CURATOR & HEAD KEEPER OF BIRDS
The Angkor Centre
for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) was established in 2003 by Allwetterzoo
Münster and the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and
Populations (ZGAP). It was one of the first nature conservation centres in
Cambodia, located within Phnom Kulen National Park at the trailhead to the
historic site of Kbal Spean, about 50km north of Siem Reap Town and the UNESCO
World Heritage Site of Angkor. The animal collection at ACCB currently includes
approximately 630 individuals from about 40 species of birds, mammals, and
reptiles.
The primary goals of the Angkor Centre for Conservation of
Biodiversity are:
ü To
promote the rescue of selected native Cambodian wildlife and to provide
adequate rehabilitation and release facilities while ensuring the maintenance
of internationally recognized standards.
ü To
provide facilities and technical expertise for the conservation breeding of
selected threatened species, and to initiate and carry out appropriate
reintroduction programs.
ü To
serve as an education and training centre for communities, wildlife officials
and visitors to the centre in order to increase awareness of and build capacity
for conservation and environmental protection and management, and to promote
the sustainable use of natural resources.
ü To
initiate and participate in wildlife conservation and research activities in
Cambodia, including in situ conservation activities, species recovery efforts,
biodiversity inventories and natural resource-use assessment, and to provide
information to support management recommendations for protected
areas.
ACCB currently
offers an exciting and unique opportunity for a Curator & Head Keeper of
Birds to join a team of passionate conservationists! Besides working with a
variety of species of diurnal raptors, owls, parakeets and other avian species
native to Cambodia, the successful candidate will be working on establishing
conservation breeding programmes for Giant Ibis, White-shouldered Ibis and
Greater Adjutant Stork and improve existing programmes for Green Peafowl,
Lesser Adjutant and Woolly-necked Storks.
Beyond that, she or
he will share the responsibility for ACCB’s mammal collection with the Curator
& Head Keeper of Reptiles.
This is a
challenging but rewarding position for a highly dedicated and motivated
individual with a keen interest in making a contribution towards conservation.
In addition, she or he will have to be prepared to support a variety of other
activities at ACCB as required, such as covering of the Curator & Head
Keeper of Reptiles when needed, assisting the Veterinarian, helping with
environmental education, maintenance, administration, participation in special
events, or fundraising. The Curator & Head Keeper of Birds is required to
live permanently on-site and to be on call for emergencies.
Main Duties and
Responsibilities
The Curator &
Head Keeper of Birds plans, makes recommendations and implements all aspects of
animal arrivals, husbandry, record keeping, enrichment, breeding, display and
rehabilitation and release with a focus on birds.
Furthermore, she or
he will manage parts of ACCB’s mammal collection (mostly small carnivores).
The successful
candidate will work closely with the Curator & Head Keeper of Reptiles, the
Veterinarian and (regarding releases) with the Field Conservation Manager and
report to the Project Manager. She or he will participate in the long-term
planning for the ACCB with regards to conservation breeding programmes, animal
husbandry, animal facilities and staff developments in the Animal Department.
