The LuiKotale Bonobo Project searches for a Camp and Research Manager (CRM) managing the field site of LuiKotale, Democratic Republic of Congo. CRM duties include organizing food and other supplies, payments to workers and accounting of the projects budget, maintenance of camp infrastructure, communication with the LKBP administration in Kinshasa and with local villages. The CRM is also in charge of storage and transfer of research data, shipment of samples to Kinshasa, and providing logistic support to the research staff. The CRM is based at the campsite of LuiKotale but will also assist administration of Ekongo camp. The CRM represents the project towards regional and local authorities, NGO’s, and the Congolese Wildlife Authority.
In camp, English and French are spoken and French language skills (oral and writing) are essentially required to achieve CRM tasks. Other essential skills include (a) physical fitness; (b) resistance to mental stress; (c) strong motivation to execute work with minimal supervision; (d) ability to improvise; and (e) tolerance to social customs and beliefs. Candidates must have a sense of leadership and a strong motivation to take on responsibility for the entire team. Note that the LKBP adheres strictly to gender equality and will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment.
The LuiKotale Research Site is very 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. Electricity is limited to power supplied by solar panels. Communication with the outside world is restricted to text-only emails. Satellite phones are available in the event of emergency. Assistants sleep in sheltered tents and mostly eat local foods. 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. Please carefully consider whether you will be able to cope with these conditions for an extended period of time before applying for this position.
Candidates need a valid passport, yellow fever vaccination, and a health insurance covering expenses in case of a health emergency evacuation by charter plane.
SALARY/FUNDING
500 Euro during training (1st month) and 700 Euro/month thereafter
SUPPORT
- food (mainly local food and some western food items)
- lodging (in tents) at the field site
- airfare for one charter flight from Kinshasa to the field site and back
- contribution of up to 800 Euro to the international return flight (reimbursement ONLY AFTER COMPLETING A 12 MONTHS APPOINTMENT)
- visa expenses (reimbursement ONLY AFTER COMPLETING A 12 MONTHS APPOINTMENT)
- please note that expenses during the stay in Kinshasa on the way in/out of Congo as well as the costs for a health insurance are not covered by the project
TERM OF APPOINTMENT
12 months starting in October/November 2023
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 Dr. Barbara Fruth (bfruth@ab.mpg.de)
Information about the research and conservation activities at LuiKotale is available at
https://www.eva.mpg.de/primat/research-groups/bonobos/luikotale-study-site.html