Primate Scientist Position with Orangutan Tropical Peatland Project

Primate Scientist Position with OuTrop

Hiring Organization: OuTrop (Orangutan Tropical Peatland Project)

Position Description:
OuTrop is looking for a new Primate Scientist to help manage its Orangutan, Gibbon and Red Langur research projects in the Sabangau research station located in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia (Borneo). The successful candidate will work together with the Project Directors to help maintain and improve the scientific integrity, relevance and impact of our primate research. This will include ensuring the quality of data collected by yourself and our Research Assistants, Interns and other personnel; collecting, analysing and reporting upon data as
required; and training and supervising Research Assistants, Interns, visiting students and/or volunteers.

We are looking for a post-graduate primatologist, with a scientific mind and aptitude, excellent coordination and management skills, primate field research experience and a dedication to wildlife conservation. The candidate needs to be flexible, patient, amicable (good social skills), well organized, a good communicator, and physically and mentally fit. Applicants must also have the ability to cope well under stress and to readily master new skills.

Duties include:
• Maintaining and improving the scientific integrity, relevance and impact of OuTrop's primate research.
• Ensuring that field data are collected according to protocol and are of high quality, that field data are entered into electronic databases, and that the integrity of all data collected by yourself and all others on the project is maintained and improved.
• Assisting in defining primate research objectives and working together with the Project Manager and other relevant personnel to ensure that these objectives are achieved.
• Assisting with the analysis and reporting of data, as required (this may present opportunity for authorship or co-authorship on reports and/or publications).
• Provide short information, short stories, etc., to OuTrop's Communications Team to help disseminate relevant information to the non-academic community.

Qualifications/Experience:
• Post-graduate degree in primatology or related discipline
• Experience in tropical primate field research projects (min. 1 year preferred)
• Proven record of research outputs preferred
• Staff management and coordination experience
• Excellent computing skills (including Access, Excel, Word, etc)
• Excellent spoken and written English
• Previous experience of working in Indonesia and competence in the Indonesian language preferred

Salary/funding:
• Good local salary, commensurate with experience/to be negotiated.
• Local stipend to cover basic food and other minor costs in Palangka Raya.

Support provided for positions:
• Accommodation in the Research camp in Sabangau and OuTrop Office/House in Palangka Raya, with all associated facilities.
• One set of international flights up to GBP 700 and one set of domestic flights from Jakarta to Palangka Raya will be reimbursed for each 12 month contract period.
• All visa-related costs will be covered by the Project
• Travel insurance up GBP 25/month will be covered by the Project.

Term of Appointment: 1 year (extendable upon agreement by both parties)

Application Deadline: 1st February 2012 or until the position is filled (references can be received up to 6th February 2012).

Interviews are anticipated to start on 6th February 2012, with an aim for the applicant to start work in the field ASAP (March/April 2012, depending on length of time taken to obtain a visa).

Comments: Please send a covering letter detailing why you believe you are suitable for the position, two references and an up-to-date CV to OuTrop's Director of Gibbon and Felid Research, Dr Susan Cheyne: scheyne@outrop.com with the job title as the subject heading.

Website: http://www.outrop.com/