URGENT - Groups Leader and Activities Coordinator

Are you looking for the chance to get experience working on a world renowned elephant sanctuary, leading educational groups programs in the amazing jungles of Cambodia? We are looking to fill the position of Groups Leader and Activities Coordinator here at the EVP. 

This role will focus primarily on growing and running our Groups Program, which welcomes groups from all backgrounds; from schools to colleges to corporations. You will help to create more educational activities and materials, pitch and promote the EVP to potential new groups, liaise with groups prior to their visit, and be the on-site leader throughout a group’s program at the sanctuary. 

Generally, every group program includes guided elephant experiences in the forest and time spent volunteering at the sanctuary site. Our primary education focus is Asian elephant welfare, physiology, and habitat, while also highlighting the importance of forest conservation and local community development. Yet each group’s expectations will be different, and it will be your responsibility to communicate with each group prior to their visit in order to create an itinerary and add activities (e.g. forest activities, night walks, team building games, educational talks, movie nights) that best suits their needs. 

To help us grow this program, you will contribute to the development of sales pitches for new groups, actively searching for new partnerships and opportunities. Our goal is to grow the Groups Program to financially support the creation of an education program to bring local primary school children to the EVP. You will be expected to contribute to the creation and implementation of local education programming as this funding becomes available.

During high seasons (Jan-Mar, June-Aug), together with the ecotourism team, you will also be supporting the daily elephant tours for short term visitors and the volunteer program, providing interpretive outdoor education tour programs. In both the Groups Programs and the daily tour program, you will be working closely with local Bunong staff, helping to build their capacity for guiding groups and leading educational tours. 

This varied role will allow your passion for environmental education and conservation to flow with the space for new ideas, helping to expand not only the EVP, but ELIE as well.

Staff are based in the town of Sen Monorom, 12km from the project. The work will be based primarily at the forest sanctuary site, with all positions working 5 and ½ days per week - Sunday afternoon to Friday afternoon. On alternate weeks this position is required to stay overnight on-site with visitors, this rotation is week on/week off with the team. Lunch will be provided when working onsite and food/accommodation when required to stay onsite overnight.

You will receive a local salary of around $500 USD per month. An initial commitment of 18 months is required. We are looking for someone to start ASAP.

Experience

Essential

• Interpretive guiding, outdoor/environmental education, eco-tourism, or groups management background necessary for this position
• Basic knowledge of biology, forest ecology, conservation
• Ability to work in a remote location with local counterpart staff
• Must be fit and energetic: there is a lot of hiking (sometimes 5-10km per day) across rough terrain to get to the elephants, whilst also talking to and engaging with visitors
• Desire to learn new language and ability to work with local non-English speaking staff
• Current first aid certificate (preferably Wilderness First aid/rescue situations)
• You will need to be a bubbly, outgoing, flexible, and resourceful person

Preferable

• A people-person with a keen interest in wildlife (you don’t need to have experience with elephants, as this will be all learnt on the job)
• Experience living or working in a developing country
• Experience on an ecotourism project, voluntourism project or something similar 
• Current driving License (manual trans)

Summary of Responsibilities

• Be the primary liaison for Groups once they book at EVP: communicating about needs/goals prior to visit, being the main point-of-contact during their visit, and conducting follow-up
• Lead the Group Tours program, educating visitors on Asian elephant ecology, welfare, habitat, as well as forest conservation, local indigenous culture, and ELIE/EVP projects
• Helping to lead daily elephant tour and volunteer programs during high season
• Work alongside local counterpart staff, providing ongoing training and feedback to improve capacity
• Actively pitch to new schools, colleges and companies for our groups program
• Meet and greet daily visitors to ecotourism site & help with morning check in
• Creation of educational materials and activities for Group Tours program and local education program
• Contribute to updates on social media regarding activities at the EVP
• Week on/week off onsite living and night on-call duties, including engaging with visitors during meal times
• Other duties as required

This position is for someone who has a strong interest in ecotourism, outdoor/environmental education, and conservation, who wants a start in an organization working overseas in this field.

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume ASAP to Jemma at: ELIECambodia.Manager@gmail.com