Research Coordinator and Biomonitoring Expert

 TACUGAMA CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY is Hiring!

for the project

Targeted actions to enhance habitat regeneration, conservation, and biodiversity in the Outamba-Kilimi-Madina-Oula transboundary landscape of Guinea and Sierra Leone funded by WABiLED

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Research Coordinator and Biomonitoring Expert

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (TCS) was founded in 1995 by Bala Amarasekaran together with the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL). Everything TCS does starts with the chimps and transitions into wildlife conservation, research, climate change mitigation, advocacy, law enforcement, youth and women empowerment, community outreach, eco-tourism, environmental education and livelihood support initiatives.
Previous studies have recognized the Outamba-Kilimi-Madina-Oula (OKMO) transboundary landscape in Guinea and Sierra Leone as a hotspot for endangered species such as the western chimpanzee (CR), African forest elephant (CR), hooded vulture (CR), giant ground pangolin (EN) and flora species such as Nymphoides guineensis (EN) and the endemic to Guinea Dilophotriche occidentalis (VU).

The present 1.5-year project supports ongoing conservation initiatives (EU-Funded OKKPS PAPFor project) that were born out of the government will in both countries. WCF and TCS collaborate together on this project, with WCF as main applicant and TCS as co-applicant. In addition to support the creation process of the Penselli-Soyah-Sabouyah National Park in Guinea, this project aims to enhance habitat regeneration, conservation, and biodiversity in the Outamba-Kilimi-Madina-Oula trans boundary landscape of Guinea and Sierra Leone.

In order to develop and coordinate the operational management of the forest landscape complex of OKMO, the project is recruiting a Project Coordinator in Sierra Leone, under funding obtained from the WABiLED, and the mandate given by Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (TCS) and the Government of Sierra Leone.

OBJECTIVE

The Research Coordinator and Biomonitoring Expert will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing the implementation of field and research activities related to the above mentioned project that helps to improve the management of the Outamba-Kilimi-Kuru Hills landscape in Sierra Leone. He/She will be in charge of the planning and analysis of the bio monitoring and surveillance patrols, as well as research activities. He/She oversees the activities to conserve biodiversity, reduce the threats to the OKMO landscape, and help mitigate climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation and the increase of forest restoration.

THE TEAM

The Research Coordinator and Biomonitoring Expert will work closely with TCS Outreach Department, the National Protected Area Authority, other staff on the current EU-funded OKKPS PAPFor project including members from WCF.

TCS: Conservation Manager, Field Manager, Assistant Conservation Manager, Research Manager NPAA: Management Staff, Park Manager for OKNP, Government rangers stationed at OKNP. OKKPS SL: Community Conservation Manager, Logistics and Finance team, GIS Officer, Community Field Officers, Ecoguards, NPAA Guards OKKPS Guinea: WCF Project Manager, WCF Special Projects Manager, WCF Financial Director, Ecoguards, OGPR Guards

He/she reports directly to the Project Coordinator, to whom he/she reports regularly on his/her activities, the results obtained and the problems encountered.

MAIN ROLE AND RESPONSABILITIES

 Main activities will be conducted in the zone of Outamba-Kilimi-Kuru Hills (Sierra Leone), with trips to Freetown whenever necessary;

 Working closely with 26 project ecoguards, subdivided into field teams, to patrol across the OKMO landscape in Sierra Leone;

 Working closely rangers from the National Protected Area Authority, and assigning rangers to the ecoguard field teams, to jointly patrol across the landscape in Sierra Leone;

 Providing regular training for all ecoguards and rangers patrolling in the landscape on the use of SMART, GPS devices, camera-traps, recces and other survey design methods;

 Planning different research surveys in collaboration with the WCF team involving the collection of human and wildlife data within the landscape;

 Providing law enforcement training to all ecoguards and rangers in collaboration with the National Protection Area Authority (NPAA) to ensure the conservation of the landscape;

