Position: Consultant - Reducing Turtle Consumption
Reporting: Project Coordinator
Duration: 1 year (January 1st, 2025 – December 31st, 2025)
Location: WCS-India Kolkata Office and/or remote work (with frequent travel to project sites)
Position Type: Consultant
About WCS-India
WCS-India is a Section 25 non-profit company incorporated in India and compliant with all Indian regulations. In accordance with the global mission, WCS-India’s overarching goal is the protection and conservation of the natural environment, its flora and fauna, and in particular the preservation of wildlife and wild places in India. We combine wildlife conservation action and strategic policy interventions with rigorous principles of conservation science, and forge long-lasting productive partnerships with governmental and non-governmental partners as well as with local communities. Our conservation action addresses the overarching threats of habitat fragmentation, poaching, and wildlife trade, as well as human-wildlife conflict, which impacts our biodiversity and its habitats.
About Counter Wildlife Trafficking Programme
Illegal wildlife trade is a complex and dynamic conservation challenge with far-reaching negative implications. It threatens biodiversity, risks human health, erodes culture, and undermines legitimate governance and economies. The CWT Programme was initiated in 2018 to address this issue, working across landscapes and species in the country. Our goal is to conserve wildlife threatened by trafficking through evidence-based approaches and collaborations with stakeholders.
About the Project: USFWS-TFT, Reducing the illegal trade in softshell turtles in West Bengal, India, using an interdisciplinary approach.
Trade of softshell turtles for meat, eggs, and calipee consumption impacts many species and threatens the survival of endangered species. Large quantities of turtles, such as Indian flapshell turtle and Indian peacock softshell turtle, are supplied through an ever-expanding network, to the Indo-Bangladesh border region. This project aims to help mitigate this trade by:
- Using a problem analysis framework to recommend key points to disrupt trade.
- Facilitating stakeholder meetings to discuss collaborative responses.
- Using a behaviour change approach to understand the drivers of softshell turtle consumption.
- Implement campaigns to change the behaviour of key consumer groups.
Specific Roles and Responsibilities:
- Provide day-to-day support and liaise with relevant local authorities, community groups, experts, and the communications team to ensure the smooth execution of behavior change intervention activities. This includes coordinating with the communications team to develop and deliver outreach materials that support these interventions.
- Assist the Project Coordinator in organizing events, including preparation, scheduling, and dissemination of information. Ensure follow-up communications, working closely with the communications team to develop and share post-event content and updates.
- Liaison between project and communications teams to ensure that all outreach materials, behavior change campaigns, and related communication outputs align with project goals and are delivered on time. This includes coordinating the delivery of materials for workshops, public campaigns, and other project-related events.
- Assist in research-focused activities within the scope of the project and contribute to translating research findings into communications materials that can be shared with wider audiences.
- Assist the Project Coordinator and Project Manager in implementing other key activities under the USFWS-TFT project, ensuring communication and outreach components are integrated effectively into these activities.
- Actively contribute to other activities of the CWT Programme and WCS-India, as required, including collaborating with the communications team to support wider program initiatives and campaigns.
Requirements:
- Graduate/postgraduate in mass media or communications for development OR Social Work Graduate with interest/passion for Communications.
- Minimum 1-2 years' experience working with local community.
- Excellent writing skills with an ability to write according to different audiences.
- Must be proficient in Bengali.
- Basic understanding of IWT.
- Must be a people person.
- Ability to meet deadlines and work under strict timelines.
It’s time to apply:
To apply, please send a cover letter and an updated resume in one file. Submit your application using the subject line “Consultant, USFWS-TFT” to careers@wcsindia.org by December 8, 2024.
We thank all applicants for their interest in this position; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further process.