Thursday, June 9, 2022

CURATOR for Ex-situ Conservation

CURATOR for Ex-situ Conservation

The Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) is a species conservation project of the Allwetterzoo Münster, Germany, and has been established in 2003 in collaboration with the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP). It is one of the first nature conservation centres in Cambodia and is located within Phnom Kulen National Park, not far from Siem Reap and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor. The ACCB currently houses approximately 1000 individuals belonging to about 45 species of mammals, reptiles and birds native to Cambodia. Roughly 97% of the individuals at the ACCB belong to a species classified as threatened by IUCN.

The primary goals of the ACCB are:

● 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.

● To provide facilities and technical expertise for the conservation breeding of selected threatened species, and to initiate and carry out appropriate reintroduction programs.

● To serve as an education and training center for communities, wildlife officials and visitors to the center 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.

● 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 for Ex-situ Conservation with an affinity for birds, waterbirds in particular, to join a team of passionate conservationists. The successful candidate will be working on continuing, improving, and further establishing of conservation management programs for some of Cambodia’s rarest bird species such as the Giant Ibis, White-shouldered Ibis, Bengal Florican and Greater Adjutant Stork adjutants, and other threatened bird species native to Cambodia.

Furthermore, he or she will be working with the other Curators for Ex-situ Conservation on establishing conservation breeding programs for some of Cambodia’s rarest chelonian species such as the Southern River Terrapin, Elongated Tortoise, and Giant Asian Pond Turtle, and he or she will share the responsibility for ACCB’s mammal collection.

In addition, he/she will have to be prepared to support a variety of other activities at ACCB as required. The Curator for Ex-situ Conservation is required to live on-site and is expected to be on call for emergencies. This is a challenging but rewarding position for a highly dedicated and motivated individual with a keen interest in contributing towards conservation in Southeast Asia.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Curator for Ex-situ Conservation plans, makes recommendations and implements all aspects of animal arrivals, husbandry, record keeping, enrichment, breeding, display and rehabilitation and release for all species at the center but with a main focus on birds.

The successful candidate will work closely with the other Curators for Ex-situ Conservation and the Veterinarian and report to the Country Director. He or she will participate in the long-term planning for the ACCB with regards to conservation breeding programs, animal husbandry, animal facilities and staff developments in the Animal Department.

Main duties and responsibilities of Curator for Ex-situ Conservation are:

▪ Provide highest standards of animal husbandry, rehabilitation and release for a diverse group of threatened bird, chelonian and mammal species

▪ Assistance with the establishment and the implementation of protocols, standards and guidelines relating to animal husbandry, conservation breeding, rehabilitation and release

▪ Carry out and supervise all aspects of egg care and incubation, and hand-rearing and care for neonates and juveniles of a variety of taxa where necessary

▪ Collaborate with the country director, curator for in-situ conservation, and Animal Department Team in pre-release assessments of animals prior to (re-)introduction to the wild and coordinate and conduct animal rescues and releases

▪ Monitor animal health, and assist with veterinary care procedures as needed

▪ Participate in research projects and scientific publications as required

▪ Assist with facility maintenance, design, construction and renovation, and perform routine inspection of enclosures for cleanliness and structural defects

▪ Identify safety hazards and develop mitigations

▪ Co-supervise the animal keeping team; providing leadership, training and capacity building

▪ Supervision of students, interns and volunteers as needed

▪ Keep accurate animal records, including using the ZIMS animal management database

▪ Report writing, assisting in fundraising activities and grant application writing as needed

▪ Prepare budget requests and responsibly manage allocated budgets

▪ Purchase and organization of animal food, supplies and enclosure-maintenance materials

▪ Help to ensure security of the facility by adhering to best practices and security guidelines as they are developed and implemented

▪ Representing the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity at meetings, workshops, and events as needed

▪ Other duties as assigned

Requirements

▪ A degree in zoology, biology, conservation, animal behavior, zoo keeping or related field, or proven equivalent work experience

▪ Proven working experience with birds in captivity at a zoo, conservation center, or similar working environment

▪ Strong interest in conservation issues in Southeast Asia, and Cambodia in particular

▪ Demonstrable experience in staff training and capacity building would be an advantage

▪ Good communication and organizational skills are essential

▪ Good English communication skills, oral and written

▪ Self-disciplined, highly motivated personality able to work independently as well as part of an international team

▪ Good improvisational and practical skills, willingness to take initiative

▪ Experience in facility design and construction would be an advantage

▪ Ability to live and work under basic 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 outdoors in a hot, humid climate for extended periods of time

▪ Be culturally sensitive

▪ 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 USD 1,000 per year

▪ Visa and work permit cost will be covered

▪ The position is full-time (8 hours) and will include working weekends, public holidays 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

Preference will be given to candidates indicating that they are prepared to stay for a longer period (>2 year).

Interested candidates are invited to send a Curriculum Vitae, a cover letter and the contact details of two references to application@accb-cambodia.org. Closing date for applications is: Friday, June 30^th. Please note that interviews may be held prior to the stated closing date. Only short-listed candidates will be notified

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