VIETNAM PHEASANT RECOVERY PROJECT: PROJECT MANAGER

Viet Nature

Vietnam Pheasant Recovery Project: Project Manager

Viet Nature Conservation One-member Company, a company 100% owned by Viet Nature Conservation Centre (hereafter collectively refer to as Viet Nature),  is looking for a suitable candidate to take the Vietnam pheasant project forward. Initially      the focus will be to guide the construction of the Vietnam Pheasant Breeding Centre in the  Le Thuy District of Quang Binh Province, progressing to establishing a successful breeding population of Vietnam pheasants at this site and finally planning and guiding the reintroduction of the Vietnam Pheasant Lophura edwardsi.  This will involve establishing and leading the team at the Vietnam Pheasant Breeding Centre, coordinating and leading the delivery of the Vietnam Pheasant Species Recovery Plan, fundraising for the project and project communications. 

Mission Statement:

Viet Nature, WPA and EAZA are committed to securing the future for a wild population of the Vietnam Pheasant through ex-situ breeding and translocation techniques. This process will be guided by a recovery plan which includes feasibility studies, monitoring, tracking released birds and habitat protection in Khe Nuoc Trong Reserve and/or other suitable sites in its historical distribution range. We act on sound ethical solutions which consider human needs, empowering local people to take action in the conservation of their own environment.

History:

The Vietnam Pheasant is a Critically Endangered bird endemic to Vietnam. It has not been recorded in the wild since 2000, and is feared to have gone extinct. Its natural habitat has been much disturbed or destroyed during prolonged wars and by development pressures. Viet Nature is a conservation NGO in Vietnam which evolved from many years’ involvement with Birdlife International. It has carried out numerous field surveys flooking for the species including the use of hundreds of camera traps. Many other rare animal species have been recorded in its research, but there has been no sign of any L.edwardsi.      

Luckily the species survives in human care. Globally there are an estimated 1,500 individuals alive, from which around 600 are managed within an International studbook. Through genetic research coordinated by WPA, hybrids within this population have been excluded and efforts are being made to maintain as much genetic diversity within the population as possible. Genetic research will be expanded in the future with plans to test all individuals held within the zoo community to assure a hybrid free and genetically diverse population exists from which birds could be sourced for future reintroductions.

Viet Nature is working closely with WPA, EAZA, Birdlife International and the IUCN/SSC Galliformes specialist group on a long term Recovery Plan to return the species to the wild. For this, a large area of good lowland rainforest (768 hectares) has been leased by Viet Nature for the next 30 years in the Khe Nuoc Trong Nature Reserve, a former range site for the species. In addition, the first breeding station site has been allocated in Le Thuy District of Quang Binh Province and aviary plans have been proposed by WPA and EAZA. The breeding station is located within easy reach of Viet Nature’s Field Office, where additional pheasant breeding aviaries have been constructed. Birds produced at this breeding centre would be used to reintroduce the species back into the wild.

Terms of Reference

Position: Project Manager

Start Date: October 2022

Position Length: 2 years, with potential for renewal thereafter dependent on outcomes and funding    

Affiliation: The post will be employed by Viet Nature      

Main duty station:  Main duty station and breeding centre in the Le Thuy District, Quang Binh Province

Line management: Viet Nature

Accommodation: will be within the grounds of the new breeding centre in Le Thuy District.

Salary: The salary will be paid monthly through the bank account of Viet Nature. The salary is negotiable but will be in the region of approx. $25,000 per annum.

Accommodation at the field station will be provided rent free as part of the contract, though a contribution to costs of utilities will be required.

For international candidates: In addition to a flight at the beginning and end of the contract, there will also be a return home airfare once within the contract.

Job activity details: The employee is expected to work eight (8) hours each day and 5 days/week.

Holidays: The employee is entitled to fifteen (15) working days’ annual leave following Vietnamese Labour law, plus 10 national holiday days.

The employee must ensure that arrangements have been made and agreed with their VietNature Manager regarding their responsibilities during holiday time.

Health & Safety:

• The employee is responsible for buying their own health/travel insurance and must provide details of this to their line manager.
• Staff must provide Viet Nature with photocopies of their passport, driving licence, vaccination history and any important medical information.
• Viet Nature will provide basic protective clothing and first aid equipment.

Specific activities:

All activities of the Project Manager should be carried out with long-term sustainability in mind, with a focus on transferring skills, knowledge and motivation to Viet Nature Staff.

