Country Biodiversity Research and Management Coordinator

About the role

The Country Biodiversity Research and Management Coordinator reports to the Country Director and works within WCS Uganda's Country Program. The post leads the development of species strategic action plans and coordinates biodiversity assessments, research and monitoring planning at landscape level, working with the Country Director, CMP Site Managers, regional staff and WCS Global thematic leads. It is a one-year full-time position based in Kampala.

Key responsibilities

• Lead scientific research, assessment and monitoring of biodiversity and ecological processes, and develop research frameworks, monitoring protocols and survey designs (e.g. distance sampling, occupancy modeling, spatially explicit capture-recapture)
• Compile baseline information for the Ishasha sector, QEPA and Murchison Falls Protected Area to support the Biodiversity Management Plan(s)
• Support the development and implementation of the Ishasha sector and QEPA CMP Management Plan, and coordinate the Northern Albertine Rift Chimpanzee Plan in Murchison Falls
• Design and implement baseline biodiversity assessments and analyse data to inform program design and management decisions
• Support elephant collaring and monitoring in Murchison Falls, including data collection, analysis and reporting to TEPU and UWA
• Write and publish articles in peer-reviewed journals, prepare reports for the WCS impact platform and for the Ugandan government, and assist in securing research permits and IRB approvals
• Represent WCS on national technical committees (e.g. Large Carnivore, Chimpanzee) and landscape-level working groups such as BIOFINI, and participate in proposal development and grant writing

Required profile

• Master's degree in Wildlife Management, Natural Resources Management, Quantitative Ecology, Conservation Biology or a related discipline (mandatory); a PhD in integrative biology/ecology and wildlife behaviour is an added advantage
• At least 10 years of professional experience in biodiversity conservation research and monitoring
• Specific experience in the GVL and MSL landscapes is strongly required; experience with sector agencies is an added advantage
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in training, and evidence of publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Preferred: frequent travel to CMP sites, ability to work independently with minimal supervision, proficiency in local languages

Required skills

• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g. R, Python, DISTANCE) and GIS mapping
• Familiarity with species monitoring tools and conservation databases such as SMART Survey or BAMS
• Experience with civil society, academia, research institutions and the private sector is an added advantage