Zoo Jobs: CURATOR & HEAD KEEPER OF BIRDS

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

Email: application@accb-cambodia.org