Position: Mammal Team Coordinator Organisation: Asociación Fauna Forever (FF), a Peru-registered non- profit organisation whose mission is to conserve wild nature, with an emphasis on humid tropical forests, via a combination of research in the natural and social sciences, promoting appropriate management systems for wild landscapes and natural resources, direct conservation actions, and the widespread sharing of knowledge through local, national and international communication programs.
Locations: Base, Puerto Maldonado (PEM); Field, multiple sites in the Amazon rainforest around the Madre de Dios Region of Peru Position reports to: Dr. Chris Kirkby, Director and Principal Investigator (PI) of FF Training period: 2 months (unsalaried), from date of arrival in Puerto Maldonado Salary: 1,400 Soles or equivalent in US Dollars (approx $470) per month (starting salary, on successful completion of training). Salary increase after 6 months, to 1,600 Soles or equivalent in US Dollars Other benefits: Free accommodation at the Fauna Forever house in Puerto Maldonado; Free meals and local transport on days when actively coordinating or supervising volunteers and interns or when working on specified tasks identified by the Director Start date: 15 March 2015 (or nearest possible date thereafter) Duration: Minimum 12 months, possible extension for a further 12 months MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 1. To ensure members of the Mammal Team maintain high standards of health and safety, particularly with regards to living in and travelling around PEM and field sites, and also when using and maintaining research equipment and materials. The task will involve (a) giving health and safety advice to new members of the team in formal and field settings; (b) following the incident management procedure, including full reporting of any incidents should they arise; (c) learning how and when to use health and safety equipment (eg. First Aid kit, stretcher, SPOT communicator); and (d) recommending improvements and assisting in the update of the organisation’s health and safety guidelines when required. 2. To receive, maintain, and in due course return field equipment used by the Mammal Team to carry out the tasks assigned to it, including research and training duties. Equipment will mean all items owned by FF but used by the team, including reading material (field guides, printed articles), sampling and measuring equipment, storage equipment, cameras, video and projecting equipment, transect maintenance equipment, and so forth. Health and safety items (First Aid kit, life jackets, stretcher, etc.), and even the organisation’s boats and outboard engines are a shared responsibility with other FF staff members. The task will involve (a) listing the items of equipment assigned from FF’s central equipment store; (b) maintaining the integrity of this equipment, including undertaking repairs when required; (c) overseeing the use of equipment by others, and identifying and correcting miss-use when required; (d) regular checks on the location and status of equipment (including potentially the FF boats and motors); and (e) returning equipment to the central store (or indicating to the Directors the location of equipment) when back in Puerto Maldonado; and (d) requesting the replacement of equipment in an opportune manner. The coordinator may be asked to help purchase items of equipment in Puerto Maldonado, for which receipts will be required. 3. To train volunteers and interns assigned to the Mammal Team in the sampling protocols and other methods used to study the diversity, population abundance, community structure, and habitat use of mammals. This task will involve (a) the design of new or the editing existing talks/presentations and practical sessions that will be given during the orientation and training periods shortly after the arrival of new volunteer and intern recruits; (b) providing constructive criticism and encouragement to volunteers and interns throughout their time with FF, to ensure they get the most out of the experience and contribute meaningfully to the data collection processes; (c) ensuring research teams do not conflict in their use of specific areas of forest, via frequent meetings to plan research activities. 4. To lead the collection of mammal and habitat data using the standard protocols established by the Principal Investigator (line transects, camera traps, track traps, auditory surveys), to incorporate the data in an error free manner into the central database, and to periodically analyse it. This task will involve (a) using standardised data collection sheets; (b) frequent transfer of data to the central database or directly to the PI; (c) using the EstimateS Program to calculate species diversity indices and rarefaction measures of diversity; (d) using the Distance Program to calculate the density of species; and (e) using SPSS, PAST, or other statistical packages to analyse sample effort, differences in time and space with respect to species diversity, density, and community structure, as well as multivariate analysis of biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic variables to help explain the patterns and differences observed. Training in the aforementioned programs will be provided by the PI as required. 5. To prepare and present a brief monthly report. This task will include (a) summary information of the sample effort for each method for the period concerned (e.g. number of km of transects walked, number of camera trap nights, etc.); (b) copies/images of the field datasheets whose data has been entered into the database; (c) summary tables and figures depicting the most salient results from any statistical analyses undertaken; (d) supervisory evaluations of each volunteer and intern assistant in the team (strengths, weaknesses, effort); and (e) general comments on the research sites, problems encountered, solutions implemented, identified threats to local mammal populations (e.g. encounters with bush-meat hunters), and so forth. 6. When it comes to publishing data, the PI and the coordinator have joint rights over the use of data collected by the coordinator. First author rights will go to the person who takes a lead in writing the drafts of a paper and who is responsible for liaising with journal editors. All co-authors should agree article contents before it goes to press. 7. To assist the Director and PI in collating information and imagery for use in funding proposals, technical reports, scientific papers, and institutional planning documents relating to the mammal team, as required. 8. To share in the task of keeping the FF House in Puerto Maldonado in a clean and tidy state, particularly with respect to the personal spaces assigned to the coordinator, and the common areas (including kitchen and living room), and similarly at field sites. 9. To coordinate with administrators and kitchen staff at field sites. This task will involve understanding the sleeping and eating arrangements at each site, ensuring new volunteer and intern arrivals are shown to their rooms, are given sheets and mosquito nets (as required), are give the correct plates of food (e.g. vegetarian options), and ensuring volunteers and interns clean their spaces regularly and that they participate in cleaning common areas that FF is responsible for. 10. To assist the Director and other FF staff (reservations manager, administrator) with logistics prior to groups travelling into the field. When purchasing products and services in Puerto Maldonado with FF funds, care must be taken to obtain legal receipts. 11. To contribute content (stories from the field and associated digital imagery and videos) for use on the organisation’s website, blog, Facebook, and other social media outlets. 12. Successful candidates will be required to bring and use their own laptop computer, digital camera, binoculars, flashlight, watch (accurate time piece), compass, tent, sleeping bag, field clothing, and sleeping bag. Mosquito nets, sheets, pillows and storage spaces are provided by FF. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE 1. Educated to Bachelors degree level (preferably Masters) in an environmental discipline (biology, ecology, environmental science, etc.), with at least 2 years of experience of field work in tough environments. Attendance at specialist courses dealing in mammal research techniques, Neotropical ecology, First Aid, database management, and/or data analysis are highly desirable. 2. Excellent knowledge of Neotropical mammal species and their identification (by sight, sound, and sign) is essential. Previous experience of leading field research, managing teams of field assistants, and writing reports and articles is highly desirable. Experience of working in humid tropical rainforest environments is an asset. 3. Knowledge of data analysis techniques and associated software (e.g. SPSS, PAST, Program R), Global Positioning System (GPS) hardware, Microsoft Office software, health and safety/risk management systems (including First Aid techniques), are highly desirable. 4. A good knowledge of English is required. A working knowledge of Spanish is desirable. 5. A mature, mentally-resilient, physically-fit, socially outgoing and results-driven person with a rigorous scientific outlook with regards to field research, who is keen to share his/her skills and to motivate others, who is able to function well as part of an international team, who respects different cultures and races, and who understands and shows commitment to long-term research as well as biodiversity and forest conservation will feel at home in this position. HOW TO APPLY Applicants are kindly requested to send an introductory letter summarising how their experience and skills fit the position requirements and responsibilities; a copy of their curriculum vitae or resume; and the name and contact details of two references, by 2 March 2015, in electronic form to the following person and email: Dr. Chris Kirkby <[email protected]> with cc to <[email protected]>
