Management and Landscape Planner

YUS Conservation Area Management and Landscape Planner
Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, Lae, Papua New Guinea

The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) of Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle, USA) is a community-based conservation program, dedicated to conservation in the YUS Local Level Government region on the Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province, PNG.

Job Title: Management and Landscape Planner YUS Conservation Area

Position type: Annual Contract (renewal dependent on grant funding)

Remuneration: Dependent on qualifications and experience (won’t be posted)

Purpose: Under the guidance of the TKCP Manager, the Conservation Area Management and Landscape Planner will assume responsibility for the coordination and delivery of 1) Conservation Area Management Plan meeting the requirements of PNG Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and 2) Landscape Plan for the YUS Conservation Area, buffer zones and village zones.

Location: Based in Cairns, Australia and Lae, Papua New Guinea.

Background:
In April 2008, Seattle’s (USA) Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ) Tree Kangaroo Conservation program (TKCP) opened an office in Lae, Morobe Province, PNG to support the YUS Conservation Area (YUS CA). This office is staffed with a PNG Program Coordinator, Conservation and GIS Coordinator, Research and Monitoring Coordinator, Agro-forestry and Livelihoods Coordinator, Education Coordinator, and a Community Organization Coordinator, as well as a number of field staff based in the YUS CA.
TKCP works in concert with multiple partners including the PNG Department of Environment and Conservation, Australia’s James Cook University (where this position will be based), Conservation International, the local YUS Conservation Organization, and the multi-stakeholder YUS Conservation Area Management Committee to improve conservation and livelihoods outcomes on the Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES
The Landscape Planner will report to the TKCP Manager, in technical consultation with the WPZ TKCP staff in Cairns, Lae, and Seattle. The successful candidate will liaise with program leads and coordinate the collection and summary of information (including ecological, economic, and spatial data, and conservation and development planning results). The candidate will also participate in planning workshops in YUS villages. The successful candidate will be responsible for complex planning, communications, and producing a Management Plan and a YUS Landscape Plan.

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience
• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree, preferably a Graduate Degree in Environmental Planning, Socio-economics, or related field
• Five years or more of work experience in planning for conservation in developing world environments or similar. Experience in field projects strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of ArcGIS and spatial and temporal planning
• Demonstrated success in producing Management and/or Landscape Plans
• Excellent writing skills and experience producing extensive written documents
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills
• A demonstrated high work ethic and proven ability to take direction, and assume a high level of responsibility and leadership with minimal supervision
• Ability to work consistently at a fast pace, under pressure, while adapting to changing priorities
• Knowledge in other natural resource disciplines such as forest resource management and Agroforestry would be beneficial
• Working knowledge of REDD+ and other landscape management financing mechanisms
• Ability to understand and meet multiple policy objectives related to the management of natural resources.
• Experience in Asia Pacific, specifically Melanesia region, would be highly regarded.
• Ability to travel to remote villages for workshops

Duties and Responsibilities
1 Produce a Management Plan by the end of 2011
• In consultation with various stakeholders and TKCP Program Leads, develop plan components addressing the management of multiple landscape zones (protected, buffer and livelihoods zones) and produce a framework for developing the Management Plan within the first 3 months of employment.
• Collate information from multiple program leads in multiple disciplines for inclusion in the management Plan.
• Develop a draft Management Plan within the first 6 months of employment and coordinate a stakeholder consultation process over the following two months.
• Incorporate feedback and deliver a final product by the end of 2011.

2 Produce a YUS Landscape Plan by the end of 2012 for distribution to stakeholders
• Lead multiple-stakeholder discussions, develop and provide an acceptable outline within the first 6 months of employment. The outline will include a vision, objectives and timed activities
• Liaise with multiple partners and program leads, where necessary, advising on field work required to produce the landscape Plan.
• Incorporate results from field programs including governance, conservation and economic data, development options, conservation area management and enforcement protocols.
• Deliver a draft for distribution followed by a broad stakeholder consultations process. and incorporate feedback by mid-2012
• Deliver an approved YUS Landscape Plan for distribution to stakeholders by end of 2012

3 General
• Conduct research, analysis, and planning activities related to the YUS Conservation Area
• Author technical reports, papers, and memos as needed for the project
• Prepare presentations, handouts, and other public information sheets
• Interact with stakeholders in YUS and with different levels of government in PNG
• Collaborate with other staff performing planning and analysis activities
• Participate in public meetings and address questions related to the project
• Other responsibilities and duties as assigned

Reports Directly to: The TKCP Manager

Application:

For further information about the position please contact Zachary Wells Zachary.wells@treekangaroo.org or by phone on +675 472 7226 (PNG) or +61 7 4042 1856 (Australia)

To apply, please email to Zachary.wells@treekangaroo.org by 11 April 2011:
• a cover letter addressing the selection criteria and your interest in the position,
• a copy of your CV,
• copies of your university transcripts, and
• A list of three references.

Interviews will begin in April 2011 with an anticipated start in May/June 2011. For more information regarding the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program please go to www.zoo.org/treekangaroo.