Wild Foundation
The Mali Elephant Project is looking for a Programme Assistant to support the Project Director as part of globally dispersed team on three continents. This involves a variety of tasks, of which assistance with programme development, grant administration and the use of monitoring and evaluation data will be the most important. It provides a rare opportunity to gain a broad experience of the different aspects of conservation delivery with this award-winning and innovative project; while offering the opportunity to develop the role in delivering new aspects of the project.
This position will provide the successful candidate with the chance to develop their strategic awareness of conservation and its relationship with development, fund-raising, leadership and project management abilities as well as to contribute their own skills in the delivery of a new portfolio of project activities.
Job description
The assistant will work under the supervision of the Project Director.
Tasks will include the following:
- Assisting with preparing grant proposals and reports
- Project and budgetary management
- Record-keeping, information organization and retrieval
- Assisting with programme development
- Background research – internet and literature
- Supporting role in the production of material for the project web-site and on-line presence
- Assisting the Project Director in writing papers, preparing copy, reports and proposals
- Contributing to the development and promotion of the project’s vision and aims
Skills and knowledge
Essential:
- Educated to degree level in a relevant field, preferably to Masters
- Understanding and (preferably) experience of the science and practice of conservation and its relationship with development.
- A demonstrated understanding of the contemporary debates surrounding biodiversity and sustainability at local and international levels.
- Fluent in English (written and spoken)
- An ability to read French
- Well-organized, meticulous and thorough in their work with excellent time-management
- Willing to undertake a range of tasks from the mundane to the intellectually challenging
- Excellent writing and communication skills with the ability to write persuasively
- Excellent IT and internet skills
- Able to work autonomously and in a globally dispersed team
- An ability to learn quickly
- A collaborative approach
Desirable
- Fluency and an ability to write in French
- Ability to use social media channels in a professional capacity
- Field experience in a developing country
Working arrangements
The position is full-time, located in Oxford but there is scope for flexible working. Salary depending on experience.
Mali Elephant Project
The Mali Elephant Project has been working since 2002 to conserve this iconic elephant population through finding robust ways for humans and elephants to co-exist peacefully and for mutual benefit over extensive populated landscapes (>32,000km2). It has built on this model to protect elephants throughout war, lawlessness and occupation by armed groups, followed by post-conflict banditry and social upheaval.
The Project takes a whole systems approach to conservation and aims to ensure the continued existence of this internationally important and iconic elephant population; that their migratory path is secure and unimpeded by human development; and that the elephants have stable access to the natural resources key to their survival while avoiding human-elephant conflict. It does this through working with the local communities, the Malian government and other stakeholders to establish consensus systems of natural resource management that protect and restore the natural resources upon which the livelihoods of the local people depend, at the same time as protecting elephant habitat, the migration route, and restoring degraded ecosystems. Latterly the Project has led the process of establishing Mali’s first anti-poaching unit which became fully operational in February 2017.
Applications
Interested applicants are requested to send a detailed CV and covering letter tomalielephantproject@gmail.com
Closing date for applications: 21st March 2018
Start date: As soon as possible.