Establishment of Breeding Centre (Year 1)    

• Oversee the establishment and construction of the breeding centre, including tracking and controlling budgets as directed by VietNature, ensuring that construction meets suitable standards for animal welfare and husbandry in close communication with experts from within EAZA and WPA, and advising on how to improve the working of the breeding centre to increase efficiency, animal welfare and breeding success.
• Recruit, lead and support a team of bird keepers and maintenance staff who will be responsible for the captive husbandry of the Vietnam pheasant, ensuring that animals are kept in a safe and humane manner. This will involve selecting and training appropriate staff and will require knowledge and experience of aviculture advances.

Running of Breeding Centre (Second part of year 1 and year 2)

• Management of team: Daily communication with all team members will be vital and will include solving problem situations within the team. Developing the whole team through an appropriate training schedule will be essential.
• Recruit and guide international interns and volunteers, and prepare their work schedules
• Coordinate the daily work of the whole team involved with keeping and breeding Vietnam pheasants at the breeding centre, making sure all necessary materials are available for the tasks at hand. This will involve feeding and providing fresh water, cleaning of aviaries, aviary decoration, gardening in and around aviaries, preparation of the breeding season, careful monitoring of eggs and chicks (when needed through artificial incubation and hand rearing), observation of animal behaviour, pest maintenance, preparing animal transports, establishing enrichment and training routines. Actively work together with the keepers on all these aspects and perform daily quality controls to maintain the highest level of animal keeping.
• Keep an inventory containing information on all the birds and their life course (breeding successes, diseases, etc.) in ZIMS®, cooperate with Vietnam pheasant studbook keepers to create optimal pairings to maintain a genetically diverse population.
• Establish work, technical installations, hygiene and safety protocols and follow up on them.
• Oversee stocks of food, cleaning materials and basic products. To guide acquisition of machinery and products needed to take care of the birds, follow up on orders, reparations and damage files.
• Ensure that the veterinary and health needs of all species kept on site are met through securing the support of qualified veterinarians as and when required, doing routine faecal checks with a microscope and performing daily health checks on the birds.
• Prepare birds bred at the breeding season for reintroduction back into the wild through behavioural training, avoiding human contact to a minimum and the provision of wild foodstuff.
• Responsibility for overall health and safety of the breeding centre and of the team, risk assessing all roles, and additional tasks as they occur and ensuring that protocols are followed for any chemicals and COSHH assessments.

Project preparation and planning (Years 1 & 2 and beyond)    

• Liaise with field teams delivering project objectives in potential reintroduction sites and participate in planning for field surveys and community development.
• Participate in project strategy and planning, working with VietNature management and the Vietnam Pheasant Species Recovery Team (VPSRT).
• Oversee monitoring and evaluation of the project, guided by the Species Recovery Plan, and provide regular (monthly) reports as required to the VPSRT on project progress.
• Work with the VietNature communications team to promote the project through articles, the website, social media and other forms of communication, both within Vietnam and internationally.
• Assist with fundraising efforts for the project and with provision of timely feedback to funders and supporters.
• Work alongside VietNature staff to ensure a good communication and training strategy is in place.

Future work (beyond the initial 2 year contract)

• Assist with preparation of sites for release, in coordination with local authorities (e.g. nature reserve managers) and communities
• Coordinate the construction of release pens, often in very remote regions.
• Coordinate transfer of birds to release sites
• Develop appropriate post-release monitoring methods and protocols

 Essential Criteria:

Qualifications & Experience:

At least 3 years’ practical experience in a relevant role with staff management duties.

Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject.

Experience in the field of captive animal management, with a strong focus on captive bird husbandry

Knowledge of aviary construction and decoration.

Able to do small repairs in and around the breeding centre.    

Sound knowledge of wildlife and habitat conservation

Experience of working on a multi-faceted project, including planning and development, monitoring outputs, writing reports and managing budgets.

Demonstrable experience of working effectively with a number of partners including communities, government departments and NGO’S.

Knowledge of relevant IUCN documentation concerning reintroductions and conservation planning.

Skills and Personal Qualities:

Dynamic, effective team leadership skills with the ability to work under own initiative.

Excellent communicator; able to write, speak and present with a high level of proficiency in English. Some knowledge of Vietnamese language would be an advantage.

Excellent administration and organisational skills.

Computer literate with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, website management and social media.

Highly motivated, good humoured and positive personality.

Creative, adaptable and resourceful to meet the demands of a challenging environment.

Active, fit and healthy.

Driving licence and ability to drive a motorbike or bicycle.

Familiar with south-east Asian conservation issues and living/working in Asia.

Willingness to travel as required.

Desirable Criteria

If not Vietnamese, experience of living and working in a tropical country would be an advantage.

Grant writing skills

Please send your application directly to email: admin@thiennhienviet.org.vn before 17:00, 30th August, 2022. 

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