Position Summary/Objective

• This position focuses on the behavior study of Asian elephants and deep understanding of the causes and trends of human-elephant conflicts. In accordance with IFAW's ISP, this position collaborates with all stakeholders to formulate science-based and pragmatic intervention solutions for mitigating human-elephant conflicts, promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and elephants.
• This position oversees the operation and management of the AEP Program, including program planning, budgeting, implementation of program activities, evaluation & reporting, staff performance management, relationship building and maintenance with key partners, and internal and external communication of the program.
• Lead the team to guide and mobilize the local communities in adopting eco-friendly economy and lifestyles, conduct risk assessments and community needs surveys, and promote the implementation of community engagement activities in a participatory manner.
• As an expert of the IFAW AEP Program, conduct exchanges and cooperation on human-elephant conflict mitigation internally and externally, and support the Country Director and Development Department to raise funds for AEP.

Role and Responsibilities

• Systematically design and conduct research on the behavior patterns of Asian elephants such as roaming routes, foraging preferences, family dynamics and characters of targeted individuals, and write research reports.
• Establish a standardized conflict incidents database and behavioral risk assessment model, and conduct in-depth analysis of the causes, key challenges and intervention points of human-elephant conflicts.
• Work with the Country Director, IFAW Global Program Director and experts to formulate scientific and effective conflict mitigation plans, providing theoretical and data support to inform and formulate IFAW's global strategy.
• Conduct formal information sharing and academic exchange activities with governments, NFGA, scientific research institutions, conservation organizations and all relevant stakeholders at local and national levels.
• Actively participate in workshops and seminars of HEC prevention and mitigation planning and policy making. Provide professional technical support, coordinate joint monitoring, emergency response, and promote best practice models.
• Cooperate with local and national government agencies, scientific research institutions, and internal and external experts to design eco-friendly community economy, achieving “lower impact on elephant habits, increased income for community and increased safety for humans and elephants”.
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments and community needs surveys for community engagements, and promote the implementation of these activities in a community-participatory manner.
• Manage the team: involve, support and mobilize program staff to formulate work plans, conduct professional training and conduct staff performance assessment.
• Manage program implementation: support the Country Director and Operations/Compliance Manager to prepare annual work plans, reports and budgets, ensuring that these plans and budgets meet the compliance requirements of both IFAW and China's NGO supervisory authorities.
• Be responsible for the real-time budget, conducting adaptive adjustments quarterly, and communicate these adjustments with the Country Director and Global Program Director in a timely manner.
• Plan and organize academic and best practice exchange activities, participate in domestic and international exchanges as IFAW China’s designated elephant expert, and regularly interact and share with IFAW's experts and global program colleagues.
• Collaborate with the Behavior Change Officer and jointly develop easy-to-understand scientific and safety education content as an expert, and plan training activities for villagers, farmers and students in the HEC communities to effectively improve community resilience against HEC.
• Support the IFAW Brand & Marketing Communications Manager, submit program communication content monthly to promote the project internally and externally, and accept media interviews as a program spokesperson.
• Support the Country Director and Development Department to raise funds for the program.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Professional Background: Bachelor's degree or above, major in Wildlife Ethology, Zoology, Ecology, Conservation Biology, Wildlife and Nature Reserve Management or other related fields is preferred.
• Proficiency in wildlife behavior observation, ethogram identification and conflict analysis methods. Experience in animal behavior study, data collection and analysis; in-depth knowledge in elephant-related research and human-wildlife conflict prevention projects is preferred.
• Able to independently complete research plan design, field research and professional report writing.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in conservation and rural development.
• Pragmatic and practical thinker and doer, able to convert wildlife ethology knowledge into implementable prevention and control measures, safety education content and community development projects.
• Ability to conduct professional communication and reporting with governments, scientific institutions and conservation organizations.
• Excellent communication, convincing and mobilization skills with communities; experience in eco-friendly economy and rural development projects is a plus.
• Excellent coordination and team management skills, and can act as a trainer; able to effectively lead and mobilize team members to work collaboratively and willing to fully communicate the program progress in all directions.
• Willing to work in the field and with rural communities long-term, travel frequently, and be competent in handling emergency situations.  
• Embrace international standard conservation principles and the concept of harmonious coexistence between wildlife and communities; have a strong sense of responsibility, empathy and the ability to work under pressure; and possess strong interdisciplinary integration capabilities and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in English writing and speaking is a must.