The LuiKotale Bonobo Project offers the position for a Camp and Research Manager (CRM) at the field site of LuiKotale, Democratic Republic of Congo. The person will be in charge of camp management, logistics, and communication. The main tasks of the CRM are:
- accounting and book keeping
- supervising entry of data and data cleaning by field assistants
- organizing food and other supplies
- communication with field directors and with local villages
- maintenance of camp infrastructure
- preparing anti-poaching patrols by the Congolese Wildlife Authority
The CRM provides safety and security briefing to new assistants, supervises transports when supplies arrive, and gives administrative support to the team working at a nearby camp (Ekongo) and to mobile teams. The CRM represents the project towards regional and local authorities, NGOs, and the Congolese Wildlife Authority.
The position requires social skills, a sense of leadership, a strong motivation to take on responsibility for the team and language skills in French and English. Candidates with medical and rescue training will be preferred.
The Luikotale research site is remote. Access is with charter planes from Kinshasa and a subsequent hike of 25 km across dense and swampy forest. There is no running water, phone coverage or internet access. Electricity is limited to power supplied by solar panels. Daily communication is restricted to text-only emails and to SMS messages by InReach. Satellite phones are available in the event of an emergency. Assistants sleep in sheltered tents and mostly eat local foods. Candidates must be (a) physically fit; (b) resistant to mental stress; (c) self-motivated, (d) able to work with minimal supervision while out in the field; and (e) tolerant to social customs and beliefs. The ability to work with and in a team is essential.
The LKBP adheres strictly to gender equality and does not tolerate any form of sexual harassment.
Field conditions can be physically and mentally challenging; work hours can be very long, and assistants are sometimes exposed to severe weather and tropical diseases. Team members live in close proximity to one another and have to adjust to changes in the team composition. Please carefully consider whether you will be able to cope with these conditions for an extended period before applying for this position.
Candidates will need a visa and a health insurance covering expenses in case of a health emergency evacuation by charter plane. Expenses for the initial entrance visa to DRC, the health insurance, and the costs for the stay in Kinshasa are not reimbursed. The project will cover costs for the long-term visa in DRC, the domestic return flight upfront, and a contribution of up to 800 Euro to the international return ticket after successful completion of the appointment.
SALARY/FUNDING: 500 (five hundred) Euro during training and 700 (seven hundred) Euro/month thereafter
TERM OF APPOINTMENT: 12 months, starting in February/March 2026 (exact time of onset is subject to direct communication)
SUPPORT
- food (mix of mainly local food and some western food items)
- lodging in tents
- airfare for one domestic return flight from Kinshasa to the field site and back
- contribution of up to 800 Euro to an international return flight (reimbursement AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A 12 MONTHS TERM OF APPOINTMENT
Applications include an updated CV, a letter of motivation that shows how the candidate meets the qualifications outlined above, references of three people (or their contact information). Applications should go to Dr. Gottfried Hohmann (hohmann@eva.mpg.de) and Prof. Barbara Fruth (bfruth@ab.mpg.de)
Information about the research and conservation activities at LuiKotale is available at