The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has a distinguished history of scientists exploring and saving wildlife in some of the most remote and wild places remaining on Earth. The Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia Program (WCS-IP) has significantly grown over the last decades, and contributed substantially in supporting the Government of Indonesia to the conservation of biodiversity in Indonesia, through its cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF). WCS-IP currently has programs focusing on terrestrial and marine landscape conservation, and mitigation of Illegal Wildlife Trade. Flagship species for these programs include sumatran tigers, sumatran rhinos, elephants, orangutans, manta rays and the maleo in Sulawesi. In order to achieve our overall goal of saving wildlife and wild places in Indonesia, we aim to support the MoEF and its work with civil society organizations, private sectors, and local communities to protect threatened species and their habitat. A key part of the WCS-IP approach is the mitigation of illegal wildlife trade under the Wildlife Trade and Policy Program.
To increase the effort of mitigating IWT through prevention in exit points, WCS supporting MoEF and local NGO in starting a Wildlife Detection Dog (WDD) project. This project aims to support MoEF and their Natural Resources Conservation(BKSDA) agency as well as other related authorities to do preemptive and preventive measures in increasing the detection rate of wildlife smuggling at sea/air ports as well as introduce a new approach to support BKSDA in mitigating illegal wildlife smuggling in sea/air ports.
WCS is now seeking a Dog Handler for the project in North Sulawesi who is dedicated, hard-working, and a committed team player to provide key technical support to WCS’s Wildlife Trade and Policy Program. The Dog Handler will work with and assist the Project Team Leader to implement the project with key partner, the North Sulawesi’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDAE), and in close coordination with relevant partners and agencies in Bitung.
The position will be based in Bitung with regular trip to Manado and other areas if needed to implement project’s activities. The Dog Handler will be directly under the Detection Dog Project Team Leader supervision.
JOB DESCRIPTION
- Participate in the handler trainings given by SIFD instructors
- Execute and responsible of daily activities including dog-walking/exercising, feeding and grooming
- Support local BKSDA in deploying the wildlife detection dogs to deployment site/s in accordance with the project’s standard operating procedures
- Responsible for the health and safety of the dog s/he is assigned to
- Record relevant data and information of project activities during both trainings and deployments using the tally sheets
- Provide care for the wildlife detection dogs in accordance with the Five Principals of animal welfare standard;
- Train the wildlife detection dogs in accordance with the project’s standard operating procedures for training of the dogs
- Actively involved in preparing regular schedule for training and deployment of the dogs
- Develop regular report regarding the progress of the assigned dog;
- Responsible towards the condition of all equipment required for training and deployment
- Assist the Veterinarian in conducting any health treatment or procedure
- Pro-actively monitor the dog’s condition and able to report to Veterinarian or Project Team Leader should require further observation and treatment
- Follow the Veterinary guidance in providing and administering dog nutrition
- Flexible towards other tasks need to be performed as directed by the Project Team Leader and Coordinator
REQUIREMENTS
- Possess a degree or relevant experiences in conservation, forestry, biology, animal husbandry, veterinary medicine and/or related subjects.
- Has experience working with NGOs and in collaboration with the government are an advantage.
- High interest in wildlife conservation particularly in preventing illegal wildlife trade.
- Adequate report writing skill
- Adequate interpersonal and communication skills in both English and Bahasa Indonesia
- Adequate writing skills in both English and Indonesian
- Understood the animal welfare principals
- Good interpersonal skills