Myanmar: Counter Wildlife Trafficking Coordinator

Jul 15, 2018 | Wildlife Conservation Society
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Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is an International Non-governmental Organization, founded as the New York Zoological Society in 1895. WCS Myanmar Program has been active since 1993 and supports the Myanmar government on biodiversity and wildlife conservation across the country, through collaboration with local communities and key stakeholders. WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. WCS envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth.

WCS strives to stop wildlife trafficking in source, transit, and consumer countries, and is uniquely placed to respond to the challenge with strong government relationships and extensive field knowledge in key nations along major trafficking routes. WCS’s approach is centered on increasing the risk of conviction for a wildlife criminal. Broadly, we achieve this by strengthening the commitment and capacity of key government agencies through a close partnership. In Myanmar we work through two main Government agencies (Forest Department and Fisheries Department) to strengthen the Government’s capacity to conduct enforcement operations and build cooperation and coordination mechanisms with other relevant countries, especially China.  WCS also provides technical assistance on intelligence analysis, legal reform, and institutionalizing capacity building programs.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is seeking for dynamic and highly motivated candidate for the following vacancy.

Position: Counter Wildlife Trafficking Coordinator

Duty station: Mandalay

Project location: Mandalay to Muse, as well as nationally and across the country

Report to: Country Program Director and Deputy Country Program Director

Coordinate with: Senior Technical Advisor, Communication Coordinator and WCS China Team

Supervise: Government Liaison Officer, Project Officer, Consultants and Contractors

Roles and responsibilities:

  • In coordination with senior staff, further develop a vision and strategic direction for WCS Myanmar’s counter-wildlife trafficking efforts that identifies opportunities, reviews and refines existing program priorities, strategy and approaches.
  • Manage and coordinate the WCS Myanmar Counter Wildlife Trafficking (CWT) program to deliver on this strategy, including staffing, program planning, and management.
  • Manage project budgets, expenditures and support financial reporting.
  • Coordinate donor reporting and government relations and required reports.
  • In collaboration with the CWT team, support law-enforcement agencies and personnel to prioritize illegal wildlife trade cases, including evidence collection, case management, and support to prosecution.
  • Coordinate illegal wildlife trade law-enforcement activities, and intelligence gathering agencies, both in Myanmar, and internationally including Myanmar-Chinese counterparts.
  • Assist with fund-raising efforts for WCS’s programs on wildlife trade in Myanmar, identifying and enhancing support from existing and new sources, assisting in development of proposals and reports, building relationships with funders, in collaboration with other WCS staff.
  • Coordinate legislative and institutional support to the Myanmar government to prevent, deter, detect, and prosecute wildlife crimes.
  • Supervise field surveys and other research and intelligence gathering activities.
  • Coordinate reporting on the progress of illegal wildlife trade investigations.
  • Facilitate the use and adoption by law-enforcement agencies of intelligence analysis software for tracking illegal wildlife trade cases.
  • Maintain regular communication with other WCS country programs in the region to identify opportunities for collaboration and information sharing.
  • Other work assignments, duties, and/or functions as WCS or its management may designate or instruct in the course of its operation, which may include assignments, duties, and/or functions that vary from the above.

Qualifications, skills and experience:

  • A university degree or equivalent professional qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. law enforcement, criminology, law, public policy, conservation biology, natural resource management, geography, etc.).
  • A minimum of five years’ professional experience relevant to the responsibilities listed above, with experience in Myanmar preferred.
  • Knowledge of law enforcement methods for preventing, detecting, and suppressing illegal activities such as wildlife trafficking.
  • Knowledge of criminal law, police and judiciary procedures preferred.
  • Experience in building partnerships with government agencies, civil society, and international institutions.
  • Good interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
  • Demonstrated experience managing budgets and staff.
  • Fluent in reading and writing English. Myanmar language highly desirable. Chinese language also a strong advantage.
  • Good knowledge of computers, especially MS Office. Experience with intelligence management software such as i2, preferred.
  • Availability to travel frequently nationally and regionally, including to remote areas and work in the field as needed.
  • Shared value for wildlife and nature conservation.

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, should apply by sending an application letter and CV together with the names and contact information of two references before July 20th, 2018.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further written test and interviews.