Millions of people in India are still dependent on traditional livelihoods, many of which have significant impacts on wildlife and its habitat. The Communities for Conservation programme seeks to build partnerships with local and traditional communities for effective biodiversity conservation. The programme encourages sustainable traditional practices or alternative livelihoods that do not support exploitation of wild flora and fauna.

This is a senior management position reporting to the Executive Director and we are looking for a person who is well-rounded and politically mature, with experience of working in the field as well as managing projects and leading teams. S/he should be well versed with the theory and the practice of community development and should have a keen interest in wildlife conservation and environmental issues. S/he should be comfortable with MIS systems, budgets and have the flexibility of working in a fast paced and evolving HQ and on-site management environment.

The ideal candidate should be able to strategize and give direction to the programme, develop new projects and raise funds for them. Good communications skills and the ability to analyse and write are intrinsic to this position.

Responsibilities:

• Provide long term leadership to the programme and its team.
• Strategize, develop & implement new projects.
• Line manage projects under the programme.
• Liaison with government departments, donors and other partner agencies.

Skills:

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to think on the feet with problem solving skills
• Good understanding of team management and organizational operations including accounting and documentation processes.
• Ability work effectively with others in a multi-disciplinary team environment
• Ability to work with rural institutions
• Have an understanding of micro-finance and the legal frameworks involved in setting up of and working with cooperatives and producer’s companies
• Strong people’s skill.

Work experience requirements:

At least 08 years with alternative livelihood and community linked wildlife or bio-diversity conservation initiatives in the field and HQ with at least two years in a senior management position.

Education Requirements:

Graduate in any discipline, preferably with an MSW or an MBA in Rural Management

Background

WTI is looking for trainers for its Van Rakshak division assist in its anti-poaching training program for frontline field staff of protected areas (Wildlife Sanctuary/ National Park) in India. These are contractual positions and would involve time commitments of a few months in a year.

Short listed candidates would be required to undergo a one week training/ orientation program tentatively scheduled to be held in latter part of September, 2008 in a protected area. WTI will bear the cost of resource materials, boarding, lodging and traveling expenses of the candidates for the training.

On completion of training/orientation program, the trainees would be required to undergo an evaluation test and successful candidates would be taken on by WTI as “Trainers”

Languages for which currently trainers would be required

Hindi, Bangla, Assamese, Oriya, Malayalam, Kannada, Khasi, Garo and Mizo

Desired Qualifications for Potential Trainers

1. Law module:-

• Graduate in Law (LLB/BL) with specialization in wildlife/forest/environmental laws
• Preference to lawyers practicing in Lower court on criminal matters.

2. Field craft module:-

• Post Graduate in Life Science/ Zoology/Botany/Wildlife Sciences/Environmental Sciences with extensive knowledge of wildlife and its conservation in India
• Experience of working in the wildlife areas of the region/state and conversant with conservation and management issues of those
• Practical knowledge of field craft like identification of animal signs, calls and their significance etc.

3. Crime prevention module:-

• Graduate/Postgraduate in any discipline including Criminology with some specialization in detection and investigation of wildlife crime.
• Preference to Serving/Retired Forest Officers/Police personnel who have extensive experience and proven record of wildlife crime prevention .

General requirements (common to all modules):-

• Reasonable physical fitness and willingness to travel to wildlife areas and adaptability to work/stay in adverse situations, if necessary
• Keen interest in wildlife issues.
• Should have written and spoken proficiency in English/Hindi apart from the language being applied for.
• Persons with multiple skill sets including language proficiency will be preferred.
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written
• Basic  computer skills. 

Job Responsibilities:-

• The trainers would be required to impart training on wildlife crime prevention in target areas in the relevant language under the guidance of WTI’s Training Officer.

• They would be required to provide reasonable logistics/technical support on various components in organizing the training and equipping programs in their regions/states.

• Make themselves available for the training programmes in their region/ state as and when required by WTI. WTI would inform them at least a month before the actual commencement of any given training program seeking their services.

• Develop internal capacity in their respective states to select potential trainers in their region/state and create a potential pool of trainers for the future. WTI would provide relevant assistance regarding this to the trainers

Benefits to trained trainers on assignment:-

• WTI will take care of the boarding, lodging and traveling expenses of the trainer for the training/s he/she is selected for.

• A certificate of experience, duly signed by competent authorities

• Acknowledgement in all relevant reports/publications/major press releases arising out of the training program as part of project team