 Planning joint field missions with WCF to undertake joint patrols in both Guinea and Sierra Leone with all ecoguards and rangers assigned to the project;

 Inputting research and biomonitoring data into suitable software to facilitate analysis;

 Analysing research and biomonitoring data and build the capacity of other team members to do the same;

 Working closely with the GIS officer to extract and report on data-driven conclusions;

 Inspecting sites to ascertain the appropriateness of existing conditions;

 Conferring with project beneficiaries and support staff to evaluate uptake, pitfalls, and areas necessitating expansion;

 Working closely with the Logistics Officer to ensure procurement activities and logistics procedures for purchasing, inventory and equipment management are implemented and adhered to;

 Revising and creating novel implementations that cover shortfalls in extant initiatives.

 Assisting the project coordinator to enhance law enforcement in the landscape using the implementation of monthly surveillance, effective management of wildfires and anti-trafficking

patrols by community ecoguards in collaboration with the national authorities (NPAA in Sierra Leone).

 Assist in forest landscape restoration through a Natural Ecological Regeneration (NER) approach with a conditional adaptation of the Moyen Bafing National Park (MBNP) model developed by WCF in Guinea.

 Writing of field reports, publication of the project’s results in Sierra Leone.

 Write monthly and quarterly reports of activities and submit them to the hierarchy on time;

 Ensure the supervision and the quality of the terms of references, the production and monitoring of budgets, and the writing of activity reports;

 Support the development of competitively strong proposals and concept notes in coordination with the development team;

 Ensure the synergy between the actions of her/his program and the other programs of the OKKPS project;

OTHERS Have a good knowledge of the goals and missions of the WCF and TCS; Be aware of the general objectives and activities as well as the ones specific to the job position; Be aware of the activities of other programs of the project, support them and respect the rules and procedures; Help with the general understanding related to the social and political context; Translate documents and interpret conversations if necessary.

RULES TO RESPECT

Confidentiality is an absolute rule for this position, it is strictly forbidden to divulge information and any breach of this rule will be considered as a serious fault and sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of the bylaws;

She/he must report to her/his supervisor any significant difficulty that an employee may encounter or in implementing an activity;

She/he must treat all employees equally, without favouritism or privileges granted for any reason;

Respects the rules and customs of local populations (politeness and good manners).

EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS

Qualification–Masters / Ph.D in science or a university degree in Rural Development / Sociology / Agronomy / Conservation or any other similar field;

At least 5 years of professional experience in rural sociology, rural development, participative mapping, surveys, structuring of local communities;

At least 2 years of experience in the management of natural resources involving local communities within a national or international NGO;

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and internet and medias (social network, websites, site web, etc.).

PROFILE / DESIRED SKILLS

Have strong listening and communication skills;

Have good human relation skills and team spirit;

Have excellent skills for synthesis, and for written and oral expression;

Be able to guarantee the confidentiality and discretion and be able to represent the NGO at the local level;

Have sensitivity for environmental issues and specifically for the management of natural resources involving local communities;

Have a sincere motivation to be involved in biodiversity conservation and in the protection of natural resources;

Have the will and openness to work in an international and multi-cultural field;

Be resistant to stress (management of conflicts, management of unforeseen events, etc.) and be flexible around work hours;

Be organized, autonomous and rigorous in the work.

Languages - English (advanced oral, reading and comprehension skills).

In all her/his activities, she/he must be proactive, meaning that she/he must suggest improvements and adaptations. Her/his supervisor can ask for additional tasks if necessary.

This job description covers the main responsibilities inherent to this position. However, it may be required to perform other tasks than those listed above, as well as to show a great flexibility in the management of the function without being considered as a contract modification.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please email your CV and cover letter to conservation@tacugama.com in copy to aram@tacugama.com by the 30th October 2022.

Please mention the position name in the subject line of the email. In case you do not hear from us within two weeks after the closing date, this means that your application was unsuccessful.

We thank you for your interest in working for TCS.

This position is for 16 months with the latest start date of 1st December 2022, international candidates are also welcome to apply.