Main duties and
responsibilities of the Curator & Head Keeper of Birds are:
§ Supervise
and carry out all aspects of animal husbandry and rehabilitation;
environmental, dietary and sensory enrichment; preparation for release and
animal record keeping
§ Develop,
recommend and implement protocols, standards and guidelines relating to animal
husbandry, conservation breeding, enrichment and preparation for release in
order to ensure ACCB’s animal collection receives the best husbandry and care
possible by international standards
§ Oversee
and carry out all aspects of animal training and operant conditioning of the
permanent animal collection to enhance animal welfare, enrichment and safety
§ Carry
out and supervise all aspects of artificial incubation of avian eggs and
special care for neonates and juveniles
§ Collaborate
with the team of the Animal Department in all aspects of hand-rearing of
rescued juveniles/orphans of a variety of taxa where necessary
§ Collaborate
with the Project Manager, Field Conservation Manager, and Animal Department
Team in pre-release assessments of animals prior to (re-)introduction to the
wild
§ Coordinate
closely with the Field Conservation Department regarding release sites or
post-release monitoring when required
§ Coordinate
and conduct animal rescues and releases
§ Carry
out animal observations with regards to health issues and behaviour and inform
the Veterinarian when illness or injury is suspected
§ Assist
the Veterinarian with animal treatments
§ Participate
in research projects and scientific publications if required
§ Identify
issues with and make suggestions on how to achieve genetically diverse breeding
populations, including arrangement of animal transfers with other institutions
§ Continually
learn and adapt techniques to optimize animal husbandry and breeding success
§ Coordinate
closely with the Project Manager in the design, modification and building of
enclosures
§ Perform
routine inspection of enclosures for cleanliness and structural defects and
perform minor maintenance and repair of animal enclosures when feasible
§ Identify
safety hazards within the Animal Department and develop mitigations
§ Co-Supervise
the animal keeping team with the Curator & Head Keeper of Reptiles; provide
leadership to all subordinate employees and develop training plans
§ Ensure
the training and development of staff expertise in animal husbandry, animal
training, conditioning and enrichment
§ Develop
and implement safety guidelines and train subordinate staff members regularly
in all safety procedures and considerations; oversee the compliance of the
safety guidelines
§ Assist
in the supervision of interns, students or volunteers in collaboration with the
senior staff
§ Keep
and report animal records, maintain and improve databases for all animal
management records (ZIMS and other software)
§ Develop
and improve existing standard operating procedures for the Animal Department
§ Report
writing
§ Prepare
budget plans in close collaboration with the Curator & Head Keeper of
Reptiles and the Project Manager
§ Prepare
budget requests and responsibly manage the allocated budget for the animal
welfare and conservation breeding programmes
§ Purchase
and organization of animal food, supplies and enclosure-maintenance materials
Requirements
§ A
degree in zoology, biology, conservation, animal behavior, zoo keeping or
related field, or proven equivalent work experience
§ Proven
working experience with a variety of avian species in a zoo, rescue centre,
breeding centre or similar working environment is required
§ A
keen interest in conservation is essential
§ Experience
in hand-rearing of avian neonates is required
§ Experience
in artificial incubation is required
§ Experience
in falconry techniques and their application to the rehabilitation of birds of
prey would be an advantage
§ Working
experience with mammals and chelonians would be an advantage
§ Demonstrable
experience in staff training and capacity building would be an advantage
§ Excellent
administration, organization and communication skills
§ Sound
knowledge of wildlife and habitat conservation, especially with regards to
Southeast Asian conservation issues
§ Good
command of English (spoken and written)
§ Good
improvisational and practical skills
§ Flexibility
and ability to cope with a sometimes heavy workload (also on weekends and
possible night shifts) and to multi-task in a demanding environment
§ Ability
to live and work under simple conditions in a rural area. Some previous
experience of working/living in developing countries and/or in tropical
climates would be an advantage
§ Computer
literacy with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office. ZIMS experience would be
an advantage
§ Physically
fit and able to work in a hot and humid climate
§ Team-working
skills and ability to work in a multi-national team
§ Cultural
sensitivity
§ A
clean driving license for cars
Conditions/remuneration:
§ Free
shared accommodation (private room with access to shared bathroom, kitchen and
living room), water, electricity and internet at ACCB, located at Kbal Spean in
Phnom Kulen National Park
§ Airfare
to/from site if required, including one return flight per year (for contracts
>1 year)
§ Health
Insurance expenses will be reimbursed up to 1000 USD per year
§ Full-time
work (usually from 7-11 am and 1-5 pm), with flexibility as required and
on-call availability for emergencies
§ 6
days off per month
§ 30
days annual leave per calendar year
§ The
salary provided will be sufficient to allow for a comfortable living in
Cambodia
Closing date:
Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled
Preference will be
given to candidates indicating that they are prepared to stay for longer
periods (minimum 1 year). Short-listed candidates will be notified for a Skype
interview in due course.
Starting date: as
soon as possible
Please apply as soon
as possible via email (not exceeding 10 MB) including cover letter, CV and the
contact details of two references to:
Mr. Michael
Meyerhoff, ACCB Project Manager
Peter Dickinson
Independent International Zoo Consultant        |
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