Project Manager – Amboseli Baboon Research Project
Preferred Personnel Africa seeks to hire a full-time, potentially long-term Project Manager for the Amboseli Baboon Research Project (ABRP) in Kenya. Founded in 1971, the ABRP studies baboon ecology, behavior, and evolution in the Amboseli region of Kenya (amboselibaboons.nd.edu). The ABRP is among the longest-running studies of wild primates in the world. It has had a considerable impact on biology, primatology, and evolutionary anthropology, contributing over 300 peer-reviewed papers over the years; more information is available at the ABRP website, amboselibaboons.nd.edu/. Today the ABRP is a collaboration of Duke University, the University of Notre Dame, and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Wildlife Research and Training Institute, the University of Nairobi, the Kenya Institute of Primate Research, and the National Museums of Kenya.
The ABRP Project Manager supervises and provides direction to the ABRP team in Kenya, and reports to and co-ordinates scientific, personnel, and logistical issues with an international team of Project Directors, based in the USA and Germany. The Project Manager has the following duties and skills.
Primary duties
- Leadership and coordination: Provide overall leadership and manage the ABRP in coordination with ABRP Project Directors. This includes responsibility for day-to-day operations, full delivery of project outputs, development and implementation of innovative approaches to project execution, compliance with the project’s plans and with national and international legal and regulatory requirements, with assistance from the Project Directors where appropriate.
- Strategic planning: Develop detailed plans and adopt appropriate management processes to track project progress. Responsibilities include the early identification of problems regarding project milestones and deliverables and implementation of necessary remedies, in consultation with Project Directors where necessary.
- Technical and scientific support: Oversee the research leading to scientific manuscripts produced by the ABRP Project Directors; contribute to scientific manuscripts; develop and deploy protocols related to new scientific technology and equipment as required from time to time; maintenance of the existing technologies and equipment used by the project.
- Training and capacity building: Train and instruct ABRP employees in scientific methods in field biology.
- Quality assurance: Supervise, co-ordinate, and ensure high accuracy and high quality in project deliverables and outcomes, in line with best practices in the scientific research community. Oversee the transmission of data and progress reports to Project Directors.
- Personnel management: Provide day-to-day oversight over the project field team, make recommendations to the Project Directors with respect to hiring and termination, and provide training and mentorship to staff.
- Project finances and resources: Manage ABRP funds as directed by Project Directors to ensure effective use of resources; perform strategic planning for ABRP projects, including assisting in preparation of budgets, to include staffing and operational needs.
- Stakeholders management: Build and manage strong relationships with key stakeholders, including the local community, and act as a primary contact point for stakeholders and partners.
- Problem solving. Troubleshoot general project issues and communicate with Project Directors when problems arise.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field is required; post-graduate degree is desirable.
- Management experience and/or experience providing strong leadership in a collaborative team is required.
- Extensive knowledge of various project management methodologies and technologies.
- Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication skills, including ability to maintain proactive communication with project leaders, staff and community members.
- Attention to detail and accuracy in record keeping for personnel management, equipment and supply inventories, equipment maintenance, data collection, and finances.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel, Google forms, Dropbox, and various emails, and the ability to learn new software as needed.
- Driver’s license is required; ability to drive manual transmission vehicles is highly desirable.
- Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Fluency in Kiswahili is desirable; knowledge of Maa is welcome.
Please submit a CV and cover letter, including the names of three references, to primevo_sec@eva.mpg.de. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Earliest possible start date is 1 October 2023. Salary will be commensurate with experience. The terms of employment will include a standard benefits package including health insurance; for non-Kenyan
applicants, the benefits package will take into consideration travel requirements. We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
