Job: 1-year, renewalable, Executive Director of ASEAN Center for Biodiversity at Los Banos (deadline 15 Nov 2012)

The ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY (ACB) is an intergovernmental regional centre that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and with regional and international organizations on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The Governing Board of ACB, composed of the 10 Member States of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat, provides policy guidance and directions and undertakes overall supervision of the operations of the Centre.

ACB invites ASEAN nationals to apply for the position of Executive Director

• Position Title: Executive Director
• Duration of Contract: One year, with possibility of annual renewal depending on performance
• Reporting To: ACB Governing Board
• Place of Assignment: ACB Headquarters, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines

Duties and Responsibilities (summarised)
Reporting to the Governing Board of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), the Executive Director will be responsible and accountable for the overall operations of ACB which includes overall direction and management of human and financial resources and overall development, planning, coordination and monitoring of activities of the Centre. The Executive Director is to provide leadership in the operations of ACB and undertake strategic activities to ensure that ACB will be financially self-sustainable in the long-term.

Competency Requirements:

• a) Be a national of an ASEAN Member State;
• b) Possess an advanced qualification (at least a Masters degree) in environment, strategic management, economics or related fields;
• c) Attained at least 15 years of working experience, 10 years of which should be at the senior management level, preferably in government or international organizations;
• d) Have good knowledge and experience on environmental issues in the ASEAN context, particularly on biodiversity conservation and
  sustainable management and use of natural resources;
• e) Possess excellent leadership, managerial, strategic and project management skills established good working relationships with governments, intergovernmental organizations, UN organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector;
• f) Possess excellent inter-personal, communication and diplomatic skills, excellent command of English, and able to work with people at
  all levels and in a multicultural environment;
• g) Have managed major programmes or institutions of a multidisciplinary/multilateral nature;
• h) Possess excellent networking and resource mobilization capabilities.

Application Timeline

• Position Announcement: 15 October 2012 (on ACB website: http://www.aseanbiodiversity.org)
• Application Period: 15 October to 15 November 2012
• Deadline for submission of application documents: 15 November 2012.

For details, please read this pdf.

First posted in Ecotax.

Job: Immediate, one-year RA position for “Enhancing the Urban Native Biodiversity of Singapore” (deadline: 08 Nov 2012)

One Research Assistant (RA) Position immediately available at the Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore

One Research Assistant position is immediately available for the project “Enhancing the Urban Native Biodiversity of Singapore” under the charge of Associate Professor Hugh Tan, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore. This project seeks to

1. Increase the use of native landscape plants among professionals in the landscape and horticulture industry through publications, creation of the first native plant database, and demonstration landscape plots.
2. Develop appropriate know-how for propagation of native plants and diffuse the knowledge to NParks’ and local nurseries to enable a gradual build-up of native plant stock for landscape use.
3. Develop the know-how to screen and grow native plants in the urban environment for high survivability.
4. Demonstrate the positive ecological benefits of the use of native plants in urban landscapes in Singapore.

Salary will be commensurate to academic qualification and work experience.

Job Scope

The job is a one-year contract research assistant appointment. Candidates are expected to:

1. Participate in field work around various locations in Singapore for survey and plant collection.
2. Participate in horticultural research to grow and utilize native plants for landscaping.
3. Write reports/contribute to publications arising from the project.

Requirements

1. BSc or BSc (Honours) in horticulture, botany, biology, life sciences (majoring in environmental biology or biology) or other related fields.
2. Experience in horticulture is advantageous or candidates must have interest in cultivating native Singapore plants and botanical field research
3. Possession of a Singapore Class 3 driving license with driving experience of at least a year or more is preferred
4. Good writing skills
5. IT competent (MS word, Powerpoint, Excel, and Photoshop)
6. Candidates who are selected must be willing to work part-time for a trial period of two months to ascertain suitability.

Contact Information

Please contact Mr. David Austin (dbsda@nus.edu.sg; 65162708) for any enquiries.

Any interested candidate are to email his or her covering letter and an up-to-date curriculum vitae (including the names of three referees) by 8 Nov 2012.

8 Nov 2012, Thursday: 10am at DBS CR1 — Karenne Tun on The Application of Biological Criteria (Biocriteria) for Assessing the Status and Responses of Coral Reefs to Environmental Stressors in Singapore

PhD Defense Seminar cum Oral Examination

“The Application of Biological Criteria (Biocriteria) for Assessing the Status and Responses of Coral Reefs to Environmental Stressors in Singapore”

Speaker: Phyu Phyu Tun Karenne
(Graduate Student, Dept. of Biological Sciences, NUS)
Date: 8 Nov 2012, Thursday
Time: 10am
Venue: DBS Conference Room (S3 Level 5) #05-01
Supervisor: Prof Chou Loke Ming

Abstract:
Over the last four decades, the coral reefs in Singapore have been subjected to elevated levels of acute and chronic exposure to sediment-related stressors, resulting in the reduction in the total sub-tidal reef area as well as shrinking of the photic zone and a physical shift in the benthic composition from consolidation to loose and soft substrate. Despite an estimated reduction of over 86% of the sub-tidal coral reef area compared to 1953, the coral reef biodiversity, and in particular, the scleractinian diversity, still remains high, although there is growing evidence that Singapore’s reefs are surviving at their critical threshold. The current challenge in managing Singapore’s remaining coral reefs therefore lies in creating a regulatory framework to manage, protect and restore reef resources based on sound understanding of the processes and stressors that directly impact them at local scales. Biological criteria, or biocriteria provides a regulatory tool for defining expectations for the biological condition of coastal resources, and when applied optimally, can provide mechanisms for regulating human activities that threaten coastal resources.

Scientifically-defensible biocriteria rely on structured evaluation of key steps, including reef classification, defining data collection protocols, metric testing against human disturbance, sampling effort and survey design, validation of methods, definition of biocriteria, and implementation of long-term monitoring programmes. In my PhD research, I focused quantifying Singapore’s current reef status, assessing and refining data collection methods and protocols, and defining metrics and developing biocriteria that are relevant for assessing the status and condition of Singapore’s coral reefs. These tools can be used for developing diagnostic regulatory, compliance or long-term monitoring programmes.

ALL ARE WELCOME

“Wild Singapore” the book, on special sale for NUS Students & Staff this Fri 19 Oct & Tue 23 Oct 2012

Super-Special Sale for NUS students and staff

The long-awaited hard cover book, “Wild Singapore” By Geoffrey Davison, Ria Tan and Benjamin Lee will be launched in November and the price will be $69.90.

The publisher, Pansing Distribution Pte Ltd, has agreed to extend a limited and super special offer of $40.00 to ALL students and staff of NUS at the first book sale for this publication!

All NUS staff and students are welcome to come down and purchase the Wild Singapore book at these locations and times. Just show your matric/staff card to enjoy the super-special price!

Fri 19 Oct 2012: 1.00pm-3.00pm
Outside Life Science Lab 7 (S2-03)
(Before the LSM1103 Animal Diversity Practical)

Tue 23 Oct 2012: 3.00pm – 5.00pm
NUS LT32 lobby (S1A-01)
(Before the LSM1103 Ecydysozoa II & Deuterostomes I Lecture)

Map: http://map.sivasothi.com