Position: Regional Technical Advisor, Health Program
Reports to: Regional Director Greater Mekong and South Asia
Location: Vientiane, Laos or within region
Country Program/Sector: Greater Mekong and South Asia, Global Conservation
Expected travel: Regular within the region
Job Summary:The position will work with the Regional Director, Executive Director Health Program, and in-country leadership to develop and support implementation of One Health projects throughout the region. This position will also support a comprehensive strategy and approach that contributes to achieving WCS’s national and landscape visions through integrating wildlife health activities into ongoing landscape and thematic priorities.
Major Responsibilities:- Ensure overall coordination of WCS’s regional wildlife health project portfolio - including technical and operational support to project activities
- Provide capacity building through both structured training and on-the-job support to national WCS wildlife health staff and partners in executing project activities
- Promote improved health and management of livestock and domestic animals in WCS landscapes with communities living at the wildlife/forest/wetland interface. Indicative current issues of concern include avian influenza, African Swine Fever and Lumpy Skin Disease, but other potential health threats will be evaluated and explored where needed
- Support country programs in the design and implementation of research and activities linking health and landscape-based initiatives (e.g. forest degradation and ecosystem health, and public health interventions as nature positive solutions)
- Provide veterinary support to in-situ/ex-situ interventions and collaborations involving WCS priority species
- Contribute to the development of active and passive disease surveillance protocols and networks designed to detect and validate reported wildlife morbidity/mortality events, particularly those related to WCS landscapes or priority species
- Support on the ground counter-wildlife trafficking initiatives regarding issues of confiscation management, animal handling, and risk reduction
- Work with WCS policy staff to promote and support policy and legal reform initiatives at national, regional and global levels to leverage health related issues for conservation goals
- Maintain regular communication with WCS Health Program staff globally to promote best practice, share lessons learnt, and harmonize activities
- Lead and support fund-raising efforts for wildlife health, identifying and enhancing support from existing and new sources, developing proposals and reports, building relationships with donors, in collaboration with country programs, Program Development, and other Regional staff
- Provide technical advice to WCS Country Programs and liaise with professional associations and organizations as needed; attend professional conferences; present to professional audiences on issues relevant to the WCS mission
- Manage project budgets, oversee donor reporting, and support other operational needs as required
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Internal Qualification RequirementsMinimum Requirements:
Advanced degree in veterinary medicine or a related discipline.
Work experience in epidemiology, pathology, wildlife medicine, and/or disease ecology.
Demonstrated project management skills including workflow and budget planning, prioritizing tasks across multiple project components, and delivering on deadlines.
Demonstrated writing and oral communication skills to effectively communicate project findings to a broad constituency, including both local and international scientific and lay audiences.
Comfortable working in complex and diverse cultural settings; an ability to adapt approaches to local cultures and project situation, while maintaining a high professional standard.
Willingness to work across time zones
English language proficiency required and regional language skills preferred.
EOE/ AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled
