Title: Volunteer Coordinator / Research Assistant-USDA Fruit Fly Study Location: Los Amigos Biological Station Type: Intern (small stipend; room and board provided) Length: 1 year minimum
Organization Founded in 1999, the Amazon Conservation Association’s mission is to protect the biological diversity of the Amazon basin. Our efforts are geographically focused in the headwaters of the Amazon basin, where the Amazon forest meets the Andes mountain range in southeastern Peru and northern Bolivia. The Amazon Conservation Association’s currently protects over 1.5 million acres of Amazonian rainforest; we established the world’s first conservation concession, manage some of the best research stations in the tropics, and are leading the charge to find mechanisms such as the voluntary carbon market and payments for environmental services to make forest conservation financially sustainable. The Amazon Conservation Association owns three biological stations, one called Los Amigos, located in the Madre de Dios district, province of Manu, department of Madre de Dios; another called Wayqecha, located in the Kosñipata district, province of Paucartambo, department of Cusco; and another called Villa Carmen, located in the Kosñipata district, province of Paucartambo, department of Cusco. Position The Volunteer Coordinator (VC) at Los Amigos will work with the Volunteer Program Manager to develop projects in each of the volunteer program’s 3 project areas: Biological Research and Monitoring, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Implementation, and Community Outreach and Education. The VC will also be responsible for receiving and coordinating the activities of volunteers in Los Amigos Biological Station, and will accordingly be chosen for his/her expertise in at least one of the aforementioned project areas. In addition to the above responsibilities, the successful applicant will also work for at least 5 months (and possibly as many as 12 months) supporting the USDA fruit fly study as a field assistant. Associated tasks include monitoring and maintaining a series of 50+ insect traps disbursed along the station’s ~60 km trail system, collecting and preserving specimens, and communicating progress with project staff. Lodging and meals will be provided while at the station. A small ($83/mo.) stipend will be provided until November, possibly longer depending on continuation of USDA project. Duties Primary responsibilities of the Volunteer Coordinator include: -Assist the Volunteer Program Manager in volunteer recruitment activities -Plan and implement a full schedule of tasks for the volunteers at Los Amigos Biological Station -Keep detailed records of all station volunteers and interns (resumes, personal data, employment period, tasks implemented, responsibilities fulfilled, products, etc.) and report to Volunteer Program Manager -Collect and report on baseline scientific data, including climatological, river level, and biological data -Craft and promote stimulating intellectual environment at stations (e.g., through bimonthly mini-conferences, volunteer presentations, etc.) -Receive and provide orientation for arriving volunteers, and assist in the reception of station visitors generally -Help ensure quality of stations’ visitor services (hospitality, logistical support, facilities, etc.) -Prepare monthly reports of station activities for submittal to Volunteer Program Manager -Assist in the maintenance of station’s social media (Facebook group and volunteer blog) -Administer visitor satisfaction surveys, record and analyze data collected, and report findings to Volunteer Program Manager -Communicate station needs to decision-makers (especially as represented by visitors’ comments and on-the-ground observations) -Support station administrator in promoting the implementation of higher level decisions on the ground (i.e., responding to visitor comments / criticisms) Qualifications To be eligible for this position, candidates should possess the following qualifications: -Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (by phone, email, and in person) -Highly organized, with strong attention to detail, and able to prioritize work and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment -Bachelor’s degree and 1–3 years’ professional experience in the natural or social sciences -Proficient with MS Office Suite, able to create useful spreadsheets, compose documents, enter and retrieve database information, and create presentations and reports -Intermediate-level or better Spanish proficiency (reading, writing, speaking) -Experience traveling or living in Peru or elsewhere in Latin America strongly preferred ================================================================== Please email your résumé, a cover letter, and a list of three references to: Patrick Campbell at [email protected] (subject line: Volunteer Coordinator at Los Amigos). Applications accepted until position is filled.
