Wildlife Research and Conservation Society

Introduction

For more than a decade, Wildlife Research and Conservation Society (www.wrcsindia.org) has been carrying out ecological research on the Forest Owlet and other sympatric owls in Central India. Our research has yielded useful insights on the distribution, occupancy, habitat preference, demography, breeding foraging, and behavior of the Forest Owlet and other sympatric owls in the landscape. We are trying to understand the drivers of distribution and population of the Forest Owlet and ultimately strengthen management actions that will help in-situ conservation of this elusive species. The findings of our research are available on various platforms as scientific papers, popular articles, technical manuals, blogs and also on webinars. This project is aimed at implementing specific conservation actions for the Forest Owlet in Madhya Pradesh, that will ensue its survival in the wild.

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Project Area

The project area is located in remote forests in Khandwa and Burhanpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. The forests are hilly, teak dominant, dry deciduous and experiences harsh summers and chilly winters. The project duration is three years, starting from June 2024. The work will require continued presence of the team in the project area and long working hours in the field. Only those who have completed their degrees should apply. Those looking for short-term project work, dissertation, internship, or pursuing the degree, or in the final stage of the degree (PhD, M.S) are requested to excuse this opportunity.
We look forward to working with individuals who are enthusiastic, honest, sincere, reliable and enjoy working in the field. We urge the applicant to consider the following criteria seriously before sending their application.

 

Positions:  2 Project Officer

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Qualification

Master’s degree in Social Sciences/Ecology. Experience of working with local communities, village-based
projects, or community-based conservation projects would be preferred.

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Job description

•Work in close association with local communities in the villages around the Forest Owlet habitat.

• Daily visits to the villages, preparing demographic profiles of villages, understanding issues faced by local communities living around the forests.
• Assessing land-use, forest-use, resource-use by the local communities
• Holding consultations with local governing bodies, farmers and frontline staff
• Planning strategies for conservation of the habitat by developing locally acceptable solutions
• Visiting line departments to implement suitable schemes for the villages
• Conducting awareness and outreach programs for the villagers and schools
• Introducing and encouraging sustainable lifestyle options for the communities
• Preparing progress reports, annual reports, presentations.

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Essential

• Excellent communication skills to build rapport with local communities, field staff and government officers
• Excellent command over spoken and written English and Hindi.
• Young and physically very fit to work in tough terrain for long hours.
• Holder of permanent driving license for 2-wheeler and 4-wheeler and capable of driving on rough village and forest roads
• Willing to stay in basic field accommodation on a shared basis with other members

Remuneration
Remuneration for the Project Officer will be based on the applicant’s qualification and experience.

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How to apply

Interested candidates are requested to apply at the earliest by sending an email on mail@wrcsindia.org.
The subject line should mention “Application for Forest Owlet Project: Project Officer”. Please apply for only one position.
The application should have the following:
• A cover email introducing yourself and your work
• Attach your latest resume and publications if any
• A word file having contact details of three referees (name, phone number and email) from ecology field.
Applications without the above details will not be considered.

Applications are open until suitable candidates are found.