Position: Terrestrial Conservation Coordinator
Reports to: Conservation Director - PNG Terrestrial Program
Location: Goroka Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea
Country Program: WCS Papua New Guinea Program, Melanesia region
Position Type: Full-Time
Organization Background:
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat, and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.
WCS Papua New Guinea Overview:
WCS is the longest established international non-government conservation organisation within Papua New Guinea (PNG). At key and representative landscapes and seascapes, from the country’s coral islands to its forested highlands. WCS works with local communities and provincial, national, and international partners, to sustainably manage and conserve the biodiversity and cultural values of Papua New Guinea’s wildlife and wild places. WCS PNG vision is “Gutpela sindaun, gutpela bus, gutpela solwara” (“Empowered people with healthy forests and seas”).
Job Summary:
This position is responsible for the technical implementation of the WCS PNG Terrestrial Conservation Program. This Job Description is progressive in nature and shall be reviewed and amended from time to time to meet the current program needs.
Major Responsibilities:- Provide technical assistance across all terrestrial conservation activities of the WCS PNG, standardizing protocols among different sites
- Lead and perform data collection protocols and surveys, plus data management, and analysis of all terrestrial projects.
- Produce quantitative, graphic information for publications, reports, and outreach.
- Research on sustainable wildlife and natural resources use, threatened species, conservation threats, and ecological restoration.
- Support project management, development, grant writing, and reporting
- Support writing and publishing of communication material, including journal articles, books, and pieces for mass media and social media platforms
- Translate scientific information into simple English and Tok Pisin to allow it to be easily understood by a variety of stakeholders, including those with low literacy skills.
- Provide capacity building to local staff and partners.
- Represent WCS during stakeholder/partner engagement and outreach
- Other duties as directed by your supervisor.
Internal Qualification RequirementsMinimum Requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant discipline (natural sciences or natural resource management), or an equivalent qualification. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in other fields but with full-time professional experience in biodiversity conservation will also be considered.
- At least 3 years’ full-time, professional experience in biodiversity conservation with an NGO or a government agency or equivalent
- Extensive programme management experience and community engagement experience in terrestrial biodiversity conservation projects
- Experience in terrestrial protected area planning, including experience in joint management planning and an understanding of terrestrial reserve management planning principles, techniques and procedures.
- Experience in and knowledge of the management of terrestrial ecosystems or wildlife management, and the environmental, social, cultural and economic issues associated with wildlife protected area management.
- Good interpersonal skills and experience in liaising with a range of stakeholders, including customary landowners, local and state government, special interest groups and individuals regarding natural resource management issues.
- Lead and manage team effectively.
- Excellent computer literacy & skill of MS office applications (Word/PowerPoint/internet etc.)
- Good analytical and problem-solving skills
- Good knowledge of written and spoken English and Tok pisin
- Independent and a self-starter with drive and initiative. Ability to work as a team/individual with a positive attitude and open mind
- Good conflict management and negotiation skills
- Excellent multi-tasking, organized and follow-up skills
- Willingness and enthusiasm for being in the field in remote locations with very basic facilities
