: http://www.wcs.org/about-us/careers
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