Counter Wildlife Trafficking Support Assistant - Calabar at Wildlife Conservation Society

Position Description

The Assistant(s) will support the CWT Advisor in-country, the Regional CWT Technical Advisor, and the WCS CWT Strategy by proactively identifying, gathering, and reporting information relating to illegal wildlife trade, wildlife trafficking, illegal logging (and other environmental crimes as directed) from a variety of sources. The role will require travel across the region as required in line with WCS objectives. 

Why Join Us? 

• Dynamic Team: join a dynamic team and work in a collaborative and conducive environment where your ideas and everyone\'s input are valued. 
• Growth Opportunities: We believe in providing an enabling environment to develop your career. We are committed to developing your skills and competencies and offer opportunities for career advancement.
• Supportive Environment: Work with a team that values respect, teamwork, and excellence.

Purpose and Responsibilities:
Provide in-country administrative and operational support to CWT activities in Nigeria, focusing on assisting the national team with program implementation and coordination:

• Local Information Gathering: Provide timely support on local, regional, and national Counter Wildlife Trafficking (CWT) trends by gathering and analyzing relevant information through open-source intelligence (OSINT) and local contacts.
• Activity Coordination: Assist in the acquisition, collation, and reporting of CWT activities from the national team, ensuring timely submission of reports and data for both program requirements and donor compliance.
• Communication and Reporting: Facilitate clear communication and reporting of trafficking threats, operational activities, and intelligence from Nigeria to the regional and global CWT teams, ensuring proper dissemination of relevant information.
• Logistical Support: Help in planning and organizing program-related activities, including coordinating meetings, workshops, and travel arrangements for the CWT Advisor, Research Assistant(s), and Technical Advisor.
• Event and Workshop Assistance: Provide on-ground support for CWT events, workshops, and training sessions, ensuring smooth logistics, including travel, accommodation, and materials preparation.
• Document Support: Assist with document reviews related to ongoing CWT operations and provide logistical and administrative support for operational activities.
• Information Sharing: Help create and share regular updates on national and regional CWT activities, including local assessments, events, and ongoing initiatives.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Support engagement with local and national stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and community groups, to facilitate CWT operations.
• Publication Reviews: Regularly review and assess governmental, NGO, and academic publications related to CWT and wildlife conservation within Nigeria to keep the team updated on current trends and policies.

Work Relations (Essential points of contact for the role)

• Country CWT Advisor
• Country Director

Essential criteria for candidates:

• Bachelor’s degree in criminology, criminal justice, law enforcement, conservation biology, or a related field, OR at least 2 years of demonstrable relevant experience
• Assertive, social and articulate
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals and groups
• Strong analytical and/or problem-solving skills
• IT literate with familiarity with cloud-based filing, MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Teams essential
• The capacity to maintain high levels of confidentiality and discretion
• Ability to travel and operate autonomously when necessary
• Excellent English language (both written and spoken) and at least one local language – other languages are a plus

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Previous experience in a support role within an NGO, charity, or local organization, especially in project coordination or administration.
• Educated to at least a bachelor’s degree level in a relevant field.
• Experience in handling and managing sensitive information, ideally within a conservation or wildlife protection context.
• Familiar with reporting requirements and processes for donor-funded programs.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and other relevant software.
• Knowledge of CWT and wildlife conservation issues in Nigeria and Africa.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken; proficiency in local Nigerian languages is an advantage.
• Ability to work independently and coordinate tasks in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

WSC Values: 

All WCS team members are expected to demonstrate strong professional and ethnics values. These include.

• Exemplifying integrity 
• Accountability and Transparency
• Demonstrating commitment to WCS Nigeria 
• Embracing cultural diversity and respect
• Embracing change 

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results 
• Being accountable 
• Working in teams/ managing ourselves and our relationships 
• Communicating for impact 

Functional Skill Set: 

• Information and intelligence gathering 
• Managing data 
• Managing documents, correspondence, and reports 
• Managing information and workflow 
• Planning, organizing, and multitasking.