Technical Advisor - Free the Bears

Technical Advisor

Free the Bears

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Start Date: January 2015 or as soon as possible thereafter

Duration of Contract: One year renewable contract, with expectation to extend based upon performance and funding availability

Probation Period: Three months

Benefits: For successful candidates, benefits apply as follows:

• Four (4) weeks annual leave entitlement per calendar year

• Twelve (12) National Holidays per calendar year

• Annual return flight to country of residence following completion of one year service (where applicable)

• Medical evacuation & in-patient health insurance

• Accommodation in Luang Prabang

Location: Luang Prabang, with visits to other sites in Laos, plus other focal countries when required

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, working 40 hours per week

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Technical Advisor

Department: Laos Programme

Responsible to: Laos Programme Manager

Responsible for: Sanctuary staff

Purpose: To build the capacity of the local keeping staff in order to attain best levels of care for rescued bears. To create a volunteer programme to continue the drive of the sanctuary to become sustainable.

Main Duties: Under the supervision of the Laos Programme Manager, the Technical Advisor will be expected to operate under the following guidelines:

Main duties

• Maintain records of enrichment and other supplies used on a monthly basis, carrying out frequent stock checks

• Assist in enclosure design and implementation

• Keep accurate animal keeping records

Animal Husbandry

• Work in conjunction with all staff to maintain the highest levels of husbandry for the bears at TKSBRC

• Ensure local staff are trained in positive reinforcement of bears for medical and husbandry management

• Continue to develop and implement the enrichment programme

• Control the monthly diet and husbandry of rescued bears

• Work alongside local keepers to monitor bears health and behaviours

• Oversee the social interactions of groups of bears

• Coordinate the enrichment programme for the bears at the rescue centre

• Monitor the progress and development of any bear cubs ensuring that information is passed to LPM on a regular basis

Volunteer Programme

• Arrange reservations for all participants of the Volunteer Programme and Research Programme

• Provide a focal point for short-term volunteers with regards to questions, activities and any other issues that may arise

• Organise volunteer memberships and volunteer rewards with other Free the Bears departments

Administration & Capacity Building

• Assist with all aspects of the monthly accounting ensuring reports are submitted in a timely manner

• When required, and in line with the objective of transferring skills to local staff, employee is expected to assist the local staff in

the following administration duties of their role at TKSBRC:

o Electronic mail enquiries

o Finalising monthly budgets

o Monthly progress report for TKSBRC

Education & Awareness

• When required, and in line with the objective of transferring skills to local staff, employee is responsible for ensuring the

following tasks are completed:

o Assisting with group visits to TKSBRC

o Assist the Education Programme staff with monthly reporting

Fundraising & Donations

• Sourcing donated materials required for care of the bears at the TKSBRC

• In line with the sponsorship packages of Free the Bears, collate information on sponsored bears

• Greet any Free the Bears Supporters or Members who wish to visit the sanctuary and provide a guided tour

Required Outputs

• Demonstrated capacity-building of Tat Kuang Si Rescue Centre staff bringing improved levels of care and management of the

bear population and the centre as a whole

• Successful implementation of Standard Operating Policies and other organisational protocols

• Growth in the Visitor programmes

• Regular reports received in a timely and professional manner

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications, consisting of a cover letter in English explaining why you feel you should be considered for this post, a full CV in English and contact details for two referees should be submitted to vacancy@freethebears.org

Please mark your application ‘Application: Technical Advisor’ and indicate in your covering letter where you saw this position advertised.

The closing date for applications is 16 January 2015 with interviews being conducted in the following weeks. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted by email or telephone by 23 January 2015 – please specify your preferred method of contact in your covering letter.

Regrettably, due to limited resources and the high number of applications we receive, we are only able to contact short-listed candidates. If you do not hear from us within one week of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.

More information HERE