Wildlife Action Group Malawi (a not-for profit NGO) is looking for an experienced all rounder to join the Management Team at Thuma Forest Reserve in Malawi for 6 months initially, with the possibility of a long term role.
Are you looking to get experience in conservation management? Are you passionate about conservation, a great team player, with strong administration skills, good spoken and written English, maturity, initiative and a good work ethic?
In this role you will be working closely with the Director of WAG, and you will assist with all aspects of the operations of the project. You will need a very strong administrative skills. You will be involved in day-to day-administration including HR, Accounts, Volunteers, GIS logging and data entry. However, this position is not limited to admin, and the chosen candidate will be also involved in forest conservation initiatives, field research and animal censuses as well as with fund raising and organizational development.
You should be a practical down to earth person with a positive attitude, the ability to think on your feet, work well with our local team and not mind long hours. The position is field-based in remote locations. Living conditions are rustic bush camps, with water from a spring, open fires for cooking and solar power to run equipment.
The post offers an excellent opportunity for someone starting or furthering a career in conservation. WAG will provide accommodation, basic meals and an unrivalled bush experience. You will need to fund your own flights, visas and insurance. Some of the areas in which you will assist are:
- Office based administration including accounts, filing, salary preparation, HR, etc Record, monitor and analyse data in customized Microsoft Access databases
- Creation and editing of maps in QGIS P
- reparation of project reports, newsletters, bulletins etc.
- Start up, modification and supervision of operations of a variety of projects in the field
- Preparation and presention of internal reports, grant proposals and budgets Scheduling, supervision and care of volunteers
It is vital that you have:
- The ability to work closely and co-operatively with other team members and partner organisations Leadership ability
- Flexibility in how many hours you work and what work you do (to respond to fluctuating needs)
- Computer competence including competence in Microsoft Office and the ability to learn new computer skills.
- Experience working and living in remote environments, preferably in Africa
- The ability to communicate well and confidently and to relate well to people from diverse backgrounds
- Proven experience working co-operatively as part of a team
- Enthusiasm and self motivation for hard work in sometimes difficult conditions
- Maturity, a positive mental attitude, resilience and the ability to muck in and get on with it
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision Fluent spoken and written English, with good presentation and communication skills
Flexibility
A clean driving license and off-road driving competence
It is desirable, but not mandatory, that you have:
- Experience working with volunteers from diverse backgrounds and ages
- Experience working in the field of conservation and /or administration and management
- Experience with project management,
- Experience with monitoring and evaluation methodologies i.e. data collection, processing and analysis.
- Experience doing field research Knowledge of conservation biology, zoology, biology or a related field
Contract Conditions:
Duration: This is a minimum six month position commencing in September 2016.
Hours: Full time flexible working hours, 6 days per week
Location: Thuma and Dedza Salima Forest Reserves, Malawi. Possibility of occasional trips to nearby town (Salima) or other locations in Malawi.
The reserve is home to a lot of wildlife including elephant, buffalo, hyena and monkeys many of whom regularly visit our camps. The camps have fantastic vistas and sounds. You will live an authentic African experience.
Accommodation: You will live in a traditional mud hut in one of the living areas of our camps.. There are communal drop toilets and outdoor cold showers. Cooking is on open wood fires.
Financial: WAG will cover all meals (basic food) while you are at camp or traveling for WAG. One day off per week. You will need to cover the costs of getting to Lilongwe, including flights and visas and will be required to have all recommended vaccinations and have health insurance.
Wildlife Action Group Malawi
WAG is a local NGO with international backing relying on donations from supporters to fund its work. Since 1996 WAGs main objective has been the protection of Thuma Forest Reserve, and in 2007 this was extended to include Dedza-Salima Forest Reserve. This entails safeguarding the flora and fauna and restoring the ecological balance of the Reserve by working closely with government and the communities around the reserves. Our main activities are Reserve management, anti-poaching patrols, monitoring and research, environmental education, mitigating human elephant conflict, community relations and development and advocacy.
Thuma Forest Reserve
Thuma and Dedza-Salima were gazetted as forest reserves in 1926 and 1974 respectively. Together they form an area of over 500km² of wilderness. This is one of the few areas of Malawi which is still home to a large diversity of animals. More than 33 large mammal species have been recorded, and over 140 species of birds and 30 species of reptile have been found. Its very likely that, with more research in the coming years, all these figures will increase. Extensive botanical research has yet to be completed but two short studies have found 117 species of tree and 20 species of orchid. Check out our web site on
www.wag-malawi.org
If you think you could be the perfect person for us then please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you. Send your CV to ThumaMalawi@gmail.com,