Introduction: A few years ago, a few of usecology, economics, and business graduatesfounded a non-profit organization called Third Millennium Alliance (TMA). We raised some money and bought a lot of land in a critically endangered rainforest and established an ecological reserve in coastal Ecuador. There was a small patch of previously degraded land right in the middle where we have built an innovative and surprisingly comfortable research station out of bamboo by hand. Immediately surrounding the house we are designing/growing/building a living laboratory of sustainable resource management (i.e. permaculture), which also serves as our field headquarters for biological scientific research and forest monitoring. Our reserve, the Jama-Coaque Reserve, is one of the last remnants of Pacific Equatorial Forest, and is part of the Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena Biodiversity Hotspot, which is designated as one of the most bio-diverse and endangered ecosystems on earth. Only 2% of native forest remains in coastal Ecuador; were trying to preserve the last of it and begin the task of restoring what has already been lost.
Job Summary: As Manager of Permaculture Operations, the chosen candidate will work closely with individuals from diverse backgrounds to facilitate project-based internship experiences in the fields of sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, and permaculture. Projects are developed to achieve the goals of the organization and serve as catalysts for interns as they navigate their academic and professional careers. The position is based out of the Bamboo House in the Jama-Coaque Reserve, which is in the province of Manabi, Ecuador, between the cities of Pedernales and Jama, and three kilometers from the community of Camarones. Summary of Responsibilities: 1. Coordinate, lead, and facilitate 8-week tropical field internships in research, conservation, and permaculture. 2. Provide logistical and technical support to facilitate successful completion of research, conservation, and permaculture-based field projects (including PDC course). 3. Develop overall educational quality of the internship program through field activities, assignments, and required readings. 4. Manage and oversee all activities that take place on the permaculture farm. Please note: The field station and sites are living entities, constantly evolving into yet more functional, comfortable, self-sufficient and sustainable systems. When you are not otherwise occupied with field work and leadership duties (i.e. on-and-off throughout weeks 4-8 of each session) much of your time and energy will be devoted to brainstorming, prioritizing, designing/planning, and realizing additions and changes to the existing infrastructure. Detailed responsibilities for the Manager of Permaculture Operations include: 1. Manage all Zone 1 operations, including the vegetable garden, the balcony and herb gardens, and other annual crop production (20%) o Planting choices, planting schedules, harvest schedules, transplanting o Management of irrigation, pest control, weeding, mulching o Soil fertility management, including compost and humanure o Seed saving and storage 2. Manage all Zones 2-4 Operations: includes the Production Zone, the managed cacao and coffee plots, distant/semi-wild banana, citrus, cacao, and bamboo groves, as well as the Timber Lot (25%) o Planting choices, planting schedules, harvest schedules, transplanting o Training interns how to manage orchard quadrants o Serve as resource for interns who have questions/ideas concerning management of orchard quadrants o Manage all trees and ensure high survival rate 3. Leadership/personnel management (15%) o Assist in coordination, arrival and reception of interns o Assist in facilitation of 4-5 day orientation program for each intern group o Orient, train, and manage permaculture interns o Provide PDC education to interns via lecture and field-based projects o Offer guidance and monitor progress and of permaculture intern projects 4. Assist with site logistics, maintenance, and development (25%) o Coordinate food/ supply runs from nearest town, which requires transport logistics and petty cash accounting o Work with local employees on field projects and monthly hours/timesheets o Manage emergencies (medical or otherwise) should they arise 5. Assist with administrative/office work (10%) o Assist Internship Coordinator with appropriate project placement of permaculture interns o Communicate with Directors on weekly activities, progress, and project ideas 6. Community Relations (5%) o Keep up good lines of communication and maintain a good cooperative relationship with our neighbors in the community of Camarones o Be the representative of our organization in the community Field Management Team: As Manager of Permaculture Operations you will work closely with the other members of the Field Management Team - Reserve Manager/Intern Coordinator, and the Manager of Field Operations. Although each member of this team has his or her own primary responsibilities, there will inevitably be overlap and the need for a lot of teamwork and collaboration. As such, the three of you should always stagger your off time, to ensure that at least one of you, although usually two of you, are on duty at any time. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelors degree in Sustainable Agriculture, Ecology, Biology, Environmental Studies or related field Permaculture Design Certified (PDC) or equivalent experience Two years of experience working on sustainable agriculture/ permaculture farm Strong leadership skills Excellent communication and organization skills Physical and mental strength to live in a remote, off-the-grid field station with 5-8 interns for two months at a time Dedicated to sharing your experiences and knowledge of sustainable agriculture in educational settings Passion to mentor, empower, and inspire the next generation of young sustainable farmers through field and hands-on learning experiences Enthusiastic, self-starter, and capable of taking the initiative on new and exciting projects Creative thinking and ability to overcome obstacles First Aid and CPR certified Fluent in English and at least highly proficient in Spanish Preferred Additional Qualifications: Certified and experienced PDC instructor; ability to certify interns Field-based and hands-on teaching experience Tropical/Latin America sustainable farming experience/knowledge Experience living in a developing country (preferably within Latin America) Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or Wilderness First Aid certified Compensation: You will be paid a monthly stipend of $500, in addition to free room and board in the Bamboo House Research Station. Your yearlong visa costs will also be covered. You will need to cover your own travel costs to/from Ecuador, but once in Ecuador all work-related domestic travel will be covered by TMA. Although the monthly stipend may not seem much by U.S. or European standards, this amount is more than sufficient for Ecuadorian standards, especially considering that your room and board is covered. Before you begin work, you will undergo a two-month training period with the current Manager of Permaculture Operations; the first month will be un-paid (but includes all room and board), the second month will be paid. Start Date: Ideally, the training session would begin with the winter internship session, which is January 5, 2015. This would be optimal. However, if an especially strong candidate is not able to arrive to Ecuador until February, we will still consider him/her. The latest starting training date is February 3, 2015, but candidates who can start by January 5th will be given priority. Amenities and Other Info: Full room and board are offered in the Bamboo House Research Station, which, despite being in the middle of the forest, is quite comfortable beds with good mattresses and mosquito netting; kitchen and shower and a bathroom with spectacular views of the river valley; 10 hammocks strung along the balcony and the living area, and waterfalls right in our backyard. You will have your own private bedroom. We eat fresh and local, healthily and abundantly, with little-to-no meat. Everyone shares cooking and house maintenance responsibilities. Electricity is only available for recharging batteries when our solar panel is working. Otherwise charging capabilities are available in the neighboring town of Camarones. At night we use candles, flashlights, or headlamps. The beach town of Pedernales is 25 km away, and has internet access, ATMs and banks, a hospital, hotels, eateries, pharmacies and hardware stores, etc. How to Apply: Before applying, thoroughly review the Third Millennium Alliance website (www.tmalliance.org), especially the FAQ, Program Description, and Disclaimer documents found on the internship page. Then, if interested in applying for this position, please send resume, cover letter, and two references to [email protected] and [email protected] with the subject heading: MANAGER OF PERMACULTURE YOUR NAME. Applications due November 17, 2014.
