
Saving Meru’s Giants, Project Officer
Born Free Foundation
Product & Project Management
Job Summary
A key part of this role will be to develop and implement a programme of activities to conserve elephants and giraffes via monitoring and human-elephant and giraffe conflict mitigation across the Eastern Conservation Area
- Minimum Qualification : Bachelors
- Experience Level : Mid level
- Experience Length : 5 years
Job Description/Requirements
Reports to: SMG Project Manager
Location: Meru National Park (frequent travel and field work away from base, camping in remote locations within the Eastern Conservation Area
Hours: Full Time
Department: Conservation
On-site accommodation is included
About Born Free, Kenya
Inspired by Elsa the lioness, whose journey to freedom in Kenya was depicted in the 1966 film Born Free, the charity works globally, and in Kenya, to protect wildlife and their ecosystems. Established in 2003, Born Free Kenya champions human-wildlife coexistence through hands-on conservation efforts, education, and community initiatives. In Amboseli and Meru National Parks, we monitor lions, giraffes, and elephants, and employ strategies to promote the co-existence of people and wildlife. We also support sustainable livelihoods, provide conservation education, and collaborate with partners to protect people, wildlife, and their habitats.
Role Responsibility
Since 2010, Born Free Kenya (BFK) has been working in the Amboseli Ecosystem with the Maasai community, reducing predator conflict and retaliatory killings by constructing predator proof bomas and promoting wildlife-friendly rural development. In 2014, Born Free returned to its roots in the Meru-Kora landscape, where the lion Elsa was released, with the long-term objective of safeguarding the lion population there. In 2021, we increase our efforts in the Meru-Kora Landscape by initiating the Saving Meru’s Giants (SMG) project, aimed at securing coexistence between communities and elephants, to ensure the persistence of Elephants and Giraffe populations in Meru for the long-term. This Born Free-run project seeks to address the threats African savannah elephants and reticulated giraffes face by monitoring and identifying individuals of the population, whilst implementing nature-based solutions to prevent crop loss and damage by large herbivores and to halt illegal activity. This work goes hand-in-hand with our efforts to increase community awareness and capacity to mitigate conflict through workshops and the Conservation Ambassadors who work within their communities to implement effective and simple solutions to conflict. We are currently seeking an individual to take on the role of SMG Project Officer for Saving Meru’s Giants. A key part of this role will be to develop and implement a programme of activities to conserve elephants and giraffes via monitoring and human-elephant and giraffe conflict mitigation across the Eastern Conservation Area (ECA), which includes Meru and Kora National Parks and Bisanadi and Mwingi National Reserves. The successful applicant will report to SMG Project Manager based in Meru National Park, but also work closely with the Pride of Meru, Pride of Amboseli, Community Engagement, Communication & PR, Fundraising and Partnership Teams in Kenya and the UK. He/she will be based in the field in Meru. The position is full-time and involves frequent travel and field work away from base, camping in remote locations within the ECA.
Key responsibilities
• To support the SMG Project Manager in the successful delivery of the approved project workplan.
• To contribute to all matters relevant to project management, report and protocol writing and communication
• With the guidance of the SMG Project Manager, conduct monitoring activities of the elephant and giraffe populations, using a variety of different data collection techniques (road and transect wildlife and habitat surveys, camera trapping, etc.) to gather data on abundance, density and distribution, ranging and feeding behaviour, habitat use, individual identification for demography, human-elephant/giraffe conflict, and health monitoring.
• Support the SMG Manager, and the wider Meru Conservation and Community Engagement teams to implement social surveys, focus group discussions, community meetings (to inform on socio-economics; socio-ecology; conflict; understanding, attitudes and perceptions regarding wildlife and conservation) and monitor illegal activity.
• Oversee the Conservation Ambassadors in fostering community capacity and promoting harmonious coexistence with wildlife.
• To supervise the ‘Twiga Scout Team’ in their desnaring operations which is aimed at increasing the prevention of illegal activity.
• In collaboration with the community, plan and implement compassionate nature-based human-elephant/giraffe conflict mitigation initiatives in communities around the ECA, such as beehive fences.
• Assist the SMG Project Manager on the implementation of activities to reduce the reliance of local communities on natural resources and support the development of community livelihoods.
• Assist the SMG project Manager in the collection of data on elephant/giraffe population, human-elephant/giraffe conflict and other threats using the approved tools e.g., Survey123 for inclusion in the central database, monthly trackers, etc.
• Contribute to data analysis, project reports and publication in relevant media, in collaboration with the Kenya and UK Born Free team and relevant collaborators.
• And any other duty as directed, including support for SMG’s sister programme in Meru, Pride of Meru.
Knowledge, Skills and Qualifications for the Role
• Degree in a Natural Resource Management, or Wildlife Management or a related field.
• At least five years of field experience, preferably with elephants, giraffes or other large herbivores in Kenya.
• Strong knowledge of wildlife monitoring techniques and technologies.
• An interest in elephants and/or giraffes and other large herbivores is preferred.
• Experience of working in challenging environmental conditions when working in the field.
• Experience in collecting, handling and analysing ecological and social science data is preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Basic experience with GIS and other mapping tools.
• Attention to detail and excellent organisational skills.
• Familiarity with online communication tools such as Teams and Outlook.
• Ability to work unsupervised and under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work well with local and international teams.
• In-depth understanding of people’s culture and conservation issues in Kenya.
• Fluent in English and Kiswahili.
• A valid driving license class BCE with experience in driving manual 4-wheel vehicles in tough terrains.
This is a role with a competitive salary, dependent on qualifications and experience, and generous benefits including 21 days holiday per annum, private health and accident insurance and contributory pension scheme.
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CV quoting the position as the subject of email by 5pm 21st February 2025. If this is the job for you, apply as soon as you can as we will be assessing applications as they arrive and right up until the deadline date.
Note: This job description outlines the roles, duties, and responsibilities of the post. It is not intended to detail all specific tasks. Born Free reserves the right to alter the content of this job description to reflect the changing needs of the organisation but is a correct reflection of the main duties of the post at the time of writing.
Thank you for your interest in working for Born Free, Kenya
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