Ecotourism Manager
Report to : Jahoo Program Manager
Regular liaison will be required with a youth group, project team, and local authority.
Contract : Fixed Duration Contract(Possibly extend depending on the funding available and good performance)
Location : Mondulkiri Province (Tented accommodation at Bamboo Camp is provided.
Benefits : Salary Range( 1,000 – 2,000 USD depending on experience) plus other benefits include
health insurance coverage, reimbursement of 1 return flight after completing 1 year, fuel, and communication contributions.
Position Purpose:
Tourism in Cambodia is recovering quickly after the global pandemic and Jahoo is receiving growing interest and positive feedback from visitors. A new Bamboo Camp has been constructed, exciting progress has begun in developing a Research Centre, and Jahoo continues to receive strong support from partner organizations and donors.
This role is a unique opportunity to work in a senior role in a small startup ecotourism enterprise with an exciting future that is quickly growing and delivering impact in wildlife conservation and community development.
Jahoo is looking for an Ecotourism Manager from the wildlife tourism industry to continue delivering and growing the ecotourism operations. This position requires expertise and experience in wildlife guiding, hospitality, site management, and local staff training.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
A successful Ecotourism Manager will be a savvy and organized individual who can proactively manage and enhance the Bamboo Camp, tour operations and the ecotourism team. Past managers have been those that have a passion for wildlife, a mission to contribute to an indigenous-owned ecotourism enterprise and can thrive in relatively remote eastern Cambodia. The Ecotourism Manager should have an eye for detail, be a creative problem solver, and a good communicator.
- The role of the responsibilities
- Manage the day-to-day operations and lead the Jahoo ecotourism team (guides, site maintenance, and hospitality staff) in continuing to deliver wildlife tourism experiences for our visitors to a high standard.
- Take the lead in the management and improvement of Jahoo tours including customer service, tour operator partnerships, bookings, HR and finance systems, marketing and promotion, site maintenance, facilities and hospitality, and new products.
- Oversee the increased development and performance of the ecotourism team through the development of protocols and standards and deliver technical training and on the job coaching to increase staff performance and capacity.
- Develop current and new ecotourism itineraries including new products and activities for current and new guest demographics.
- Plan and deliver ecotourism itineraries and tours ensuring a high standard of customer service from the moment guests are collected from their hotel to the end of the tour.
- Manage the general appearance of the Bamboo Camp, identifies, and repairs maintenance issues, and oversees construction projects.
- Oversee hospitality operations and monitors for high standards in housekeeping, kitchen, and maintenance.
- Manage stock and supplies and ensure sales reconcile with financial accounts.
- Create a budget for Bamboo Camp operations and ensure financial resources are well used, managed, and adapted for optimum efficiency and standards.
- Design, collaborate and implement tailored ecotourism staff development training and coaching to increase staff skills and knowledge, ability and responsibility, and performance in guiding and hospitality.
- Coordinates and monitors staff work, adherence to policies and procedures (uniforms etc.), updates staff HR records (disciplinary, leave, attendance etc.), and liaises with human resources where necessary.
- Controls the use of the Jahoo vehicle, and ensures it is maintained well and kept clean and presentable for our guests.
- Oversee the relationships of existing and development of new tour operator and travel agent partnerships.
- Manage and improve efficiencies of operational systems in bookings, invoicing, payment, staff pay role, and shift schedules.
- Manage guest relations to maximize the personalized experience, play the host and interact with guests, if required join guests on tour as the English-speaking wildlife guide add-on.
- Create visual assets (photos and videos) for the development of marketing and promotion campaigns to raise Jahoo’s profile and increase bookings.
- Develop ecotourism operational procedures and protocols, ensure they are followed, and align with international standards on ecotourism best-practices, community agreements, and government guidelines.
- Create an ecotourism work plan and lead an ecotourism team in delivery and provide targets, updates on progress, and team feedback to incentivize and motivate staff.
- Provide support to visiting researchers, interns, and volunteers at Jahoo.
- Support wildlife education and outreach activities in the community including at schools with children and youth and hosting community delegations and events at Jahoo
- Responsibility of all staff
- As part of their roles and all Jahoo staff are required to uphold and understand the following core values:
- Transformation: Individuals and communities are transformed into ones with dignity and wholeness through a spiritual, social, economic, and physical change.
- Sustainability: Lasting impact is realized through locally sustainable programs.
- Empowerment: Development occurs to the extent local communities, leaders and individuals are empowered to affect change.
- Collaboration: The means of development are demonstrated through partnering with the local community, like-minded organizations, and individuals.
- Skills and Experience
- Formal training and qualification in a relevant subject.
- At least 3 years in a managerial role in the wildlife tourism and hospitality industry with a proven track record leading teams and developing tourism operations and standards.
- Fluency in English or Khmer, both desirable and otherwise a proven ability to learn either language quickly to a working proficiency.
- Excellent communication and people skills, especially with people of varying levels of competency and motivation.
- Experience working and living in a developing country context, in south-east Asia desirable.
- Skills, knowledge, and experience in either wildlife guiding, hospitality, and camp management, all is desirable.
- Ability to learn and use online booking systems, HR, finance systems, and Microsoft Office.
- Ambitious and highly self-motivated.
- The necessary passion and energy to contribute to a start-up venture and take the lead in creating a unique ecotourism operation at Jahoo.
- A desire to experience the unique opportunity to live and work in a relatively remote and challenging setting and embrace a new culture and language.
- Valid driving license, experience with 4WD vehicles and off-road driving desirable.
- Basic first aid training, wilderness first aid desirable.
