Project Facilitator - Udzungwa Forest Project, Tanzania

Job Advertisement – Udzungwa Forest Project, Tanzania


Job Title: Project Facilitator

Location: Kilombero District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania

Salary: TSh600,000 monthly living allowance, free accommodation, one return flight annually from home country, plus other in-country expenses

Duration: One year, with potential to extend

Start date: 1st July 2013 (with some flexibility)

Deadline: 7th May 2013

Interviews: 23rd/24th May 2013

Job description: The award-winning Udzungwa Forest Project (UFP) is seeking a highly motivated individual to support its field team in the research, monitoring and conservation of threatened forests. The successful applicant will be expected to:

1. Facilitate the sound implementation of the UFP strategic plan for forest conservation, livelihood development and monitoring;

2. Provide technical input to the UFP adaptive management process;

3. Assist in the gathering of ecological and socio-economic data under an established forest conservation monitoring programme;

4. Advise and train project staff in the recording and storage of data to a high quality;

5. Summarise data in reports, bulletins and presentations for the UFP director, and for stakeholders including government officials, NGOs, industry partners and local communities;

6. Negotiate with land-owners and government for improved forest conservation;

7. Assist the UFP director in writing reports and research papers and in establishing a new charity;

8. Give presentations to project partners and international conferences;

9. Develop the English-language skills of senior project staff.

About the employer: UFP is a conservation project based in southern Tanzania, established and directed by Flamingo Land, which is home to the UK’s most visited zoo. The aim of the project is to better protect tropical forests through ecological monitoring, community education, capacity building and lobbying. UFP is based mostly in Magombera Forest, on the east of the breathtaking Udzungwa Mountains. The main emphasis of UFP is on the monitoring and management of indicators of forest conservation and the sustainability of human natural resource use. UFP’s all-Tanzanian team ensures that the project has a strong local connection, aiming to integrate fully with local communities and managers. Ultimately the goal is to develop sufficient in-country income generation and capacity among villages and management authorities, such that forest conservation can continue without external support. The project collaborates closely with four local villages, WWF Tanzania, the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group, Wild Things Safaris, the Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Centre, and Illovo Sugar Company who provided funding for this position. UFP receives technical support from the Centre for the Integration of Research, Conservation and Learning (CIRCLE), a University of York facility based at Flamingo Land.

Key selection criteria

ESSENTIAL

- Bachelors degree or higher in a relevant discipline (e.g. biology, zoology, botany, conservation, environmental science, environmental management)

- Passionate about conservation of the natural world

- Native English speaker

- Proven ability to learn at least one foreign language

- Experience working or volunteering in a developing country, preferably in Tanzania or elsewhere in East Africa

- Experience of working in remote locations

- Awareness of health and safety considerations of working in remote locations

- Practical experience of ecological monitoring methods

- Competent in the use of field survey equipment (especially GPS, maps and compass)

- Knowledge of basic statistical methods

- Computing skills including Microsoft Office, Excel, Powerpoint and Word

- Excellent presentation skills

- Excellent inter-personal skills

- Flexible approach to work

- Full driving license

DESIRABLE

- Experience of Geographical Information Systems

- Experience of working in tropical forest

- Experience of socio-economic survey methods

- Experience of working to a tight budget

- Good knowledge of the Swahili language

- Experience in environmental education

- Knowledge of the role of modern zoos in global biodiversity conservation

Application: Please e-mail a cover letter and cv including full contact details of two referees to circle@flamingoland.co.uk. Alternatively postal applications can be sent to Dr. Andrew R. Marshall, Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 4DP, UK. If you will be outside of the UK on 23rd-24th May, please indicate that you will require a Skype or phone interview.

Research Internship, CIRCLE

 

Research Internship, CIRCLE

 

Deadline for applications 10thOctober 2012 – Interviews to be held in mid-October

 

Title: Research Intern (Education Science).

 

Time period: 11 month (1stNovember 2012 – 30thSept 2013; dates flexible).

 

Pay: Voluntary (accommodation provided; £10 per week food voucher; subsidised food available in staff canteen; part-time vacancies in the on-site catering/retail outlets will be available during summer months; £10 per week food voucher; subsidised food available in staff canteen).

 

Working hours: Flexible. To be determined in agreement with CIRCLE staff upon arrival.

 

Qualifications needed: B.Sc. or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g. conservation, zoology, psychology, education, environmental science). New graduates or sandwich year students are encouraged.

 

Experience needed: None. However, proven willingness to gain experience beyond the standard university education is strongly recommended. The position would suit someone seeking to gain practical research experience and training for a career in education, conservation or zoo management.

