The Ghana Wildlife Society is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit making conservation organization located at the Accra Conservation Education Centre near the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park. Our mission is to conserve wildlife in all its form for improved quality of life for all people. We belong to BirdLife International, the world’s largest nature conservation partnership of 120 autonomous NGOs around the world.

Reports to: Manager, Research & Conservation Science
Start date: July 2, 2019

Job Background

• Weak governance, economic growth and infrastructure expansion, increased consumption and poor public support for conservation, illegal mining and logging, human population growth triggering domestic demand and shifting agricultural patterns are some of the eminent conservation challenges that are exerting greater pressure on biodiversity in Ghana. Our response to some of these challenges is to research into threatened species, interactions between people and biodiversity in different landscapes, impacts of development on biodiversity, and how land use changes affect patterns of migration of birds along their migratory routes. To contribute to ease the growing global pressure on the Corporate world to enhance ecological footprints, we currently work in partnership with several private sector players to fashion out business models that safeguard biodiversity. Our current corporate engagement spans mining, oil and gas, forestry, agriculture and renewable energy sectors. We solely rely on our scientific evidence through research projects to engage decision makers and influence national policy. We work with government agencies, national and international conservation institutions. We raise awareness and work with the youth through the Wildlife Clubs of Ghana (WCG) – a junior wing of the Society.

The Society is in search of qualified and competent candidates to fill vacant positions of:

Job Title: Project Officer, Research & Conservation Science

• The successful candidate will coordinate will support the implementation of research and project activities. She/he will contribute to the development and implementation of a common bird-monitoring scheme and ensure that relevant data on priority species and Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBBAs) are updated through periodic monitoring. The Officer will be involved in the development of conservation action plans and expected to have strong fundraising abilities to initiate conservation projects. The candidate must be conversant with project work planning, budgeting, operational planning and reporting.

Specific duties and responsibilities

• Contribute to fundraising/project proposal development to sustain research activities of the Research Unit.
• Play an active role in research activities to improve knowledge on the distribution, trends, population and status of threatened species for selected taxonomic groups in line with the Society’s strategic objectives.
• Initiate research activities that will protect the populations of migrant birds and species in other taxonomic categories.
• Sustain monitoring and update Important Bird Areas (IBAs) data in Ghana.
• Contribute to Piloting/implementation of common bird monitoring schemes towards the development of a Bird Atlas for Ghana.
• Foster strategic cooperation with non-profit, Universities, private and public sectors at national/regional/district levels for fundraising and hands-on-projects.
• Perform any other related task as directed by the Supervisor.

Qualification Required & Experience

Qualifications, competencies and experience

• Post-graduate degree in Ecology, Conservation Biology, Natural Resources Management, Ornithology, Biological Science or Biodiversity Management.
• At least, 2-3 years of experience in a progressively responsible role of programme coordination.
• Solid understanding of current conservation challenges in Ghana and should be abreast with current national and global conservation issues.
• Proven proposal writing/fundraising skills and experience.
• Excellent writing, reporting, communication/presentation and good interpersonal skills.
• Sound knowledge and experience in using relevant techniques and tools to carry out biodiversity surveys, analysis of results and scientific reporting.
• The ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Sound IT skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office programmes (PowerPoint, Excel and Word).
• Good knowledge and use of mapping software (e.g. ARCGIS 10.4).
• A self-starter with the ability to work in a team.

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