Post-doctoral Research Assistant - London

Post-doctoral Research Assistant Guam Kingfisher Conservation Translocation Planning (12 Months Fixed-Term Contract / Full-Time)

We’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction. Through the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists and our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos, our purpose is to inspire, inform and employ people to stop wild animals going extinct.

Role Profile

We are looking for a Post-Doctoral Research Assistant (PDRA) to join a multi-disciplinary research team working on developing a conservation translocation plan to re-establish a wild population of sihek, Guam Micronesian Kingfisher. The sihek currently exists only in captivity; the captive population has increased significantly in the past ten years and can support releases.  Planning needs to consider the method of release, additional methods to support captive bred individuals in their transition to living in the wild, and evaluation of the environmental impact risks the sihek pose when released.  There are multiple stakeholders involved or affected by sihek introductions including local communities, both government and non-government conservation organizations, and zoological collections. 

The role will include organising two stakeholder planning workshops, the first within the fourth month of the contract on Guam to rapid prototype the reintroduction plan and options.  All stakeholders will be present.  This will be followed by three months of data analysis and scenario modelling. A second workshop will be held in month eight (at Calgary Zoo), where the results of data analysis will inform a second full evaluation of the reintroduction options and the final selection of the optimal reintroduction strategy.  Remaining contract time will be spent on writing the report and justification for the strategy, with ample time for working on group feedback and dialogue.

The specialist role will be supported by experienced reintroduction practitioners and decision analysts including Dr. John Ewen (Institute of Zoology, ZSL), Dr. Axel Moehrenschlager (Chair IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group and Director of Conservation & Science at the Calgary Zoo), and Dr. Stefano Canessa (Ghent University and Honorary Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, ZSL). The PDRA will have the opportunity to work on a high-profile project with concrete benefits for conservation, while at the same time developing a broad set of analytic, management and interpersonal skills.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate organisation of two stakeholder workshops, one in Guam and one in Canada;
• Undertake email- and phone-based interviews with species and subject experts;
• Collate and organise available relevant ecological data;
• Scenario modelling and decision optimization;
• Lead on report and manuscript writing.

Person Specification

Ideally the successful candidate will:

• Hold a PhD in population ecology, conservation biology, decision sciences, or a related subject area.
• Have proven experience implementing species conservation.
• Broad and current knowledge of small population recovery techniques, including translocation management.
• Experience working with population projection models.
• Strong inter-personal skills with proven history of working with species recovery teams.
• Have outstanding administrative and organisation skills.

Benefit Package:

This role offers a competitive salary plus a comprehensive benefits package including 25 days holiday, stakeholder pension where the employer minimum contribution is 7%, complimentary zoo tickets and more.

To Apply

Applicants will need to upload their CV and covering letter (detailing relevant experience and skills, stating why they want the position and including details of availability) by clicking the "Apply for this job online" button.