Program Manager | Hunting and Wildlife Trade Program : Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS)

Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) is a non-profit trust based in Bengaluru, India. Established in 1984, CWS is now an internationally recognized centre-of-excellence in the arenas of wildlife research, training, formal education and in situ conservation. Centre for Wildlife Studies practices science-based conservation, with special emphasis on ecology and conservation of the tiger and other large mammals. CWS works in collaboration with Central and State Governments in India to promote conservation of wildlife and wild lands, and is additionally supported by several international and national charities, agencies and donors.

Position Title: Program Manager
Number of Positions:  1
Location: Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bangalore
Duration: 12 months starting with the possibility of extension

Scope:

The Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) is seeking applications for a Program Manager position to support a critical research project focused on the sustainable use of wild resources in the Western Ghats. This role will encompass extensive travel and fieldwork in the region, as well as responsibilities related to data entry, data management, report writing, and other administrative tasks at our field stations or office in Bangalore.

Project Objectives:

• Assess current patterns of hunting and trade of wild animals.
• Evaluate current patterns of harvest and trade of other non-timber forest products (NTFPs).
• Identify animal and plant species most threatened by hunting, trade, or harvest.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise research team, data collection and overall project management.
• Conduct extensive fieldwork and travel within the Western Ghats.
• Perform data entry and maintain data integrity through quality checks and periodic updates.
• Assist in writing manuscripts, articles, and reports.
• Create outreach and communication materials as required.
• Support various project administration tasks, including but not limited to coordinating research team meetings, meticulous account keeping, grant reporting, and supervising field assistants.

Additional Opportunities:

CWS encourages professional development and will support you in pursuing opportunities to upskill. You may also engage in independent projects that align with the broader scope of the research initiative, subject to approval from your reporting manager.

Required Skills:

• A postgraduate degree in life sciences or related disciplines (e.g., zoology, wildlife sciences, anthropology, geography).
• Significant experience in conducting ecological field surveys in forest environments.
• Experience in social science surveys, semi-structured interviews, and qualitative data collection, particularly on sensitive topics.
• Experience with handling accounts and grant reports.
• Proficiency in spoken and written Kannada, Tamil, or Malayalam, and English.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.

Pay Scale:

Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Application Process:

To apply, please submit the following documents:

Curriculum vitae and a cover letter expressing your interest in the position.

A list of two professional references.

Please send all documents to Dr. Swapna Nelaballi at swapna.nelaballi@cwsindia.org with the subject line “Application for the position of Program Manager.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

Note: Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

We are committed to enhancing representation within our organization, as diverse voices and perspectives are essential for addressing the challenges of our time. Therefore, we welcome applicants of all gender identities and especially encourage female and non-binary individuals to apply (disclosure of gender identity will not be required at any point). We also encourage individuals with disabilities to apply; while fieldwork may pose certain constraints, we will strive to make accommodations to the best of our abilities. Additionally, we invite individuals from underprivileged or underserved communities, who may not have had access to the same opportunities but feel capable of fulfilling the tasks described, to apply. If you do not meet all the listed qualifications but are passionate about this opportunity, we invite you to reach out for a conversation.

We look forward to your application and the possibility of you joining our team at the Centre for Wildlife Studies.