 

Personal attributes: Hard working. Enthusiastic. Excellent inter-personal skills.

 

About CIRCLE: The Centre for the Integration of Research, Conservation and Learning is a collaborative initiative between the University of York (a Russell Group University and top 5 for Environmental Science in the UK) and the UK’s most visited zoo, Flamingo Land (Malton, North Yorkshire). The aim of CIRCLE is to carry out ground-breaking research that will contribute to the conservation of wild animals and places, and to disseminate the information in a manner that is accessible, interesting and fun.

 

About Flamingo Land: The zoo at Flamingo Land is part of a global network of zoos and aquariums working together to manage the captive population of threatened animals, to educate visitors on biodiversity conservation and to raise funds for conservation causes. Included among the 130 animal species at Flamingo Land are several animals on the European Endangered Species Program. The park is unique among UK zoos as the site is shared with a large theme park and holiday village. The diversity of attractions includes a record-breaking roller-coaster, acrobats from Tanzania, educational zoo trails and a wide variety of shows, cafes, bars and restaurants. With 1.3 million visitors in 2011, it is currently the UK’s fourth most visited tourist attraction (of those with an entrance fee), and the UK’s most visited zoo.

 

Job Description: The intern will be responsible for carrying out a research project on the effectiveness of education at Flamingo Land. The internship will begin with literature review and methodological planning under the guidance of experts in conservation biology and education from the University of York and Flamingo Land. The intern will also work closely with three interns already working on other aspects of zoo research. Education research is a growing field among zoological collections, and is important for understanding the best form of teaching practice for conveying environmental and conservation messages.

Research opportunities may therefore include interpretation of zoo signage, effectiveness of different animal exhibits for holding visitor attention, evaluation of teaching methods, and visitor surveys to determine the level of learning. Development of a scientific paper will be strongly encouraged and the intern will receive guidance in this. The intern will also make a final presentation on their work to zoo staff and at a relevant conference. There will also be an opportunity to attend lectures and practical classes in quantitative and qualitative methods. The intern will also be expected to assist with teaching primary school children and to help with other public engagement activities.

 

Submission requirements: cv, covering letter, full contact details for two referees (at least one from an institution of higher learning), copy of degree certificate (or most recent exam result transcript).

 

Postal applications: Dr. Andrew Marshall, Environment Department, University of York, YO10 5DD.

 

E-mail enquiries/applications: volunteers@flamingoland.co.uk.

 

Telephone enquiries: 07725 010100

 

For Your Information

How to Get a Job in a Zoo

How much does a Zookeeper earn

Research Internship, CIRCLE

Research Internship, CIRCLE

Deadline for applications 30th April 2012 – Interviews to be held in May

Title: Research Intern (four vacancies).

Time period: 1 year (1st October 2012 – 30th Sept 2013; dates flexible).

Pay: Voluntary (accommodation may be provided; part-time vacancies in the on-site catering and retail outlets will be available during summer months; subsidised food available in the staff canteen).

Working hours: Flexible. To be determined in agreement with zoo staff upon arrival.
Qualifications needed: Registration for B.Sc. or equivalent in a relevant field (e.g. conservation, zoology, psychology, education, environmental science). New graduates or sandwich year students are encouraged.

Experience needed: None. However, proven willingness to gain experience beyond the standard university education is strongly recommended. The position would suit someone seeking to gain practical research experience and training for a career in conservation, animal behaviour, education or zoo management.

Personal attributes: Hard working. Enthusiastic. Excellent inter-personal skills.

About CIRCLE: The Centre for the Integration of Research, Conservation and Learning is a collaborative initiative between the University of York (a world top 100 university and top 10 for teaching and research in the UK) and the UK’s most visited zoo, Flamingo Land (Malton, North Yorkshire). The aim of CIRCLE is to carry out ground-breaking research that will contribute to the conservation of wild animals and places, and to disseminate the information in a manner that is accessible, interesting and fun.

About Flamingo Land: The zoo at Flamingo Land is part of a global network of zoos and aquariums working together to manage the captive population of threatened animals, to educate visitors on biodiversity conservation and to raise funds for conservation causes. Included among the 130 animal species at Flamingo Land are several animals on the European Endangered Species Program. The park is unique among UK zoos as the site is shared with a large theme park and holiday village. The diversity of attractions includes a record-breaking roller-coaster, acrobats from Tanzania, educational zoo trails and a wide variety of shows, cafes, bars and restaurants. With 1.3 million visitors in 2011, it is currently the UK’s fourth most visited tourist attraction (of those with an entrance fee), and the UK’s most visited zoo.

