The Alliance for a Sustainable Amazon, a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation of biodiversity and other natural resources in the Peruvian Amazon, is pleased to announce the position of Resident Naturalist, beginning June 20, 2018. The successful applicant will be based at the ASA’s field site in Peru’s Madre de Dios Department.
POSITION: Resident Naturalist LOCATION: Finca Las Piedras, Madre de Dios, Peru POSITION DURATION: Minimum 6 months (until 20 December, 2018) SCHEDULE: 6 days/week, flexibility in scheduling required START DATE: June 20, 2018 APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 30, 2018 POSITION DESCRIPTION Resident Naturalists (RNs) work closely with ASA academic faculty and staff to facilitate ongoing biological research and monitoring, sustainable tropical agriculture, and community engagement and education programs at Finca Las Piedras. RNs are part of the public face of the ASA’s programs in Peru, and are part of a dynamic team of researchers, conservation and development professionals, and students from Peru and around the world. In addition to assigned tasks, naturalists are encouraged to develop individual projects within their areas of interest, which may include anything from community service activities to biological or agricultural research. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Biological Research and Monitoring The ASA maintains a number of research and monitoring projects aimed at biodiversity conservation in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon. These include mammal, bird, and insect inventories and population monitoring, plant phenology, and several others. RNs assist project leaders in data collection and entry, experimental design and setup, etc., as needed. Sustainable Tropical Agriculture & Agroforestry Activities at Finca Las Piedras include a variety of experiments in organic agriculture, the use of compost and biochar, and research covering diverse agroforestry systems. RNs will assist in these as needed. Community Engagement and Education Naturalists assist ASA faculty and staff in a number of ongoing programs both at Finca Las Piedras and in the nearby communities of Monterrey and Planchon. Activities at Finca Las Piedras include facilitation of the ASAs volunteer and internship programs; example activities in the communities include educational visits to schools. Independent Research Naturalists are strongly encouraged to develop an independent research project under the guidance of ASA academic faculty, on a topic in line with the organization's research priorities. Social Media Resident Naturalists contribute to outreach efforts on social media. Naturalists are required to periodically create material for distribution across a variety of platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and regular blog posts. General Duties In addition to the duties mentioned above, Naturalists will contribute to day-to-day operations and basic facilities maintenance. General duties may include, but are not limited to: Daily weather station readings, Guide/interpret/translate guided natural history hikes, lead visits to local farms, group check-in and orientation, logistical support for academic programs. REQUIREMENTS * Minimum 6 month commitment required * Minimum bachelor’s degree in natural or environmental sciences or related field * Fluency in English (preferred) * At least basic Spanish (preferred) * Experience working/living abroad, especially in the tropics (preferred) * Teaching experience (preferred) * Enthusiasm and strong work ethic * Flexibility in schedule and work environment * Maturity/must live with and work well with others in close setting * Excellent physical condition * Traveler’s insurance (proof required upon acceptance) TRAINING Upon arrival at Finca Las Piedras, Resident Naturalists undergo an intensive, one-week training period. Naturalists are given an overview of current projects spanning the ASA’s three interrelated focal areas: biological research and monitoring, sustainable tropical agriculture, and community engagement and education, as well as the methodologies used for research and outreach work in these areas. Naturalists will also be trained informally throughout the duration of their term at Finca Las Piedras. COMPENSATION This is an unpaid position. However, all room and board is provided on-site at Finca Las Piedras, 7 days per week, for the duration of the appointment (although work is only required M-F). Work-related local transportation, including pickup from the Puerto Maldonado airport (PEM) or bus terminal, is covered. Resident Naturalists are responsible for their international flight to Peru, including airfare, taxes, airport fees, flight insurance, etc.), and domestic air or land travel to Puerto Maldonado (bus or air). HOW TO APPLY The following are required to apply for this position: 1. A cover letter of interest, including end date (position begins June 20, 2018) 2. Current CV/resume with contact information for two references 3. Most recent unofficial university transcript Completed applications should include each of the three required items, and should be submitted as a single PDF document, in the order listed above, by the application deadline (April 30, 2018). Document title should read: “last name”_”RN application”.pdf Send completed applications to: i...@sustainableamazon.org<mailto:i...@sustainableamazon.org> with “Resident Naturalist application" in the subject line. www.sustainableamazon.org/resident-naturalist-2018<http://www.sustainableamazon.org/resident-naturalist-2018>
