Job Advertisement
A long-term vulture monitoring and conservation project in Tanzania is looking
for a Project Manager.
Background:
African vultures have declined by up to 90% in the past 30 years, with most species
Critically Endangered. Since 2013, North Carolina Zoo (NC Zoo) has been committed to
vulture conservation in southern Tanzania, and more recently northern Tanzania.
Working in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the first
systematic assessments and long-term monitoring were undertaken to understand the
population status and identify key threats for endangered vulture species. Initially
working in the Ruaha-Katavi landscape, we expanded our work to the greater Selous
ecosystem in 2018. In expanding our work we have formed important partnerships with
NGOs such as Lion Landscapes, Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Grumeti Fund,
whilst also working closely with the wildlife authorities in each protected area.
Whilst Tanzania is a stronghold for vultures, we have recorded worrying population
declines, corroborated by high annual mortality amongst tagged vultures. This led to
joint efforts by NC Zoo and the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) to develop
the first national action plan for vultures at the end of 2023, which sets a framework for
scaled-up and coordinated efforts amongst all stakeholders to reduce the declines of
these iconic birds.
As scavengers, vultures play a vital role in ecosystem services (waste and disease
removal, climate change mitigation), and their wide-ranging behaviour means they
function as landscape level indicators of ecosystem health, alerting us to disease
outbreaks, poisoning events and other illegal activities. These threats often impact other
endangered species such as lions and elephants. The greatest threat to vultures in
Tanzania is poisoning, both intentionally, such as trade in vulture body parts and
unintentionally, linked to predator control. In addressing vulture conservation concerns,
which will directly benefit other threatened species e.g. carnivores, we primarily need to
reduce poisoning incidents. To this end, we have expanded our project to include
community work within the central part of the Ruaha-Katavi landscape, an area with
poisoning activity but without conservation interventions. After baseline surveys were
completed this year, NC Zoo has developed a community training which is being trialed.
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Position overview:
We are looking for a Project Manager to help coordinate the community work, and
organize and implement the long-term vulture monitoring activities. The position will be
based out of Iringa, although travel to field sites will be expected. The Project Manager
will be responsible for the daily running of the vulture project work in Tanzania, as well
as communication between different partners and other stakeholders, report writing,
accounting, logistics and problem solving. Key management roles and responsibilities
are outlined below.
Main responsibilities:
1. Long-term vulture monitoring
• Organize and conduct road transects and telemetry, after sufficient skills
development has been acquired through training with the Vulture Program
Manager.
• Ensuring rapid response to tagged vulture mortality, either liaising with partners
or personally following up, so timely action can prevent secondary poisoning.
• Ensure accurate crime scene analysis, including sample collection for
understanding which toxins are used.
2. Poison Response training
• Initially assist the Vulture Program Manager to conduct 2-day poison response
trainings to rangers, village game scouts and other stakeholders,
• Over time, the PM will lead such trainings and organize all materials needed.
3. Community engagement and conflict monitoring
• Oversight to the Community Liaison Officer and ensure workplans are developed
and implemented.
• Ensure there is effective communication with the local villagers
• Ensure monitoring and response to wildlife killings occurs in a timely manner.
• Involvement in community trainings and household surveys where necessary,
ensuring these aspects of the project are run smoothly from an organizational
and logistical perspective.
4. Communication with project partners and other stakeholders
• Ensure regular, detailed and clear communication across the team, our partners,
other researchers, NGOs and authorities via direct communication, phone calls,
emails, and reports.
• Develop social media posts which can be used to update and engage
stakeholders about our work.
5. Personnel management
• Function as the onsite manager of all personnel employed by the vulture project
– this will include support to Tanzanian interns and students.
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• Help with future recruiting of local staff as the project grows, as well as training,
guiding, and monitoring their performance.
• Ensure all personnel are attending to their duties, taking care of any equipment,
collecting and reporting data in an accurate and timely way, and acting
responsibly with project resources.
6. Data collection and publications
• Ensure the high-quality and accuracy of any data collected.
• Ensure regular uploading of data by project personnel and that data are backed
up.
• If interested and demonstrating appropriate skills, can play a key role in helping
write up publications based on the data, both for peer-reviewed articles and
popular articles.
7. Finances and reporting
• Responsibility for all financial transactions, requests, budgets, and accounting, as
per the project protocols.
• Submit internal monthly reports, as well as for grant and permit obligations, etc.
Desired Skills and Experience:
Applicants MUST possess the following skills and experience – candidates without these
qualifications will not be considered:
▪ Degree (BSc or above) in Conservation Biology, Ecology or related field
environmental field.
▪ Minimum of 5 years’ experience in conservation work.
▪ Available within the next 3 months and be able to commit to the post for at least
2 years.
▪ Previous experience working and living at remote field sites; able to live in the
bush with no running water and limited electricity.
▪ Previous experience managing teams: preference will be given to candidates
with proven knowledge regarding the tasks outlined above.
o Previous experience working with communities, particularly within a
human-wildlife coexistence paradigm.
▪ Fluent spoken and written KiSwahili and English.
▪ Valid driver’s license, with proven ability to drive 4-wheel drive vehicles safely in
the bush and on rough roads.
The successful candidate would also have the following skills and experience:
▪ Computer skills including the Office suite and statistical software.
▪ Proficiency using GPS units and the ability to use GIS software for mapping.
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▪ Skilled personnel management.
▪ Able to work independently, self-motivated, and reliable, and able to
communicate directly, clearly, and in a timely manner.
▪ Good problem-solving abilities, able to actively and constructively respond to
any issues or problems that arise with the project.
▪ Experience with budgets and is highly organized and responsible.
▪ Wilderness safety skills and cultural sensitivity.
▪ Experience with scientific data collection, data entry, analysis, and write up.
▪ Comfortable with public speaking and writing in English for a variety of
audiences including scientific community, social media, and local people.
How to apply:
If you are interested in applying for this position, please email Claire Bracebridge
([email protected]) and copy Corinne Kendall ([email protected]),
using ‘Project Manager’ as the email subject. Only highly suitable candidates will be
replied to and contacted for interview.
Your application should be submitted not later than 25th day of September 2024.
Thank you for your interest.
