Conservation Technology Specialist

About the role

The Wildlife Conservation Society is seeking a Conservation Technology Specialist to provide IT, communications, networking and geospatial support across all departments of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The role will develop and maintain technological solutions that enable effective conservation decision‑making and strengthen staff capacity in technology and GIS.

Key responsibilities

• Provide cross‑departmental IT support, including hardware, software, and network troubleshooting.
• Manage and maintain radio and satellite communication systems and internet connectivity for the reserve’s operations centre.
• Administer and support geospatial tools and platforms such as EarthRanger and SMART, ensuring data integrity and accessibility.
• Produce maps, spatial analyses, and other geospatial products to inform conservation planning.
• Develop, document, and implement IT and communications Standard Operating Procedures.
• Deliver training to OWR staff on technology use, GIS applications, and data management.
• Coordinate with WCS and ICCN partners to identify and deploy new technological solutions.

Required profile

• Proven experience in providing IT and communications support in remote or field‑based settings.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multi‑disciplinary teams and local partners.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and proactive attitude toward technology adoption.
• Experience delivering training and capacity‑building activities.
• Commitment to wildlife conservation and understanding of protected‑area contexts.

Required skills

• IT support and troubleshooting
• Radio and satellite communications systems
• Network configuration and maintenance
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geospatial analysis
• EarthRanger platform
• SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool)
• Information management and data handling
• Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)