Veterinary Program Assistant

Job Title: Veterinary Program Assistant

Reports To: Veterinary Program Officer

Supervisee: N/A

Department/Group: Wildlife Health

Location: Ha Noi

Contract term: 1 year fixed term

I. BACKGROUND

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a non-profit, private organization that saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature.

WCS has been working to strengthen the commitment and capacity of the Vietnamese government to combat wildlife trafficking since 2006 and have established a well-respected presence in the country, providing support to a range of government agencies. WCS work in Viet Nam is focused on wildlife law enforcement, combatting wildlife trafficking and using health as “lever” for change in policies and practices associated with the hunting, trade and consumption of wildlife. For example, in Viet Nam, WCS leads the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threat Program’s (EPT) PREDICT project, which is focused on understanding and addressing drivers of infectious disease emergence. In Viet Nam WCS/PREDICT focuses on characterizing the behavioural and biological risk of infectious disease emergence along the wildlife trade value chain and other high-risk wildlife/human/domestic animal interfaces. An essential component of the PREDICT project is translating the data generated on disease risk into policy and actions needed to address wildlife trafficking in the region and prevent the devastating and destabilizing effects of a disease pandemic.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

The Veterinary Program Assistant (VPA) will contribute to WCS’s work in Viet Nam by assisting the veterinary technical team in the implementation of wildlife health related projects.

• The VPA will support the Wildlife Health team in Viet Nam, in coordination with Vietnamese government agencies and project partners, to plan and implement wildlife disease surveillance and research at the human/wildlife/domestic animal interface;
• The VPA will support the Wildlife Health team in Viet Nam to ensure efficient and accurate organization of documentation and finances for wildlife health projects.

III. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Project activities implementation

• Assists Wildlife Health Team in Viet Nam with planning of wildlife disease surveillance and research projects related to disease at the human/wildlife/domestic animal interface including the wildlife trade;
• Assists with collection of samples from wild animals, appropriate storage and handling of these samples, and acquisition of export permits where necessary for diagnostics;
• Assists in training students and project partners on wildlife health issues, sample collection, and animal handling;
• Assists with organization of stakeholder meetings organized by the Wildlife Health Team in Viet Nam and present and translate material where necessary;
• Works with Wildlife Health Team to generate financial reports, project reports, and donor reports in English and Vietnamese.

B. Data Management

• Assists with field data collection, data entry, and data management associated with field-based wildlife disease surveillance and research projects.

C. Networking and Partnership

• Communicate and coordinate with WCS Wildlife Health project partners and relevant institutions in Viet Nam.

D. Workplan and Budget Management

• Assures timely accounting and reporting on all project expenditures.

E. Others

• Represents the WCS Wildlife Health Team in public meetings and events as required;
• Performs other tasks as assigned by the direct supervisor.

IV. REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum bachelor/college degree in a related field of veterinary medicine;
• Language: English and Vietnamese language is essential to effective performance in this position;
• Fluency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

In addition, the following qualification is asset:

• Experience conducting infectious disease research and laboratory diagnostics in Viet Nam;
• Basic skills in animal handling, biological sample collection, data recording and sample management;

Required Competencies

• Time management
• Communication
• Team building
• Accountability
• Result orientation
• Detail oriented
• Risk management

V. HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, CV, contact details for references to:

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu My – Human Resource Officer
Wildlife Conservation Society
106 building D, No. 3 Thanh Cong street, Ba Dinh district, Ha Noi.
Email: [email protected]

Deadline for applications: 8th June 2018

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.