JOB DESCRIPTION
COUSIN ISLAND SPECIAL RESERVE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Post Title:
Volunteer Coordinator

Place of work:
Cousin Island Special Reserve

Contract period: 2 years

Salary and perks:
Salary: SCR. 18,000 to 20,000 depending on experience, qualifications/skills, and attitude
Accommodation including furniture and fixtures and cooking gas
Local insurance
Uniform.
21 days off/yr
2 weekends can be taken off island per month.
One Return ticket from and back to country of origin if the post holder is overseas

Responsible to: Chief Executive or designated representative (Island/Reserve Coordinator)

Works daily with:
Chief Warden (CW) and Science Coordinator(SC)

Other working relationships:
Nature Seychelles’ Director of Strategic Operations (booking, finance, reporting) and Communication Manager (marketing communications, media)

Activities
We are looking for an enthusiastic self-starter with the right attitude to work as the Volunteer Coordinator of the new paying volunteer program on Cousin Island Special Reserve (www.cousinisland.net) an award-winning, land and marine Special Reserve in Seychelles. Cousin Island Special Reserve is managed by Nature Seychelles (www.natureseychelles.org). Volunteers are an integral part of the conservation activities of the Reserve. The post holder will run a small paying volunteer program which is to be newly established. The post holder will be recruited before the start of this program so as to, review the current systems and existing documentation and put in place a framework, as well as all necessary documentation involved in a paying volunteer program – this plus familiarization with the Reserve and marketing the program (with the Communication Manager) will take the first 3 months. He/she will then implement the program as well as regularly report on it. The new paying volunteer program will be run in very close collaboration with the Conservation Manager on the island to support and reinforce the existing conservation work program

Duties
Overall Duty
• Put together a paying volunteer program and roll out and manage approved program for about 35 - 40 participants a year
Specific Duties
• Review existing manuals and protocols, ensure they are in line with the new program and draft new protocols/guidelines/presentations as necessary
• Work with the Communication Manager based on Mahe to create and maintain an online marketing scheme
• Put in place a booking system
• Manage volunteer enquires and liaise closely with Nature Seychelles office regarding payments, arrivals, immigration permissions, etc
• Ensure that that the volunteers are introduced to island staff and management practices and work with CW and staff so that that both parties understand the procedures and process
• Organize volunteer transfers and transport on the island with the Chief Warden in line with the island’s transport/boat policy and routine
• Ensure that volunteers are trained in the field in the use of the manuals, required monitoring methods and data collection (no formal training is envisaged)
• Organize daily activities in collaboration with Science Coordinator and Chief Warden and supervise volunteers’ work
• Ensure that health & safety and welfare of volunteers are taken care of; in particular this applies to boat transfers and the marine monitoring program
• Produce regular reports (frequency to be set) on progress of the program and any other related matters as directed

Additional tasks:
You will be living and working on a Special Reserve, and like all staff must be involved in basic running of the island, including pumping water, island maintenance, pushing boats, etc.

Qualifications and skills:
• Prior volunteer management and coordination
• Degree in conservation, environmental or natural sciences
• Current Dive Master qualifications
• Very good social and, communication skills
• Ability to build and hold together teams
• Responsible and mature person who is able to work with local and international personnel, of various ages and backgrounds
• Ability to work independently on a small, isolated island, under hot and humid conditions

Start date
1st January 2017

Deadline and contact for application:
October 20.
Email a CV and covering letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and c.c to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

End of EXP

After two highly successful years of operation, during which more than a dozen professional qualified protected area staff from eight different countries taught and learnt on Cousin Special Island Reserve, the Experience Exchange Programme (EXP) has now closed.
Nature Seychelles wishes to thank all of those who participated, both the EXP volunteers and the staff on Cousin who worked, learnt and lived alongside them, as well as the many other protected area professionals from around the world who applied to take part in the programme.

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