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Description
The Ruaha Carnivore Project (RCP) (www.ruahacarnivoreproject.com) is a small but highly dedicated field project, which aims to reduce human-carnivore conflict and investigate carnivore ecology in Tanzania’s Ruaha landscape. The project is part of Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) but operates as a largely independent research project in Tanzania, registered under the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) and the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH). RCP was established in 2009 and started fieldwork in 2010, and has already had marked success in terms of reducing conflict and providing baseline data on large carnivores in the Ruaha landscape. This success means that the project now needs to expand, and for that to happen as smoothly as possible, we require a full-time on-site Field Operations Manager.
This person will be based in the field camp or nearby village, where they will help organise and monitor logistics and human resources making sure the project can achieve its goals. The successful candidate will be an experienced, highly motivated, hands‐on, collaborative manager. This is a tremendous opportunity for someone with advanced skills in personnel and logistics management to help a grassroots conservation project grow and achieve significant success, with important benefits for both local communities and large carnivores. The main duties involved in this post are listed below, but additional tasks may be included as needed by the Director.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Managing logistics in the field
(a) Financial planning and management– working with camp management and field staff to set budgets each month for project activities and communicating those to the Director by the 20th of the month; checking each week that staff are on track with accounting for their budgets; combining Excel sheets, sending copied receipt sheets and all budgets to the Director by the 7th for the previous month; and summarising expenditure for any reports or as needed. Monthly audits of receipts and purchases; preparing financial summaries and reports for grant agencies and funders.
(b) Vehicle logistics – establishing regular and frequent checks of all vehicles, associated equipment (e.g. working jacks) and log-books; helping organise the training and management of new drivers, weekly review of video logs; ensuring that vehicle use is kept as efficient as possible; reporting any incidents or damage as soon as it occurs; keeping a track of fuel use; and ensuring that all legal requirements (tax, insurance, fire extinguishers etc) are kept up to date and planned and budgeted for in advance.
(c) Activity planning – in conjunction with management, setting out monthly work plans to ensure that overall project aims are met; organising activities such as town trips twice per month; regularly communicating with all field staff to check on progress through the week
(d) Staff management – communicating regularly with the staff, management and Director to set staff tasks (e.g. for the following month); checking to see if any problems arise; helping manage staff issues or complaints and communicating them with the Director; ensuring that all staff are on time and acting professionally (in accordance with the RCP handbook); helping manage staff recruitment, disciplinary issues, time off and staff pay. Once per month, submit payments for all relevant employee contributions and taxes.
(e) Camp activity management -Oversee and manage all camp construction; oversee and manage water issues in camp; work with kitchen staff to manage food budget and purchases each month
(f) Other logistics – formalising and regularly checking RCP’s inventory of equipment; regularly checking all equipment for damage or loss; requesting new equipment or repairs as needed.
Qualifications
- A Tanzanian would be preferred for the job, if it is a foreigner at least a Masters degree in a relevant subject, with a passion and commitment to community-based wildlife conservation
- Skilled in the use of common computer software
- Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to fit in well amongst, and effectively manage, a team of diverse people.
- Strong operational experience – ideally has worked in a senior management role for several years with a non‐profit organization and or tourism industry (with a focus on logistical and personnel management, as well as administration)
- Strong writing and verbal communications skills
- Proven ability to live and work happily in a remote field camp under very basic conditions (i.e. living in a tent with no running water, intermittent power, and the presence of wild animals in the local area)
- High proficiency of English and Swahili is necessary
- Demonstrated personal qualities of integrity, attention to detail, strong professionalism, investing in people, credibility, and commitment to RCP’s conservation mission.
- Flexible and able to multi‐task; able to work well under pressure or challenging conditions; can work within an ambiguous, fast‐moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions; demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and proposing new ways of creating efficiencies (even when communication systems are poor), and guiding investment in people and systems.
- A strong team player that can also lead and work independently.
How to apply: interested candidates should send a CV and a cover letter to fiona@ruahacarnivoreproject.com by the 31 of October 2018. Please put “Application for Field Operations Manager” in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
