for
an easy-to-save version of this information.
The Kingfisher
Project is part funded by the European Social Fund
Information for Applicants
Trainee Coastal Monitoring Projects Manager
About the Placement
Ambios Environmental Consultants Ltd (AEC) is offering two trainee positions, both working with the Centres of Coastal Connectivity (CeCoCo) project. The placements will be based in Taunton, and offer a range of work experience opportunities. Trainees may opt to share the work themes (see below), or can divide responsibilities according to the individual interests and skills of the candidates selected.
AEC operates independently from the not-for-profit company Ambios, providing a range of commercial, scientific coastal zone survey and consultancy services. A current project is to set up a ‘shop’ that offers fulfilling, marine-science based volunteering experience abroad to a wide range of European clients. This venture aims to optimise and dovetail the personal development opportunities of the volunteer and the financial, social and scientific capabilities of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) abroad and the communities they work with.
CeCoCo is a pilot project that has been running in Central America for three years. In 2006 the project has some 20 European volunteers working at five NGOs at coastal sites on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Guatemala. The project has been supported by Ambios and by the European Voluntary Service. To develop further it needs to consolidate the progress made over the last three years and to set up a management plan and structure for sound sustainable operation in the future.
The Kingfisher trainees will be involved in the development of the following themes.
1. Reviewing, analysing and publishing the social and scientific data collected from the CeCoCo sites over the past three years.
2. Planning and remotely managing the volunteer activities in 2006 (teaching and social interaction in small coastal communities, scientific investigation and monitoring of habitat/species interactions in coast and mangrove environments).
3. Developing simple and effective scientific methodologies that can be used at field sites and in university departments in-country.
4. Liaising with conservation NGO partners in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica
5. Setting up volunteer management infrastructure, including recruitment, fund-raising support, information dissemination, in-country support and past-volunteer networks.
6. Publicising volunteer opportunities through the media and personal presentations.
7. Looking at language (Spanish) issues and developing strategies to enhance volunteer communication skills.
8. Helping to develop a new Coastal Zone NVQ qualification and methodologies for enabling it to be utilised by volunteers working abroad.
Work will take place in an office and laboratory environment. Kingfishers will be expected to perform basic office-management tasks including phone and e-mail communications, word processing and data-base management. There will be opportunity to develop web publishing skills (FrontPage training) and working with Geographical Information Systems (MapInfo training).
There may be opportunity to get involved, on an ad hoc basis, in AEC commercial projects that may be running. Current and recent AEC projects include biotope recognition through seabed mapping in Lyme Bay (Devon Wildlife Trust), and survey and EIA work as part of the project to widen the Panama Canal (Autoridad del Canal de Panamá). There will be opportunities to network with a range of organisations and individuals involved in marine environmental projects.
Hours will be normal office hours i.e. 9.00am – 5.00pm, flexible if office-cover can be arranged. Some weekend or evening work will be required for which time off in lieu can be taken. Five days paid leave may be taken in addition to public holidays.
It will be the trainees’ responsibility to ensure that they can travel to our Taunton office. We are by the railway station. Travel/mileage allowance is available for essential travel for work purposes in addition to travel to training events. Assistance with the cost of childcare is available, further details will be provided on request. Accommodation may be available on-site.
Trainees are not employed by Ambios Environmental Consultants Ltd.
About You
We will expect a commitment from our trainees for the full placement period (February – September). You must be convinced of the value of a properly acquired NVQ and promise to ensure that all modules are completed to the assessor’s satisfaction. We will need to be convinced that you will dedicatedly get involved in our work programme and that you intend to gain maximum benefit from the placement.
We are looking for individuals with a genuine interest in a career in nature conservation and or social issues in the developing world. Be advised that you need to demonstrate a history of such interest.
The work will involve meeting and talking to people, which you need to be comfortable with. We will expect you to be able to deal with inquiries, make decisions, solve problems and present information using IT and other media.
Linguistic skills, especially with Spanish, will be a bonus but not essential.
For further information please contact Rob Nunny on 01823 325816 or 07977 129028
Interviews
Any applicants who have not heard from us by the date of the interview should consider their applications unsuccessful.