Program Officer, Intelligence Research (Deadline extended)

Vacancy Announcement

Position: Program Officer, Intelligence Research

Reports to: Law Enforcement Assistance (LEA) Team Leader

Location: Ha Noi

Country Program: Viet Nam

Team/Division: Law Enforcement Assistance

Position Type: Full-time

Internal liaison: WCS Viet Nam’s Managers, Team Leaders and regional CWT team

Expected travel: Approximately 50%

Organization Background:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in nearly 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

WCS Viet Nam Program Overview:

WCS has been working in Viet Nam since 2006, focusing on strengthening the commitment, capacity and actions of the government of Vietnam to combat wildlife trafficking. Through support and cooperation to executive and judiciary sectors, including Ministry of Public Security, Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuracy, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the National Assembly, it has provided and shared intelligence on criminal wildlife networks which help generate well-informed decisions in enforcement operations. WCS Viet Nam have generated a wide range of reliable data on a number of related issues on illegal wildlife trade, trained and briefed about 3,300 law enforcement officers, policy makers, journalist, researcher and managers at nation-wide in investigation and enforcement techniques, legal barriers and distributed a number of technical handbooks and guides. It has assisted central agencies to review and propose necessary changes to national legislation, criminal intelligence analysis systems, inter-agency cooperation. WCS has also facilitated Government to Government dialogue through multilateral and bi-lateral collaboration efforts, between Viet Nam and Asian, African and Latin American countries, to detect and response to illegal wildlife trade networks. Its wildlife health expertise has been leveraged to address unregulated wildlife trade and mitigation of pandemic threats, through collaborative research, training, and policy development.

Job Summary:

The Program Officer (PO), Intelligence Research works under the supervision and closely with the LEA Team Leader to research and gather information on wildlife trafficking in the field and through open sources. S/he contributes to collecting, managing law enforcement data, and producing intelligence products. S/he works with local stakeholders and law enforcement counterparts to promote professional responses to intelligence on wildlife trafficking.

Responsibilities:

A. Data Research and Analysis

Conducts field trips and internet-based research to gather information about wildlife trafficking activities (poaching, trading and seizure incidents, trade observations);
Conducts discrete research projects e.g. open source research associated with active areas of investigation, price analysis;
Works closely with Sources of Information (SOIs) to offer intelligence taskings based on data collection requirements;
Establishes and maintains trust and working relationships with enforcement officers in high-priority locations;
Tracks cases of wildlife trafficking from the point of information sharing through to conviction;
Develops and updates subject profiles, enter information into i2 iBase;
Maintains dissemination log (e.g. for external sharing of IPs, intelligence reports);
Produces dissemination intelligence reports (e.g. IPs) to provide to Governmental, NGO and Inter-Governmental partners, internal and external audiences;
Produces analysis-driven outputs, including but not limited to: Problem, market and subject profiles; Information alerts; Situational analyses; network and commodity flow charts, and maps;
Evaluates and assess intelligence to identify weaknesses and gaps;
Conducts supplementary contextual research as required including open-source information checks, historic data searches and liaison with internal colleagues;
Uses analytical techniques to review intelligence reports and produce analytical assessments of IWT network and trends.

B. Grant development and implementation

Develops and executes all activities in charge (including activity outline and budget);
Provides IWT analysis and inputs to the fund-raising activities and proposals;
Provide data and relevant IWT analysis for grant reports and programmatic updates

C. Human Resource Management

Manages SOIs, project volunteers as directed, liaise with consultants.

D. Others

Acts as WCS’s representative at meetings and workshops as required;
Performs other tasks as assigned by the direct supervisor.

Minimum Requirements:

Advanced/University degree in (criminal) law, history, area studies, anthropology, criminology, political sciences, international relations, or other relevant fields;
At least 3 years of professional experience in the area of intelligence analysis in counter wildlife trafficking, financial crime, illicit networks, threat finance or other related fields;
Superior research and analysis skills and attention to detail;
Significant experience in drafting reports and intelligence analysis products – including both on a regular production schedule and on a quick turnaround basis – preferably for law enforcement or security sector audiences;
Ability to conduct data research and management;
Proficient in written and verbal communication skills in English Language; Other languages a definite advantage;
Computer skills mandatory, proficient in Microsoft Office Applications;
Knowledge of analysis software or GIS application is an advantage;
Concern for wildlife conservation & environmental issues is an asset.

Application Process: Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications should apply online via this link: https://forms.gle/jcciZdS3kBbXoR2J7 latest by 23:59 of 21 June 2020.

WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations.