Senior Associate, Research & Policy – High Altitude Programme

The Snow Leopard Trust (SLT; http://www.snowleopard.org/) is an international not-for-profit organization that seeks to conserve the snow leopard and its habitat based on effective conservation action backed with sound science and partnerships with local communities and Government agencies. In India, SLT carries out its activities jointly with the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore (NCF; http://www.ncf-india.org/) under its High Altitude Program. NCF is dedicated to promoting science-based, socially responsible wildlife conservation in India.

The current opportunity is for a key position to coordinate research, wildlife management and policy work in the Indian Himalaya. The candidate will form a link between the SLT India Program Director (Senior Scientist at NCF), and the Research Scholars, Field Coordinators and other field staff. The position requires spending considerable time at field locations in challenging environmental conditions in the Indian Himalaya, that include Spiti, Ladakh and other high altitude locations as well as extensive traveling. Among other aspects, the position will be responsible for carrying out research, student supervision, training, programmatic fund raising and coordination with relevant Government and Non-Government agencies. The position will ensure constant communication and feedback to the India Program Director (IPD). The candidate will also be responsible for writing and publishing the outcomes of the work in scientific and popular domains.


RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific responsibilities for this position include –

• Assist and ensure timely and proper preparation and implementation of the Annual Plans
• Monitor student research project progress and assist in fund raising.
• Along with the IPD, and other SLT-NCF staff, raise funds for research, conservation planning and capacity enhancement.
• Carry out the research, conservation planning and capacity enhancement with all identified project partners.
• Communicate relevant findings to peer reviewed and popular publications.
• Make presentations about the work at annual meetings of NCF and in seminars/conferences/workshops.
• Contribute to capacity building of field staff through training workshops and assigning clear duties/work with periodic assessment of their skills.
• Explore new opportunities to expand the scope and impact of the SLT-NCF work.
• Assist and help senior staff members and visitors in field.
• Stay in regular contact with the IPD through email and telephone for updating the progress of all work.

QUALIFICATIONS

A candidate with good scientific and communication skills is ideal for this job. The position requires skills of managing projects and people with a combination of scientific and humanitarian perspectives. Prior experience in handling these aspects, independent decision-making, research, data collection, analysis, networking and publication of results would be useful.

· A PhD degree in wildlife sciences/ecology/forest management or equivalent and experience of independent handling of projects and people is desirable.

· Strong skills of ecological data collection methods, statistical analysis, GIS analyses and writing scientific reports is important.

· Preparedness to work in challenging field situation with minimal assistance and infrastructure.

· Good interpersonal skills, flexibility and intuitive abilities.

· Clear understanding of and strict adherence to work ethic, goals of work/organisation and deadlines.

· Skills in report writing, preparation of project proposals and coordinating field work in distant and often remote locations with field staff.

· Experince of carrying out ecological and human ecology work in the Himalaya is desirable

· Positive attitude/openness towards the culture, religious identities and traditional wisdom of local communities.


LOCATION and REMUNERATION

This position is headquartered in Mysore, but over 6-months of fieldwork is expected each year. Remuneration will be commensurate with the applicant’s qualifications and experience and subject to periodic/annual assessment and increments. The candidate will be on probation for a year after selection.


APPLICATION

Please apply with CV and a brief outline not exceeding one page of why you believe this job is appropriate for you to yash@ncf-india.org before 31 January 2011. However, the position will be available till a suitable candidate is identified.

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