Job Description: The four interns will be based at Flamingo Land and will each be responsible for carrying out a one-year research project in one of four disciplines (see page 2) under the guidance of experts in animal behaviour, conservation biology and education from the University of York and Flamingo Land. Interns will then undertake the research for a number of months before summarising their findings in a report. Development of a scientific paper will be strongly encouraged and interns will receive guidance in this. Interns will also make a final presentation on their work to zoo staff and at a relevant conference, and will be encouraged to participate in the general activities of the zoo, including fundraising events, meetings and public engagements. Interns will also have the opportunity to attend lectures and practical classes in applied ecology, quantitative methods using the advanced statistical package R, and other relevant courses at the University of York. There will also be opportunities to perform additional duties such as assisting in primary school classes, animal husbandry, library maintenance and presentations to the general public.

Submission requirements: cv, covering letter (stating one or more of the four research disciplines that you are interested in), full contact details for two referees (at least one from an institution of higher learning), copy of degree certificate (or most recent exam result transcript).

Postal applications: Dr. Andrew Marshall, Environment Department, University of York, YO10 5DD.

E-mail enquiries/applications: volunteers@flamingoland.co.uk
Telephone enquiries: 07725 010100

Four Disciplines of Research at Flamingo Land

1. Tropical Forest Conservation: Flamingo Land’s Udzungwa Forest Project (UFP) in Tanzania carries out conservation research on tropical forest management, habitat restoration and monkey population ecology. The research will assist the Director of Conservation Science in analysis of field data. Using these data Flamingo Land and UFP are developing a system for forest management driven by thorough research of ecosystem health and human livelihoods, with focus on the threatened forest of Magombera. The most recent data gathered will include various measures of success of conservation activities in the area, such as indicator animal populations, forest structure, environmental education and most importantly, rates of natural resource use. Other research data include population counts of endangered colobus monkeys, chameleons and duikers, and growth rates of trees in disturbed areas of forest. Together it is hoped that these data will contribute to understanding forest regeneration for reversing the disastrous effects of deforestation on plants and animals. The intern will also be encouraged to apply for grants to assist with fieldwork in Tanzania, and to assist with general fundraising and marketing.

2. Animal Management / Behaviour: The research will aim to understand the fundamentals of animal behaviour while also assisting in animal management. Potential animal behaviour projects are many and varied, and there will be opportunity to carry out short projects with a number of species. Longer-term research at Flamingo Land includes the scimitar-horned oryx, which is extinct in the wild. The zoo is keen to understand the behaviour of this animal in captivity such that one day it can be released back in its original range of north Africa. Other potential research projects include the evaluation of our innovative new Humboldt penguin exhibit and the assessment of visitor interaction with meerkats. The intern will also work closely with the Zoo Manager to research the decisions made by zoos in determining the diet of animals, and to help manage our European hammerkop studbook.

3. Education: Following a current Knowledge Transfer Partnership Grant for education research and development, Flamingo Land is striving to become a nationwide leader in zoo education science. Flamingo Land’s education program is linked to the national curriculum and covers various areas of wildlife conservation and natural history. The research will assist in the evaluation of various components of the education program, working closely with our Zoo Education Strategist. Education research is particularly rare among zoological collections, but will be important for understanding the best form of teaching practice for conveying environmental and conservation messages. Research opportunities will therefore include interpretation of zoo signage, effectiveness of different animal exhibits for holding visitor attention, evaluation of teaching methods and visitor surveys to determine how much people take away from a day out at the zoo.

4. Native Conservation: The 375 acre site at Flamingo Land has various areas of land
set aside for conservation of native wildlife, managed under the UK’s first formal Zoo Biodiversity Action Plan. The work includes close collaboration with The Woodland Trust, Ryedale District Council, the BIAZA Native Species Working Group and the David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme. British Trust for Ornithology bird ringers also work with zoo staff to survey native birds, bats and invertebrates. The research will help to understand the wildlife and develop habitat management. Although some data are already available, Flamingo Land is particularly keen to develop baseline data for all types of wildlife, especially trees, and rare or threatened target species. This year’s primary research project will be an investigation into the effectiveness of alternative visual deterrents for preventing wild birds from striking windows.

“CIRCLE gave me the opportunity and freedom to develop my CV.”

“Thanks to my time at CIRCLE I found a dream job in no time!”

“A fun year with some great people in a very unique place"

***

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