Research Station Manager, Brazilian Pantanal

Job Purpose
Panthera is seeking an experienced Research Station Manager to oversee the ranch's administrative and logistical tasks and provide support for the field activities carried out at our Fazenda Jofre Velho, Wild Cat Research and Education Center (FJV Center) in the Northern Pantanal of Mato Grosso (MT) Brazil. The FJV Center is situated in the middle of 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of the Brazilian Pantanal—a region with one of the highest jaguar densities in all of Latin America. Panthera has protected and utilized this jaguar-rich property to demonstrate that jaguar successful conservation can benefit ranchers, collaborate on sustainable development of jaguar-oriented tourism and provide support to local communities. This position will oversee the ranch operations and will provide the necessary support to the multi-faceted Panthera’s research program.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage all of Panthera’s day-to-day in situ activities in close coordination with the FJV personnel. Ensure strong collaboration with locally-based colleagues, as well as a wider team that includes the Regional Director for Latin America (based in Costa Rica) and the Species Program Directors for Jaguar, Puma and Small Cats.
• Provide direct line management to associated station staff and coordination with a team of wild cat researchers.
• Participate in staff recruitment and performance management:
  • Set performance tasks and objectives and motivate personnel to achieve desired results.
  • Meet regularly for one-on-one check-ins and all-hands staff meetings.
  • Ensure necessary staff are in place to manage day-to-day activities while achieving FJV Center short and long-term goals and strategic initiatives.
• Supervise the jaguar-oriented tourism activities associated with the FJV Center and manage a transition of these activities to a professional third-party tourism operator.
• Coordinate the logistics, and attend personally the visits of Donors of Panthera and/or other organizations, including film-maker crews.
• Coordinate the logistics related to research activities developed with Panthera and external researchers/organizations, including all associated logistics, e.g., transportation, vehicle hire, fuel, food, and other needs.
• Supervise the activities and maintain good communications with the employees in charge of Accounting, Finances and Personnel Departments of the enterprise CONTAUD in Cuiabá, the contracted company that renders these services for us, including the payment of salaries, taxes, providers, bank account management, currency exchange/contracts of foreign wires, donations, etc. that are related to the FJV.

• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse personnel and partners.
• Ability to read/write in English and Portuguese required. Ability to read/write Spanish would be valued.

• Experience in managing ranches or protected areas.
• Minimum 5 years managing small to medium size teams.
• Excellent team building, communication and solution-oriented skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and problem-solving skills.
• Prior experience working for an international NGO is a plus.
• Experience in business administration is also a plus.
• A passion for wildlife conservation is a must.

• Accustomed to living/working in a remote field setting or small local communities.
• Ability to travel and stay in the FJV, 50% of the time.