Overview

Start Date:                   1st June 2023, or as soon after as possible

Contract:                      Full-time two-year contract with potential to extend

Salary:                         Competitive salary of $30,000-$40,000USD net (local taxes paid by Free the Bears), based on qualifications and experience

Location:                  Based at Free the Bears’ Cambodia Bear Sanctuary, ~1hour from Phnom Penh City. Regular travel to work at Free the Bears’ sanctuaries in Vietnam and Laos.

Applications are sought from suitable individuals to fill the role of Regional Veterinary Programme Manager with Free the Bears in Southeast Asia. The work of Free the Bears is currently centred on three focal countries where we have created the Cambodia Bear Sanctuary (in Cambodia), Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre and Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary, in Laos, and Cat Tien Bear Sanctuary in Vietnam. Currently, across these sanctuaries we provide life-long care to over 270 bears, in addition to a variety of other rescued wildlife species in Laos. Our Veterinary Programme focuses on developing the capacity of local veterinary teams to deliver gold-standard levels of veterinary care to rescued wildlife and integrating a One Health approach to biosecurity and zoonotic disease surveillance through provision of international-standard equipment and training. Our Veterinary Programme currently consists of 3 Cambodian veterinarians, 1 Vietnamese government counterpart veterinarian (in Vietnam) and one Lao and one expatriate veterinarians plus a veterinary nurse (in Laos).  We have established modern wildlife hospitals across all three countries, each featuring a full range of diagnostic equipment including gas anesthesia, radiography (digital or computerized), biochemistry etc.

The primary role of the Regional Veterinary Programme Manager is to oversee the growth and development of the Veterinary Programme to ensure the provision of optimal veterinary care for all animals within Free the Bears-supported facilities. This will be achieved through advancing the skill set of local teams while developing the programme’s capacity in preventative medicine, diagnostics, and disease surveillance. On a day-to-day basis you will work as part of a team of veterinarians overseeing the health of around 120 rescued bears in the Cambodia Bear Sanctuary, which sits within Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre in Cambodia. This multi-species rescue centre is government owned and run, and while the locally staffed wildlife hospital caters for all species resident at the centre, the Free the Bears’ veterinary team is primarily responsible for the health of the bears within the sanctuary. The role also includes providing management and oversight of veterinary teams and veterinary volunteers in Laos and Vietnam, with daily remote communication and regular travel to both countries to ensure consistency in veterinary care provision across the three country programmes.

Essential Experience:

·       Qualified veterinarian or veterinary nurse

·       At least 3 – 5 years clinical experience with wildlife

·       Proven management or supervisory experience

·       Highly motivated, hardworking, and compassionate

·       Excellent attention to detail and clinical skills

·       Strong organization, management and leadership skills

·       Awareness and respect for cultural values in a diverse team setting

·       Excellent command of written and spoken English language

·       Effective contribution to building and leading a positive team environment

·       Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work autonomously, assess tasks and set priorities

·       Flexibility and the ability to cope with changes in work priorities at short notice

·       Ability to work weekends and public holidays as required

About Free the Bears

As a global organization that works with partners and communities across a wide range of countries, Free the Bears values diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity. We welcome applicants of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply regardless of ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, socioeconomic status or disability to help us build an inclusive environment across all areas of our work.