Lead Wildlife Guide At World Hope International

If you are a recent graduate with an educational background in wildlife biology or wildlife tourism and you’re looking for an opportunity to gain field experience in ecotourism and conservation, then we have an exciting opportunity for you. We are looking for an outgoing, responsible, and passionate person to lead wildlife-watching tours and develop unique wildlife experiences.

About Jahoo

At Jahoo, we provide unparalleled wildlife watching experiences that motivate conservation action and promote indigenous culture. Visitors can join gibbon researchers to track habituated southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons, gaining unparalleled access to this endangered species. Led by indigenous local guides, guests can witness traditional forest skills, explore remote waterfalls, and spot other rare primates and unique wildlife. Overnight accommodation and meals are provided at the exclusive Bamboo Camp where guests are based throughout their wildlife experience.

Jahoo is a small community-owned initiative, supported by the Ministry of Environment (MoE), World Hope International (WHI) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), providing wildlife-friendly livelihoods, motivating conservation action, and supporting social development with the unique southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon as its flagship species. Our small and exclusive wildlife-tourism operation hosts around 400 guests per year on approximately 150 customized wildlife-watching tours. Our Bamboo Camp hosts a maximum of 6 guests, and our average group size is 3 guests. Our high season is between November and May.

More information on Jahoo can be found here: www.gibbon.lifeand www.tripadvisor.com

Background

Tourism in Cambodia is recovering quickly after the global pandemic and Jahoo is receiving growing interest and fantastic feedback from visitors who have experienced our specialist and exclusive wildlife-watching experiences. A new Bamboo Camp has been constructed, and exciting progress has begun in developing a Research Centre for visiting students and research groups, and Jahoo continues to receive strong support from partner organizations and donors to support its growing social and conservation impact.

The role of Lead Wildlife Guide is a unique opportunity to work for a small startup conservation enterprise, delivering unique wildlife-tours that result in wildlife conservation and community development impact. The Lead Wildlife Guide should have an educational background in wildlife biology or wildlife tourism, be able to interpret the forest, wildlife and local indigenous culture through unique experiences and storytelling. The Lead Wildlife Guide will be a responsible person able to develop, plan and work as a team to deliver great experiences for guests to a high standard.

About the role

A successful Lead Wildlife Guide will be an organized and responsible individual, with a hard work ethic and exceptional communication skills. Previous successful Lead Wildlife Guides have been those that have a passion for nature, an adventurous spirit and are customer focused.

Success is the customer having a special and memorable experience from the moment they book a tour to the moment their tour is complete. The Lead Wildlife Guide should be a creative problem solver, able to work independently and work as a team, whilst remaining customer focused at all times and remaining calm under pressure.

The role of the Lead Wildlife Guide is to:

• Leading wildlife and nature enthusiasts on unique immersive and educational wildlife-watching tours that promote conservation and celebrate indigenous Bunong knowledge, skills, and traditions.
• Implement the improvement of Jahoo tours including customer services, hospitality and take the lead in developing new wildlife watching and cultural experiences.
• Support the development of the ecotourism team ensuring that protocols and standards are followed, deliver technical training and on-the-job coaching to increase ecotourism staff performance, skills, and knowledge.

Responsibilities

Additional responsibilities of the Lead Wildlife Guide are to:

• Prepare tours so that nothing is forgotten, and a plan B is ready for everything and deliver tour itineraries ensuring safety, comfort, and a high standard of customer service from the moment they book to the end of the tour.
• Collaborate with local guides to track wildlife and observe unique wildlife with guests, whilst sharing interesting insights into the behavioral ecology of wildlife to provide a deeper understanding of the forest.
• Create a welcoming and engaging environment, customize tours, and adapt your approach depending on the interests, knowledge, and personalities of each guest.
• Ensure emergency procedures and first aid knowledge and skills are well understood and practiced being able to handle the most likely risks and incidents to ensure the safety and well-being of the guests.
• Maintain and ensure the functionality of the equipment used for tours and at Bamboo Camp, such as walkie-talkies, binoculars, head lamps, and first-aid kits.
• Coordinate with the Eco-Lodge Manager and hospitality team to ensure seamless logistics and comfort at the Bamboo Camp for each tour.
• Actively study and practice to increase your knowledge and skills in wildlife-watching and bio-cultural storytelling,
• Support the maintenance of high standards in general appearance and functionality of the Bamboo Camp.
• Collaborate with the Eco-Lodge Manager to deliver tailored ecotourism staff development training and coaching to increase staff skills and knowledge, ability and responsibility, and performance in guiding and hospitality.
• Support the monitoring of staff, adherence to policies and procedures (uniforms etc.), HR records (disciplinary, leave, attendance etc.), and liaises with Eco-Lodge Manager to highlight issues and needs.
• Use the Jahoo vehicle responsibly, ensuring it is maintained well and kept clean and presentable for guests.
• Ensure understanding and provide support to operational systems in bookings, invoicing, payment, staff pay role and shift schedules.
• Ensure good relationships with tour operator and travel agent partnerships.
• Create visual assets (photos and videos) for the development of marketing and promotion campaigns to raise Jahoo’s profile and increase bookings.
• Support the development of operational procedures and protocols.
• Provide support to visiting researchers, interns, and volunteers at Jahoo.

Requirements

• Formal training and qualification in wildlife biology, conservation, tourism, or other relevant subjects.
• Experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, preferably in a wildlife-watching ecotourism preferred.
• Experience living and working in relatively remote and challenging settings in a multi-cultural team in a developing country context is preferred.
• Fluency in English and a proven ability to learn a new language quickly to a basic / working proficiency is preferred.
• Excellent communication and people skills, especially with people of varying levels of ability, interest, and motivation.
• Ability to learn and use online booking systems and Microsoft Office (word and excel).
• Responsible, physically fit, and organized.
• The necessary passion and energy to contribute to a start-up venture.
• A valid driving license, experience with 4WD vehicles on off-road driving is desirable.
• Basic first aid training, and wilderness first aid is desirable.

Location

Jahoo, Andong Kraleung Village, Sen Monorom Commune, O’reang District, Mondulkiri Province, Cambodia

Note: Shared tented accommodation at the Bamboo Camp is provided whilst working at the site.

Note: Most staff rent housing in the nearby town of Sen Monorom a 30-minute commute from Jahoo.

Start Date

Start as soon as possible, December 2023 / January 2024 is desirable.

One-year contract with possibility of extension.

Note: Contract extension is dependent on funding available and good performance.

Reports to

Jahoo Ecotourism Manager.

Salary

The salary range is from $550–1050 USD per month and is to be negotiated and will be based on experience.

Note: Opportunities for salary growth as the enterprise develops and grows.

Note: Above salary range includes benefits such as medical insurance, fuel, and communication contribution. Other benefits include a flexible leave cycle (to be negotiated).