The Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon (ASA), a non-profit organization working in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon, is pleased to announce the position of Resident Naturalist beginning in December, 2017. The successful applicant will be based at Finca Las Piedras, the ASA’s field site in Peru’s Madre de Dios Department.
POSITION: Resident Naturalist LOCATION: Finca Las Piedras, Madre de Dios, Peru POSITION DURATION: Minimum 4 months START DATE: December 1, 2017 APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 22, 2017 JOB DESCRIPTION Resident Naturalists (RNs) work closely with ASA academic faculty and staff to facilitate ongoing biological research and monitoring, sustainable tropical agriculture, and community engagement and education programs at Finca Las Piedras, in Peru’s Madre de Dios Department. RNs are part of the public face of the ASA’s programs in Peru, and are part of a dynamic team of researchers, conservation and development professionals, and students from around the world. In addition to assigned tasks, naturalists are encouraged to develop individual projects within their areas of interest, which may include anything from community service activities to biological or agricultural research. This is a residency position, meaning that the successful applicant will live on site, full time. RNs receive the equivalent of one day off per week, although given the nature of field research and ongoing projects at the field site, time off will be scheduled to ensure that a staff member is always available on site daily. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Biological Research and Monitoring The ASA maintains a number of research and monitoring projects aimed at biodiversity conservation in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon. These include mammal, bird, and insect inventories and population monitoring, plant phenology, and rain forest dynamics plots, among others. RNs assist project leaders in data collection and entry, experimental design and setup, etc., as needed. Naturalists will also have the opportunity to assist visiting researchers when required. Sustainable Tropical Agriculture Activities at Finca Las Piedras include a variety of agricultural experiments, on site production of food for consumption at the station, and the use of compost and biochar, among others. RNs will assist in these as needed. Community Engagement and Education Naturalists will also assist ASA faculty and staff in a number of ongoing programs both at Finca Las Piedras and in Monterrey and Planchon, the nearest local communities to the field site. In particular, RNs spend a large amount of their time assisting the ASA’s volunteer and internship programs when these programs are active. Social Media Resident Naturalists contribute to outreach efforts on social media. Naturalists are required to create material for distribution across a variety of platforms each week, including Facebook, Instagram, and the ASA blog. General Duties In addition to the duties mentioned above, Naturalists will contribute to day-to-day operations and basic facilities maintenance. General duties may include, but are not limited to: * Daily weather station readings * Guide/interpret/translate guided natural history hikes * Logistical support for academic programs * Assist other departments (e.g., kitchen, maintenance) as needed REQUIREMENTS * Minimum 4 month commitment required * Minimum bachelor’s degree in natural or environmental sciences or related field * Fluency in English (required) * At least basic Spanish (preferred) * Experience working/living abroad, especially in the tropics (preferred) * Teaching experience (preferred) * Enthusiasm and strong work ethic * Flexibility in schedule and work environment * Maturity/must live with and work well with others in close setting * Excellent physical condition * Traveler’s insurance (proof required upon acceptance) * CPR/first aid certification (proof required upon acceptance) TRAINING Upon arrival at Finca Las Piedras, Resident Naturalists undergo an intensive, one-week training period. Naturalists are given an overview of current projects spanning the ASA’s three interrelated focal areas: biological research and monitoring, sustainable tropical agriculture, and community engagement and education, as well as the methodologies used for research and outreach work in these areas. Naturalists will also be trained informally throughout the duration of their term at Finca Las Piedras. COMPENSATION This is an unpaid position. However, all room and board is provided on-site at Finca Las Piedras, 7 days per week, for the duration of the appointment. Work-related local transportation, including pickup from the Puerto Maldonado airport (PEM) or bus terminal, is covered. Resident Naturalists are responsible for their international flight to Peru, including airfare, taxes, airport fees, flight insurance, etc.), and domestic air or land travel to Puerto Maldonado. HOW TO APPLY The following are required to apply for this position: 1. A cover letter of interest 2. Current CV/resume with contact information for two references 3. Most recent unofficial university transcript Completed applications should include each of the three required items, and should be submitted as a single PDF document, in the order listed above, by the application deadline (September 22, 2017). Document title should read: “last name”_“RN application”.pdf Send completed applications to: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> with “Resident Naturalist application” in the subject line.
