Overview

The FZS South America program focuses on the larger Amazon basin and adjacent areas. FZS employs approx. 350 people worldwide, 28 of whom work at its Frankfurt-based Headquarters. FZS recognizes the threat of alluvial gold mining to FZS-supported protected areas and their surroundings in the Amazon. Therefore, FZS aims to complement its site-based conservation projects with a coordinated regional approach to the mining threat through the new position of a Gold Mining & Conservation Coordinator (m/f).
The Gold Mining & Conservation Coordinator will collate all information on the status, development and impact of gold mining in the Amazon region of South America. Specifically, s/he will support FZS project leaders in developing strategies to protect National Parks and their buffer zones from alluvial gold mining. S/he will also build a strong network with key stakeholders at national and international levels. This work will provide input into FZS’s decision making in South America and Europe to work on sustainable solutions for the environment and mitigate the effects of gold mining.

YOUR KEY TASKS

  • Collate research/information on the status, development and impact of alluvial gold mining on the environment, specifically focusing on the Amazon region of South America
  • Develop, with relevant stakeholders (e.g. FZS project leaders, protected areas authorities, NGOs, etc), site-specific, overarching and strategic plans to guide activities as well as support FZS project leaders in the implementation of site-specific plans
  • Facilitate internal information and exchange on alluvial gold mining among FZS projects and FZS HQ
  • Coordinate information flow between FZS and existing working groups and new stakeholders at national and international levels, for instance by a newsletter, to improve transboundary and multisectoral collaboration around this topic
  • Definition and implementation of ‘early warning’ mechanisms to identify potential new mining threat
  • Identify potential lever actions in South America, the United States and Europe to i) raise awareness about the impact of alluvial gold mining and to ii) restrict and regulate it
  • Communicate with scientific institutions, e.g. on the effects of mercury released into nature and coordinate regional and transboundary engagement
  • Monitor and evaluate global gold mining trends and markets
  • Act as the international representative of FZS on the impact of gold mining

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

  • A Masters or other advanced degree in, e.g. environmental studies/conservation, natural sciences, investigative journalism, law or international affairs
  • At least 5 years of professional experience working in the field of nature conservation (preferably in South America), biodiversity and/or environmental issues with a focus on scientific research or investigative journalism
  • Proven track record in the field of multi-stakeholder/partners cooperation and dialogue
  • A thorough understanding of conservation issues, preferably with a particular focus on the Amazon region
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish
  • A quick comprehension and outstanding communicative skills with the ability to present complex facts simply and briefly
  • Highly team-oriented working style; well co-operating and working with others in the pursuit of team goals; sharing information; supporting others
  • Effective contribution towards a collective (organizational) goal or towards solving problems/conflicts and ensuring that current activities continue to progress by identifying problems in time, devising practical, creative and feasible solutions
  • Ability to set goals and priorities in an effective manner to ensure maximum and measurable conservation impact as well as indicate the necessary action, time and resources and monitoring progress Budget management and administration skills are desirable
The full-time position to be filled as soon as possible will be based in Bogotá, Colombia (or Lima, Peru), with frequent travel to other FZS project countries in South America and at least one annual trip to HQ in Germany and to the U.S. where relevant. The position offers a two-year working contract, subject to successful probation and funding, but candidates should be considering a longer-term commitment.

HOW TO APPLY

Have we aroused your interest? Your application should contain a coverletter, CV (chronological, with picture) and qualifying certificates. The cover letter should comprise a short text about your motivation and answer the following questions:
1. What professional and personal experiences can you bring to this position?
2. What are your most important personal characteristics that will lead you to succeed in this role?

Please send your electronic application documents, your salary expectations and the earliest possible
starting date in PDF format to jobs@fzs.org.

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 31ST MARCH 2019

The protection of your personal data during the entire application process is an important concern for us. With the transmission of your data you agree that we store and process them. All personal data is handled in accordance with the current data protection guidelines (DSGVO, BDSG). You can find our detailed declaration on our applicant policy here. 

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Gold Mining & Conservation Coordinator (m/f/d) – PDF (751kb)