Regional Science/Biodiversity Conservation Support Officer

Organization: African Parks
Position: Regional Science/Biodiversity Conservation Support Officer
Location: Regional Position
Reports to: Regional Manager
Expected start date: January 2023
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract

BACKGROUND:

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities. We currently manage 22 national parks and protected areas in 12 countries covering over 20 million hectares in: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Sudan.

African parks is recruiting an experienced Regional Science/Biodiversity Conservation Support Officer for the Central African Region.

JOB OVERVIEW:

African Parks, engaged in the protection and rehabilitation of the Conservation Area, is looking an experienced Regional Science/Biodiversity Conservation Support Officer for the Central African Region. Situated in a challenging and remote locality, the position requires previous operational experience, strong leadership, patience team player, and diplomatic skills.

The Regional Science/Biodiversity & Conservation Support Officer will report
to the Regional Manager, the primary purpose of the role will be to provide practical, Best Practice Biodiversity Conservation support to parks to enable robust, evidence-based management

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the development and implementation of park Long-Term Sustainability Strategies and associated planning spreadsheets, research frameworks and monitoring programmes
• Support the implementation of parks’ Conservation Performance Cycles
• Oversee implementation of park monitoring programmes and ensure that metrics are available on practical dashboards for tracking park management performance prior to annual Business Plan revision
• Work closely with AP’s Business Intelligence function to ensure that existing systems are used optimally for the (automated) provision and analysis of monitoring metrics
• Data management for park monitoring programmes
• Annual synthesis and dissemination of the implications of research results for biodiversity management and existing biodiversity Theories of Change
• Provide wildlife management decision-support
• Feasibility assessments for wildlife translocation projects
• Risk-Benefit Analyses for wildlife management decisions
• Oversight on compliance with Biodiversity Conservation SOP
• Development of biodiversity-related management plans (e.g. fire management, species of special conservation concern, predator management, water provisioning, elephant management)
• Ensure that trigger points for conservation interventions trigger points are evidence-based and defensible
• Technical guidance for biodiversity monitoring (particularly in the absence of park research/monitoring managers)
• Identification of survey techniques for new parks
• Aerial survey support – training of observers, identification of survey strata, calculation of flying hours and survey logistics, provide gpx tracks for aviation gps, data analysis and report-writing
• Provide advice on wildlife tracking devices and deployment, and manage incoming data
• Enable data analysis using platforms such as Google Earth Engine
• Research partnerships (particularly in the absence of park research managers)
• Manage the research application and evaluation process, including the development of MOUs with strategic partners
• Curate a quarriable database of research partners, projects and scientific publications to enable tracking of research deadlines and statistics
• Share all newly published peer-reviewed articles with park managers, the regional manager and the Functional Head: Biodiversity Conservation, to ensure timeous dissemination to AP senior management and the AP Board
• Succession planning and capacity building
• Mentor park Biodiversity Conservation staff
• Drive the research “twinning” programme, including through the maintenance of local and international research partnerships and projects
• Work with the Community Development department to provide vocational guidance related to careers in biodiversity conservation to indigenous people and local communities (IPLC)

Minimum Requirements Skills:

• MSc in the field of ecology, conservation biology or similar (Phd would be preferable)
• 5-10 years demonstrated working experience in similar environments and roles, with a strong focus on the interface between science and management
• Language skills: spoken and written knowledge of French (in Francophone regions) or Portuguese (in Lucophone regions) is essential
• Strong analytical skills, including the use of Geographic Information Systems
• A demonstrable publication record in the peer-reviewed literature
• Significant experience with aerial surveys and other monitoring techniques, data analysis and report-writing
• Demonstrable experience developing and writing conservation-related management plans
• Experience working in multi-cultural environments, and particularly working closely with park management teams

Adaptable – must be able to work in remote and challenging environments