Camp and Research Manager LuiKotale Bonobo Project
Gottfried Hohmann
The LuiKotale Bonobo Project offers the position for a Camp and Research Manager at the field site of LuiKotale, Democratic Republic of Congo. The person will be in charge of camp management, logistics, and communication. This includes organizing working schedules of field assistants, payments to local workers, organizing food and other supplies, maintenance of camp infrastructure, communication with our base in Kinshasa and with local villages. The camp manager represents the project towards regional and local authorities, NGOs, and the Congolese Wildlife Authority. Candidates should have social skills, a sense of leadership, a strong motivation to take on responsibility, and tolerance. Candidates with medical and rescue training will be preferred.
The Luikotale research site is very remote. Access to the site is with charter planes from Kinshasa and a subsequent hike of 25 km across dense and swampy forest. There is no running water, phone coverage or internet access. Electricity is limited to power supplied by solar panels. Daily communication is restricted to text-only emails transferred via the camp’s short wave radio. Assistants sleep in sheltered tents and mostly eat simple, local foods (e.g., beans, manioc and rice). French and English are spoken in the camp but communication in French is an essential prerequisite for executing camp administration. Candidates must be (a) physically fit; (b) resistant to mental stress; (c) self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision while out in the field; and (d) tolerant to different social customs and beliefs. Team members share resources which requires social and communication skills. The ability to work in a team is essential. Note that the LKBP adheres strictly to gender equality and will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment.
Field conditions are physically and mentally challenging; work hours can be very long, and assistants are sometimes exposed to severe weather and tropical diseases. Team members live in close proximity to one another and have to adjust to changes in the team composition. Please carefully consider whether you will be able to cope with these conditions for an extended period of time before applying for this position.
Candidates need a health insurance covering expenses in case of a health emergency evacuation by charter plane. Expenses for the initial entrance visa to DRC, the health insurance, and the costs for the stay in Kinshasa, will not be reimbursed. The project covers costs for the long-term visa in DRC, the domestic return flight upfront, and a contribution of up to 800 Euro to the international return ticket after successful completion of the appointment.
SALARY/FUNDING
500 Euro during training (1st month) and 700 Euro/month thereafter
SUPPORT
- food (mainly local food and some western food items)
- lodging (in tents) at the field site
- airfare for one flight from Kinshasa to the field site and back
- contribution of up to 800 Euro to the international return flight (reimbursement ONLY AFTER SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE FULL TERM OF APPOINTMENT)
- please note that expenses during the stay in Kinshasa on the way in/out of Congo as well as the costs for a health insurance can not be covered by the project
TERM OF APPOINTMENT
12 months starting in December 2024/January 2025
Comments:
Applications include an updated CV, a letter of motivation that shows how the candidate meets the qualifications outlined above, references of three people (or their contact information). Applications should be send to Dr. Gottfried Hohmann (hoh...@eva.mpg.de) and Dr. Barbara Fruth (bfr...@ab.mpg.de)
Information about the research and conservation activities at LuiKotale is available at
https://www.ab.mpg.de/342195/prof-dr-barbara-
https://www.bonobo-alive.org/index.html