mardi 8 janvier 2019

job announcement: Research manager for a scientific research base in Gabon

The Mandrillus Project (www.projetmandrillus.com), created in 2012 by a CNRS researcher (France), is a long-term scientific project to study the ecology and sociality of a Gabonese forest primate, the mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx). The study population consists of 180 individuals living in a large social group in the Lekedi private park, in southern Gabon, near the village of Bakoumba. The study population is monitored daily.
The Mandrillus Project is recruiting a research manager to supervise this research station, which employs between 8 and 10 full-time staff and regularly hosts students and researchers for short or long stays.

The tasks / activities related to the manager position are:
-behavioral data collection in the field and daily follow-up of the mandrills
-laboratory work for the management of biological samples collected in the field
-management of the scientific data sent regularly to researchers
-management of scientific protocols developed by researchers and students.
-administration (planning, payrolls and administration with the Gabonese authorities, budget management) and human resource management of a team of Gabonese and European field assistants
-welcoming and facilitating stays of students and researchers
-management of the car park
-management of scientific/telecom equipment
-writing of monthly reports on project events
-management of the relationships with local communities and employees of the Lekedi Park

Required skills for the manager:
-Previous experience in the field is mandatory (preferentially in Equatorial/tropical countries)
-Previous experience in the study of animal behavior is a real plus
-Experience(s) abroad and / or in isolated conditions
-Previous experience(s) in management / logistics is a plus
-Excellent communication skills
-Be physically and mentally resistant
-Be open to cultural differences
-Abilities to live in isolated areas
-Excellent level of French (mandatory)
-Excellent physical conditions (mandatory)

Desirable assets:
-Being in couple (to come and live in Gabon)
-Bachelor degree
-Skills in car mechanics and maintenance
-Scientific rigor

We are looking for a very organized, motivated and serious person. The recruited person must be ready to live in isolated conditions and in an Equatorial environment, in an intercultural context. Although weekly days off are scheduled, this position often requires a daily investment. The hired person must be ready to manage their time optimally for the project.

Because of the isolated conditions, we will give our preference to a couple. Both partners must be in excellent physical conditions, because the field is very rough, harder than expected!

The partner will be in charge of behavioral data collection and lab work (this is a full-time local position).
The person/couple will be housed on site, in the private park, in very good material conditions (house equipped with air conditioning, water and electricity). The Lekedi Park is located 7kms away from a small Gabonese village, Bakoumba, and an hour away from a small town, Moanda.

Although a couple is strongly desired, we will also consider single applicant. If a couple is hired, arrangements for the significant-other are possible within the framework of the project.

Contract length:
1 renewable year (3 months probationary period) up to 2 times.

Salary and benefit :
Manager: CNRS tariff grid
Housing included
Local salary (=stipends) for the partner (full-time position)
An international round-trip (at the beginning and at the end) for both partners

Deadline for filing a file:
2019, January 31th

Auditions of the selected candidates (in Montpellier – the transport to Montpellier is not included or by skype) and final answer:
First week of February 2019

Starting date:
May 1st-15th 2019 (not very flexible)

Application file:
Please send your CV (with names and addresses of three references for both partners) and a detailed and personalized letter of motivation (standard letters are not encouraged) by email only to: projetmandrillus@gmail.com