Volunteer Intern: IUCN SSC Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group Coordinator (okapi)

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

The okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is an elusive rainforest giraffid endemic to the tropical forests of central/north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and was recently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.  ZSL and the Congolese conservation agency, ICCN, in collaboration with a large number of other partners, have recently completed a major collaborative project to review the okapi’s conservation status and develop the first ever conservation strategy for the okapi.

 

The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Giraffe and Okapi Specialist Group (GOSG) is one of over 120 Specialist Groups, Red List Authorities and Task Forces working towards achieving the SSC’s vision of “a world that values and conserves present levels of biodiversity”.  Made up of experts from around the world, the group leads efforts to study giraffe, okapi and the threats they face, and devises conservation solutions to ensure the long-term survival of the two species.  The GOSG was formerly approved in March 2013, with Drs Noëlle Kümpel (okapi) and Julian Fennessy (giraffe) appointed as Co-Chairs, and the Zoological Society of London (okapi) and Giraffe Conservation Foundation (giraffe) as host organisations for the respective species.

 

We are seeking a hard-working, capable and enthusiastic volunteer to help the okapi Co-Chair to manage the okapi side of the GOSG on behalf of ZSL, as well as provide some support to the GOSG as a whole and for ZSL’s work on okapi in general.  The volunteer will help to develop an okapi survey database and the GOSG website as well as liaise with members in French so good technical and English and French language skills are required.  Please see the Role Description for more details.

 

The position is available immediately for up to six months.  Please note that this is a voluntary position.  However, ZSL will reimburse travel costs within the Greater London area (zones 1-6) and lunches if working for more than three days a week.

 

To apply, please complete and attach separately the ZSL Application Form and Equality of Opportunity Monitoring Form found on our website, www.zsl.org/jobs, and send with your cv to hr@zsl.org by the closing date of: 18 August 2014.