Animal Welfare Assistant (Captive Animal Management - Rescue Centres)

Job title:  Animal Welfare Assistant (captive animal management - rescue centres)

Employer: Animals Asia Foundation

Full-time post: 5 days/week

Location: Vietnam (based in Hoang Lien Rescue Center)

Gross salary : 500USD/month

Duration of Position: Two-year contract (extendable)

Direct report: Animal welfare department manager & Animal welfare advisor

Job Description:

Animals Asia Foundation's Captive Animal Welfare Department has been working to improve and connect Government Wild Animal Rescue facilities in Vietnam for 6 years.  The work includes working directly with the Animal Caretaker staff and managers in Rescue Centers to improve the reception, care, handling and release  into the wild of species that come to these centers.

Under their new strategy the Animals Asia Foundation are expanding their operations to include a staff member permanently in each of the centers for which they collaborate.  To begin in 2022 we are looking for a new staff member to be based in the Hoang Lien Rescue Center in Lao Cai Province.  The successful applicant would ideally have previous Animal care experience.  Full training and constant mentoring will be provided by the in-country Animal Welfare Advisor with training being conducted on site and at other facilities holding wild captive animals.

The role will include hands-on work with animals as well as a range of other functions including planning, translating animal literature to staff, planning enrichment and facility improvements in collaboration with the Animal Welfare Advisor and Hoang Lien Rescue Center.  The position requires the successful candidate to be based near the Hoang Lien Rescue Center as they will work with the staff there on a daily basis.

Self motivation and good communication are key to the role as while the successful candidate learns and is trained in designing and implementing high standards of animal welfare they will act as an intermediary between the Animal Welfare Advisor and Hoang Lien Rescue Center to implement improvements until they are fully trained.

Primary objective; Improve animal welfare at project partner facilities

Project Partner facilities

• Hoang Lien Rescue Center
• Hai Duong Pagoda
• Other facilities, if any, in the future

Key responsibilities

• Oversee the daily animal management activities at the project partner facility in collaboration with Animal welfare advisor to ensure agreed protocols are being carried out and ensure effective evaluation and monitoring
• Deliver technical advice and practical animal welfare support to facilities in Vietnam to improve welfare

Additional responsibilities

• Maintain positive working relationships with programme partners and government agencies.
• Deliver public awareness messages about the illegality of keeping macaque and other wildlife species as pet to the local community

Travel

• This role requires the candidate to be based in Hoang Lien National Park with occasional travel to other projects.

Animal welfare department programme support

• Provide support to the AW assistant to deliver public education programmes

Administration

• Contribute activities to the departmental working report
• Provide program background and working progress under request from other colleagues;

Inter-department relations

• Support requests from other departments
• Ensure that inter-department and inter-personal relationships are positive, cohesive, and contribute to the overall mission of Animals Asia
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships regarding work procedures, employee relations and procurement related concerns
• Collaborate with fundraising and communication departments to promote animal welfare campaigns and events through internal and external media

Continuous improvement

• Contribute to the on-going review, development and implementation of changes to improve the productivity and efficiency of Animals Asia
• Participate in staff training and performance and development appraisal process to assist in the achievement of Animals Asia objectives and mission.

Miscellaneous

• Promote and advocate Animals Asia to the public
• Follow established Animals Asia procedures and policies

Application process: applications including a CV and a cover letter (in English) should be sent to [email protected] by Wednesday, 15^th December. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview in the week beginning 20^th December.