Summary
Date Posted: Monday, August 08, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Conservation Social Scientist
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is seeking a talented professional to join our team as a Conservation Social Scientist. The position is based out of the Ellen DeGeneres Campus, located in Kinigi, Rwanda and the Nkuba Conservation Area in eastern DR Congo. The successful applicant will join a dynamic team to develop a research programs related to our mission of Helping People, Saving Gorillas. As the organization embarks on an exciting new chapter in its 50+ year history, we are seeking a dynamic, energetic, and experienced individual who is passionate about conservation to join our expanding team.
To learn more about the Fossey Fund, please see the following videos:
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Overview - YouTube
Community Engagement Work
Ellen Campus overview

Job Overview
As the Conservation Social Scientist, you will lead the Fossey Fund’s research in areas related to livelihoods, food security, community forestry, payment for ecosystem services, natural resource use, benefit sharing and sustainable development. Key Responsibilities
• Research, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Working with Chief Scientific Officer and relevant teams in Rwanda and DR Congo, conduct and implement research projects relevant to Fossey Fund’s community engagement programs, and in areas around natural resource use, community forestry and carbon credit work
• Research benchmark data (SDGs, IRIS metrics, Multidimensional Poverty Index, etc.) to incorporate into community program metrics
• Develop monitoring and evaluation framework and tools for community work in countries
• Develop data collection tools and standards for community work, particularly in Congo, and train staff as needed
• Assist with data management, specifically ensuring data quality and integrity.
• Catalyze studies and collection of required data to inform decision making and planning on key dimensions, including
• Quantifying changes in human well being
• Quantifying long-term sustainability of programs
• Publish 1-2 peer reviewed papers annually on community programs
• Help develop and lead evaluation of the Fossey Fund’s community forest model of conservation in Congo
• Working with Rwanda and Atlanta team, draft annual impact report on community programs in Rwanda and DRC
Teaching and Mentorship
• Working under the Academic Programs Manager and with relevant staff, assist with implementing strategic goals for in-country undergraduate and post-graduate educational programs. These could include:
• Short courses, certifications
• Seminars
• Internships
• National and international partnerships
• Organize a minimum of two short course/certificate trainings each year to be hosted on the Fossey Fund’s Ellen Campus; audience would be early career African practioners in social science research.
• Working under the Academic Programs Manager, help develop relationships with new institutions of higher learning in Rwanda and the region to develop and implement partnerships aimed at increasing research and educational opportunities within/given by the Fossey Fund, with a particular focus on the areas highlighted above.
• Similarly, develop new partnerships with national and international institutions of higher learning with a particular focus on areas highlighted above. Activities with these programs could include:
• Research, including recruitment of international PhD students for relevant research areas
• Mentorship
• Study abroad programs
• Co-led course development
• Certification programs
• Scholarship opportunities for Rwandans for post-graduate degrees
• Serve as academic mentor to undergraduate and graduate students interested in social science research
• Identify and write grants to support above activities
• Work with Atlanta team to ensure that data required for donor reporting are collected, collated, analyzed and prepared for reports in timely fashion
• Assist in report writing
• Other duties as assigned

Qualification Requirements
• PhD (preferred) with 2+ years of experience or Master’s with 5+ years of experience
• Proven experience building and testing M&E frameworks for NGOs or social enterprises with a focus on community development and impact
• Strong qualitative and quantitative skills, proven IT skills including database management and knowledge of statistical software (R of Stats) and use of data collection tools like Kobo Toolbox
• Demonstrated skills in oversight of research, assessment and evaluations
• Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability and ability to perform and collaborate in complex and politically sensitive project environments
• Demonstrated skills in problem solving and consensus building
• Fluency in English and French/Swahili (oral, writing, and reading)
• Ability to travel within DRC, although position would be based out of our Rwanda office."> Preferred Qualifications
• Familiarity with Sustainable Development Goals and broader impact frameworks
• Incorporating a gender lens into M&E frameworks and impact measurement
• Experience in implementing organizational capacity building programs
• Knowledge of the political, social, and economic context of DRC and/or Rwanda
• Interest in wildlife conservation and environmental issues

Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
Interested parties should send a CV and letter of interest to Helen Law at hlaw@gorillafund.org  

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