The Research Programme Officer will work as part of a small team to deliver research activities, building towards successful release of rescued bears and the advancement of bear conservation in Cambodia and beyond.

Primary Responsibilities:

Conduct behavioural observations of bears in ex-situ pre-release facilities at the Cambodia Bear Sanctuary; Proactively identify and engage potential release site partners, including protected area managers, government partners, local communities, and affiliated NGOs, and assist in organizing site surveys; Assist in conducting assessments of potential release sites, including bear population status and threat assessments; Assist in the delivery of community outreach activities, community workshops and social science research; Conduct post-release monitoring of bears when applicable; Assist in maintenance of equipment systems at pre-release enclosures, including downloading data, changing batteries, and recharging/replacing dehumidifiers; Conduct inventory and maintenance of research and field equipment, and keep up-to-date; Identify research opportunities and independently design and conduct bear research projects, in coordination with the Research Programme Manager; Assist with other research, data collection, data management and report writing for Free the Bears as required.

At least Bachelor, preferably Master’s, degree in Biodiversity Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, or similar; At least 1 year of field research experience implementing wildlife research, supervising teams, and ensuring high quality data collection and adhering to strict research protocols; Ability to work responsibly and independently with limited supervision; Fluency in spoken and written Khmer, and good English communication skills; Good computer literacy including familiarity with Excel and similar spreadsheet programs; The capacity to operate in field environments with minimal amenities; Demonstrates strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal abilities, particularly abilities to work with diverse groups of