Location: Tamil Nadu, India
Program/Sector: RIST Program of WCS-India
Position Type: 1 Year- Fixed Term employment (extendable)
Work Experience: 0-2 years
Expected travel: As per project requirement to field sites and to coordinate with Field Staff
About us: The Wildlife Conservation Society-India works to conserve wildlife, backed by science. We work in partnership with governmental and non-governmental organizations to deal with conservation challenges such as human-wildlife interaction, combating wildlife trafficking, conservation of marine ecosystems and species, conservation of endangered species, livelihood development of local communities, and so on. Committed to wildlife conservation and the ecological worldview that recognizes the inextricable link between human welfare and the protection of wildlife and wild spaces, WCS-India endeavours to inspire positive attitudes in people towards wildlife.
WCS-India is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or disability.
The WCS-India Marine Program aims to conserve the unique diversity of India’s coastal habitats and seas by working with communities and partner organizations to overcome these challenges through a multidisciplinary approach. The program’s efforts are focused on five broad workstreams: (1) strengthening the Marine Protected Area (MPA) / Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECM) network of India (2) reducing marine megafauna bycatch (3) curbing the decline of sharks and rays (4) incorporating sustainability into marine-centric tourism and supporting sustainable fisheries and (5) generating awareness on India’s marine biodiversity.
Background: The marine megafauna program aims to reduce bycatch in Indian waters by identifying bycatch hotspots, enabling “bottom-up” community-driven regulations in fisheries, and enhancing the capacity of stakeholders. The Project Assistant will assist in these initiatives in select coastal areas in Tamil Nadu.
Responsibilities:
-
Liaise with stakeholders including native communities, government agencies and non-governmental organisations to achieve tasks assigned
-
Assist in implementing tools and methodologies to support marine megafauna conservation, including bycatch reduction, community awareness programs, and capacity development workshops.
-
Ensure appropriate compilation, analysis, dissemination, and publication of field data
-
Assist with collection of primary and secondary materials relevant to the project through desk-based research and visits to government offices, as required
-
Implement tasks assigned within broader WCS conservation and fisheries initiatives (e.g., marine megafauna bycatch reduction strategies, providing inputs to partner agencies, and stakeholders) to ensure the delivery of a high-quality bycatch reduction program for WCS-India and be responsive to donor requests and requirements.
-
Communicate and facilitate uptake of bycatch reduction strategies by fishing communities and government agencies. This will include building the capacity of these groups to improve compliance with bycatch regulations.
-
Assist in preparing annual work plans, budgets, and reports as required by WCS-India and donor partners.
-
Work with the WCS-India communications team to create content for educational material, website, blogs, and other outreach activities related to marine conservation.
-
Any other responsibilities assigned by the Program Head – Marine Megafauna.
Qualification & Requirements:
Experience and Knowledge:
-
Work experience of 0-2 years
-
Excellent communication skills and ability to interact with stakeholders such as local communities and government agencies.
-
Desired Language Proficiency: Tamil and English
Education:
Technical Skills:
-
Specific knowledge of tropical nearshore and migratory marine megafauna species, including cetaceans, dugong, and sea turtles, particularly in South Asia.
-
Prior experience in working with fisher communities, conducting awareness programs, and community meetings are desirable.
Compensation: Offered as per the qualification and experience.
It’s time to apply:
To apply, please send together in one file a cover letter and an updated resume. Submit your application using the position title “Project Assistant – Megafauna, TN” in the subject line and send us at careers@wcsindia.org latest by August 21, 2022.
Candidates to share three professional references mandatorily.
All applications will be reviewed; however, only shortlisted candidates will be notified for further process.