Manage the GVI Ecuador Amazon expedition base and competently oversee all expedition logistics and activities including multi-taxa biodiversity surveys in the neotropics, whilst supporting The Yachana Foundation and other local partner organisations. The successful applicant will be expected to lead a strong staff team and an ever changing group of volunteers in all expedition activities, both in scientific research and supporting community-based sustainable development, including teaching English. This is an all encompassing and extremely challenging role.
Salary
Competitive salary
Number of positions available: 1
Organisation
GVI owns and operates more than 150 volunteer programs in over 40 countries worldwide. We are one of the world’s largest independent volunteer program providers and have worked for over 10 years to supply quality volunteer programs across the globe. Every year over 3000 volunteers join programs from 1 week to over 1 year. Our programs are regularly featured in the world’s press and scientific and humanitarian publications for their great achievements in the field. Through its international network of over 175 personnel in over 40 countries GVI continues to support many of the most critical conservation and humanitarian projects around the globe. GVI is incredibly proud of its culture. We believe in what we do and are totally committed to providing the very best programs and volunteer experiences. Although we work hard we have a tremendous amount of fun. Come and meet us to see why so many people want to work with GVI at home or abroad.
Responsibilities
* Train, supervise and lead volunteers
* Logisitic, budget and programme management
* Data analysis and reporting
* Field research activities
* Maintain high health and safety standards
* Maintenance of base and equipment
* Community development activities
* Oversee the smooth running of the GVI Amazon base
* Manage a team of field staff and report directly to the Country Director
Qualifications Required
* BSc or MSc in one of the following fields: botany, medicinal plants, wildlife biology, zoology, tropical ecology, entomology, herpetology, conservation, forestry, or other relevant scientific discipline
* Experience is essential as well as proven field experience preferably in a tropical environment
* Excellent group/people management skills with a minimum of 2 years work experience
* Fluent English & strong Spanish language skills are a must!
* Strong report/publication writing skills
* Current CPR/First Aid certificate
* Ability to accept basic communal living with very long hours in hot & humid/wet conditions during 10-week phases
Qualifications Desired
* Demonstrated field study experience (preferably tropical rainforest experience)
* Working knowledge of medicinal plant identification
* Working knowledge of one or several animal groups
* Rainforest field guide or naturalist experience
* Experience mist-netting and handling birds and/or bats
* Amphibian or small mammal trapping and handling experience
* Teacher qualification in the fields of biological sciences, conservation, environmental education or community development
* TEFL/TESOL qualification
* Emergency First Aid (EFR) Instructor qualification
* Proficiency in SPSS and GIS ArcView packages
Other Details
Applicants should be fit and in good health, enthusiastic, flexible and hard-working, with excellent management, personnel and leadership skills. Expedition experience essential. Field research experience, teaching experience, community development experience, all advantageous. For full details of the Amazon expedition please see GVI’s volunteer recruitment website www.gvi.co.uk/expeditions
Conditions
Conditions are basic, living in shared accommodation with running water and limited power. Staff have their own rooms on base (sharing with 1 other staff member). Camp duty tasks such as cleaning and cooking are shared amongst the volunteers and overseen by staff members. Satellite camps involve camping in tents or jungle hammocks. Days can be long and physically demanding.
Included
* Food
* Accommodation
* All travel for expedition activities
For more info, contact:
http://www.gvi.co.uk/about-us/careers/details/1133