Major Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Species Monitoring and Research
The Program Associate will lead and support wildlife research and monitoring initiatives in the Terai Arc Landscape and Conservation Program (TALCP) using established methodologies for key species and their habitats. S/he will provide timely, evidence-based recommendations to inform adaptive management and conservation interventions. The role also includes identifying critical field research needs and developing concept proposals that contribute to long-term species and habitat conservation planning.
2. Data Management, Analysis, and Reporting
The Program Associate will support the collection and management of field data using standardized protocols adopted by WWF Nepal. S/he will be responsible for maintaining and updating databases and conducting data analysis using established statistical tools and software such as Occupancy and SECR models. In close collaboration with the Wildlife Biologist, the Program Associate will also contribute to drafting technical reports and research publications, ensuring that field data and research findings are accurately translated into high-quality documentation for internal and external audiences.
3. Project Implementation
The Program Associate will support the implementation of species research, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and other related initiatives under the Terai Arc Landscape and Conservation Program (TALCP), in line with the annual work plan. In close coordination with conservation partners, the Program Associate will mobilize and supervise wildlife technicians, students, citizen scientists, and local community members to ensure effective and inclusive field research implementation and other initiatives.
4. Planning and Monitoring
Working in close coordination with the Wildlife Biologist and relevant thematic leads, the Program Associate will assist in planning, executing, and monitoring field-level activities. This role will also include regularly tracking and reporting the progress of conservation delivery across TALCP sites to ensure timely implementation and adaptive management of program priorities.
5. Reporting
The Program Associate will play a key role in preparing high-quality drafts of donor reports, summarizing field activities and technical progress under various projects implemented in the Terai Arc Landscape and Conservation Program (TALCP). S/he will be responsible for compiling research findings, field monitoring data, and technical reports into concise, accurate summaries for donor communication.
6. Communication
The Program Associate will prepare research reports and actively disseminate key findings within WWF Nepal and to a broader audience, contributing to knowledge sharing and program visibility. Strong coordination with field teams and technical experts will be essential to ensure timely and coherent reporting aligned with donor requirements.
7. Coordination
The Program Associate will coordinate closely with various units within WWF Nepal’s Center Office, the TALCP field team, and relevant stakeholders including the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), Department of Forests and Soil Conservation (DoFSC), local communities, and conservation partners, as needed, to ensure effective implementation and collaboration across programs.
8. Other duties
Perform other duties as deemed necessary by the supervisor.
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Working Relationship:
Internal: Interacts with Project Managers, Project staff, Coordinator, related WWF Nepal central office staff, and government line agencies.
External: Interacts with government, NGOs, INGOs, researchers, and consultants involved in wildlife research.
Knowledge: Bachelor's or Master's in Conservation Biology or Wildlife Biology or Ecology or related Natural Sciences
Experience: At least 2 years of experience in biodiversity conservation is required. It is essential that the individual is technically proficient and qualified in the field of species research and conservation program delivery.
Skills and Abilities:
WWF is the world’s leading independent conservation organization originated from Switzerland in 1961 and currently running in more than 100 countries across 6 continents. The program started from conservation of wildlife to broader concept of building future where humans can live in harmony with nature. WWF has created 1,480 ecoregions that categorize the world into its natural ecosystems. Nepal with Bhutan, northeast India, southeast Tibet and northern Myanmar, falls under the Eastern Himalaya region housing the threatened species Snow Leopards, Bengal Tigers and One-horned Rhinos.
It was in 1967, WWF initiated WWF Nepal with a rhino conservation program in Chitwan. To keep up with the evolving face of conservation and environmental movement, WWF Nepal’s focus progressed from its localized efforts in conservation of single species in 1960s, integrated conservation and development approach in 1990s, to a new horizon of landscape level conservation encompassing national, regional and global scales of complexity in early 2000s.
