JOB TITLE: Aldabra Rat and Cat Eradication Project Officer (Feasibility Phase) x2
SALARY: Subject to qualifications and experience
REPORTING TO: RaCE Team Leader, Aldabra Science Coordinator (ASC), RaCE/CEPF Manager
START DATE: 01/02/2024
DURATION: 1 year (renewable for 1 further year)
LOCATION: Aldabra Atoll (field-based, including long camping trips with basic facilities)
SALARY RANGE: Salary Grade 9
INCLUDES: 1 return flight, transport to and from Aldabra, food while on camp
The project officer positions will provide essential support in the Aldabra rat and cat eradication (RaCE) preparation and feasibility phase. The RaCE project officers will assist the RaCE team leader and senior project officer in conducting all fieldwork for feasibility trials, including trapping, marking, culling, measuring and dissections of target species (rats and cats), baiting trials, setting camera traps, and establishing and maintaining transects. The project officers will also assist with ecological monitoring and field work on non-target species. Office work will include data entry, image uploading/checking/ summarising, and contributions to reports. The candidates will need to ensure strict adherence to project protocols, meticulous data entry, and reporting of field data/observations and challenges or problems in a timely way to the team leader. The project officers will also be responsible for creating media content and project updates (e.g. pictures and footage from the field, social media posts). Project officers will receive advanced on-the-job training in all aspects of the work but previous experience is also required.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
These positions require:
• Two passionate and competent young conservation professionals with an excellent work ethic and a strong interest in and passion for island restoration and IAS management (essential)
• Graduate-level education in environmental science/conservation (essential), or equivalent
• 2+ years of remote fieldwork experience of ecological monitoring and/or IAS control and research (ideally in Seychelles/Indian Ocean) (essential)
• Experience entering and checking data (essential)
• Experience handling/marking animals (desirable)
• Experience with baiting, camera trapping and/or rodent trapping (desirable)
• Experience writing reports and/or media content and/or other formats (desirable)
SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:
• Strong interest in and awareness of conservation and especially IAS practice (essential)
• Excellent work ethic (essential)
• Demonstrated problem-solving and can-do attitude and a passion to learn and develop their skills in conservation and IAS management (essential)
• Understanding of the importance of meticulous adherence to protocols including animal ethical procedures (essential)
• Thorough and careful approach to data entry and cleaning (essential)
• Excellent physical fitness and ability to swim (essential)
• Good communication skills (essential)
• First aid qualification (desirable)
• Small tiller boat license (desirable)
APPLICATIONS
Interested applicants should send a CV and a cover letter addressing why they are interested in the post and how they meet the criteria to nancy@sif.sc and hr@sif.sc. Candidates that do not meet requirements will not be considered. The deadline for applications is Friday 8th December 2023. Late applicants will only be considered if the positions cannot be filled.