Wildlife Conservation Society, in collaboration with University of California, Berkeley, is looking for a new Technical Advisor for the Reseau de la Biodiversite de Madagascar (REBIOMA). Madagascar is arguably the world's top global conservation priority, and the Government of Madagascar has shown global leadership by committing to triple the area of natural habitat under protection and by engaging local communities in new ways of managing their natural resources. The REBIOMA project is a critical "pillar" in this effort, ensuring that the best scientific planning for biodiversity conservation is used throughout the conservation planning process in both land and sea. Its team of international and Malagasy experts are developing and testing a web-based biodiversity information system that is the first in the world to integrate state-of-the-art tools for describing, accessing, geo-referencing, modeling and serving biodiversity data and conservation plans within a single web-based service. The REBIOMA project is building national capacity to manage biodiversity data and plan and monitor conservation areas. The Madagascar based program of WCS in collaboration with other NGO and government partners has ensured that the REBIOMA project is well-integrated with conservation action in Madagascar. However, for lasting impact, a stable institutional framework for REBIOMA is vital, and developing this framework will be a critical goal for the upcoming years.

The Technical Advisor will work closely with his/her counterpart, the National Coordinator of the REBIOMA project, to build capacity within the REBIOMA team. The Technical Advisor will assist the REBIOMA team specifically in:

• Program management (working with REBIOMA staff, especially the National Coordinator, to develop strategic objectives, work-plans, budgets, reports and to ensure work-flow management)
• Institutional development (working with REBIOMA staff and partners to develop institutional structure, sustainable finance and operational plans for REBIOMA, and to ensure that the staff, facilities and management systems are in place to implement these)
• Conservation planning for marine and terrestrial conservation programmes (working with REBIOMA staff and partners to provide support for conservation planning to address identified national and regional priorities)
• Fund-raising (identifying fund-raising opportunities, developing proposals to donors for funding)
• Representation (representing REBIOMA with the National Coordinator with national and international research institutions and conservation agencies and local partners)

The Technical Advisor position represents a unique and demanding opportunity for an enthusiastic and capable conservation biologist to help launch the development of an important national institution in Madagascar, with the potential to have a major impact on biodiversity conservation in this area. This position is based in Antananarivo, Madagascar (the capital) and reports to the WCS Country Program Director and the REBIOMA Senior Technical Advisor (University of California, Berkeley). Qualified candidates will have:

• A Masters or PhD in a biological or environmental sciences or related field
• Excellent communication, capacity-building and diplomatic skills
• At least three years experience of working in conservation in a developing country, including evidence of experience in institutional development and/or project management
• A proven track-record in obtaining funding
• A high degree of self-motivation, an entrepreneurial spirit, and willingness to take on a high-level of responsibility for the success of REBIOMA.
• Team player interested in mentoring and capacity-building
• French language skills
• Desirable: Knowledge related to the range of potential applications of spatial databases to practical, on-the-ground conservation problems and/or biodiversity informatics

Initially this is expected to be a two year contract depending on performance and availability of funding. Please send curriculum vitae, a cover letter highlighting your qualifications for the position and salary expectations, and names, email addresses and if possible telephone contacts of three referees to Helen Crowley at: hcrowley@wcs.org, copy to recruitment@wcs.org with subject heading "REBIOMA position_your surname" .