Volunteer Coordinator, Andean Bear & Mountain Tapir Research & Conservation

Volunteer Coordinator required to lead and facilitate volunteers’ participation in various forms of data collection on this conservation project.  Responsibilities include running the household, training volunteers, planning and leading walks for data collection.  The Coordinator supports Project Biologist Andres Laguna and will help translate his explanations into English for the volunteers.

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain practical experience in field biology, working with an internationally-recognized NGO and partnering with local biologists and community members as well as coordinating international volunteers.  It’s a chance to further develop your leadership skills and an ideal stepping stone towards leading your own research project in the future.  You won’t get rich, but you will get fit, you’ll live in a beautiful, unspoilt nature reserve and you will have an incredible experience to put on your CV.  You’ll also have 8 days off each month, during which you can travel to see more of Ecuador.

Successful candidates will:

• Have a background in biology, ecology, wildlife conservation or similar field, with an understanding of data collection & analysis, and good attention to detail
• Speak at least intermediate Spanish and fluent English
• Be a “people person” and have leadership experience
• Be culturally sensitive and flexible
• Be at least 24 years old
• Be physically fit, able and willing to walk for 4 to 7 hours a day on steep slopes at altitudes of 3000 to 4000m above sea level, and genuinely enjoy walking in the mountains.
• Commit for at least 5 months, starting as soon as possible, at the latest the first week of August, 2013
• Have at least basic first aid training; more advanced training preferred, such as Wilderness EMT training.

This is a very challenging role with much responsibility requiring a loyal, dedicated candidate.  It offers a great deal of satisfaction and career progression for a fit, healthy, sociable candidate who enjoys hard work, walking and life in the countryside and has a genuine interest in wildlife biology and conservation.

Application deadline: Monday, 1^st July 2013

Interviews (on Skype) will be held a.s.a.p., with a decision in early July.

The successful candidate will be required to start the first week of August 2013.

For more details about the Andean Bear Foundation, see www.andeanbear.org Email bearsecuador@yahoo.co.uk for an information pack about this opportunity and details of how to apply.  Please quote reference SDCooJun13 when you apply.