Awareness, Communication and Education Officer

Vacancy Announcement:

Free the Bears

Awareness, Communications & Education (ACE) Officer

- Vietnam Programme

Applications are sought from suitable individuals to fill the role of Awareness, Communication and Education (ACE) Officer with Free the Bears in Vietnam.

Start Date:                                        1^st June 2024, or as soon as possible.

Closing date for applications:           07^th May 2024

About Free the Bears work in Vietnam

Free the Bears is an international Non-Governmental Organisation founded in 1995 to protect, preserve and enrich the lives of bears throughout the world. Since 2008, Free the Bears maintains a presence in Vietnam. Working in close partnership with Cat Tien National Park (CTNP), Free the Bears is implementing an ambitious programme aimed at supporting the elimination of the illegal trade in bear bile through development of Cat Tien Bear Sanctuary (CTBS) in order to house Asiatic black bears and Sun bears rescued from the bile farming industry. The CTBS is already home to 47 rescued bears, with further expansion of the sanctuary planned in order to increase capacity and support further rescues. This year we will complete work on the Bear Discovery Centre where visitors will learn about bear welfare and conservation.

Our Awareness, Communication & Education (ACE) Teams provide local and international youth groups with tailor-made schedules packed with interactive lessons, games and activities about wildlife, the environment, conservation and sustainability. With our Bear Care Tours, we offer half-day and full-day experiences at our sanctuaries in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Visitors enjoy a fun and fascinating behind-the-scenes tour learning more about the bears and finding out what it takes to care for them. Visitors hear the moving stories of the rescued bears, meet the bears and help the Bear Care Team prepare food and enrichment treats.Free the Bears conducts Community Outreach activities in the communities around our sanctuaries in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to increase wildlife awareness and educate local communities about the illegal wildlife trade.  All of our bear sanctuaries feature learning zones with bear viewing areas.

The ACE Officer will work as part of a small team to deliver educational activities to build support for Free the Bears and bear conservation. This is a full-time position based at Free the Bears’ Vietnam Bear Sanctuary in Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Province. The applicant should consider their ability to live and work at the remote area within Cat Tien National Park.

Job Description

The role of Awareness, Communication and Education (ACE) Officer involves managing the education programme in Vietnam to achieve agreed-upon goals and objectives to further improve attitudes towards bears from Vietnamese and international visitors. Ideally, the applicant will have tertiary degree in tourism, marketing, hospitality or similar subject and have several years of relevant ecotourism experience. In addition, experience working in a captive animal setting would be held in high regard. In this role, you will be responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of the Education Programme that includes but is not limited to school and group tours, private guided tours, preparation of education materials, and merchandise management. You will regularly brief the Sanctuary Manager on sanctuary matters and actively support the development the environmental enrichment programme.

This position includes components of administration, fundraising and logistics to ensure the smooth running of the sanctuary.

The primary role of the Awareness, Communication and Education Officer will be:

• Assist with organizing logistics (e.g. booking rooms, transport, meals) for international volunteers;
• Assist hands-on with volunteer activities (e.g. preparing bear food, cleaning dens/enclosures, making enrichment);
• Promote Bear Care Tours in local area for visitors to Cat Tien National Park;
• Deliver Bear Care Tours according to the high standards set by Free the Bears;
• Host local and international school and youth groups;
• Promote education programme with international schools in HCMC;
• Provide written and photographic updates to Free the Bears Communications Team;
• Coordinate delivery of a Run for Wildlife event in Cat Tien National Park in 2024 with support from the Free the Bears regional team;
• Manage merchandise sales/inventory;
• Assist with Vietnamese-English translation as required;
• Assist with setting up Bear Discovery Centre, under the guidance of Free the Bears regional team.

The ACE Officer may also be involved in rescue operations when bears are freed from bear bile farms. Given the nature of our work, which is often unpredictable due to rescues occurring often at short notice, a high degree of flexibility and excellent time management skills are required.

Job Skills and Qualifications

• Willingness to be based in remote location with limited amenities is essential;
• Excellent oral and written communications skills with proficiency in English and Vietnamese. Additional language skills would be advantageous;
• Exceptional customer service skills;
• Ability to manage multiple administrative tasks effectively, ensuring smooth operations;
• At least 1 years of experience working in the tourism would be advantageous;
• Experience in conducting educational tours and workshops for diverse audiences.
• Previous experience working in the NGO sector would be advantageous;
• Proven ability to organize and coordinate events such as volunteer activities, public tours, and special events like the Run for Wildlife would be highly beneficial;
• Capability to manage logistics, including booking rooms, arranging transport, and coordinating meals for groups and volunteers;
• Experience in merchandise management and inventory control.
• Excellent punctuality;
• Willingness to work on weekends and National Holidays when required, with time off in-lieu;
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills; other software skills advantageous, particularly design and video editing;
• Skills in photography and basic graphic design to create engaging visual content would be beneficial;
• Tertiary level education, preferably in the fields of communication, environment or wildlife;
• A certificate of good conduct from the Police/Justice Department will be requested at the time of employment;
• Passionate about wildlife conservation, animal welfare and advocacy;
• Car driving license would be advantageous.

Contract:            

• Negotiable, but preference for a one-year contract, extendable depending on funding and outcomes achieved;
• 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, with some weekend work required;
• 2-month probation period;

Location:             

Based in Cat Tien Bear Sanctuary & Cat Tien Bear Rescue Centre, Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam; with occasional work at other sites in Vietnam and at Free the Bears sanctuaries in Cambodia and Laos.

Reporting to:       Cat Tien Bear Sanctuary Manager; Regional Communications Manager; Vietnam Programme Manager.

Benefits and Terms:

• Competitive salary based on qualifications, experience and contract type;
• Social & health insurance, unemployment insurance of the employee will be paid in accordance with the regulations on insurance after passing probation period;
• Medical insurance;
• Basic accommodation in Cat Tien Village, near the National Park;
• Paid holidays (15 Annual leave and National Holidays as prescribed in the labour code of Vietnam);
• A bonus of one month’s salary will be paid at Lunar New Year after completion of at least one year;
• Opportunities for international travel following probationary period;
• A rare opportunity to develop new skills and improve existing skillsets in a unique and exciting environment;
• Be part of an international organization driving change in the fields of wildlife conservation and animal welfare.

Applications

Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter stating potential start date and suitability for this role, in English, by email to [email protected] with the subject line “VN ACE Officer Application”.