Senior Researcher

position: Senior Researcher – Component: “Collection and Enhancement of Data on Jaguars, Their Habitat and Prey in the Guiana Shield”

Reports to: Project Director, “Forests, Jaguars and the Peoples of the Guiana Shield”

Panthera Division: jobshiringnearme.org Action

Geographic Scope: Guiana Shield (Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, French Guiana)

Duty Station: This is a remote position that may be based in one of several countries where Panthera has a legal entity related or close to the project (Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, France, UK), with regular travel across the Guiana Shield region – The priority is to hire a national in any of these countries.

Position Type: Full-Time

Duration: Minimum 4 years starting in May-June 2026

Remuneration: Compensation will be determined based on duty station, experience, and qualifications,

in accordance with Panthera’s compensation framework and local labor law.

Panthera Corporation

Panthera is the only organization in the world that is devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world’s 40 wild cat species and their ecosystems. Utilizing the expertise of the world’s premier cat biologists, Panthera develops and implements global strategies for the most imperiled species. Representing the most comprehensive effort of its kind, Panthera partners with local and international NGOs, scientific institutions, local communities, governments around the globe, and citizens who want to help ensure a future for wild cats. Panthera Corporation consists of Panthera Corporation- USA and several foreign legal entities and foreign branch offices.  For more on Panthera, visit www.panthera.org. 

Job Purpose (Summary)

The Senior Researcher will lead the first component of the project: “Collection and enhancement of data on Jaguars, their habitat and prey on the Guiana Shield”, ensuring the consolidation, enhancement, and accessibility of jaguar-related data across the Guiana Shield. This role is central to overcoming current barriers posed by fragmented, incomplete, and inaccessible information. The Senior Researcher will coordinate multi-country efforts to harmonize databases, collect new complementary data, strengthen national capacity, and produce knowledge products that inform national and international biodiversity policies. Additional project details can be sent to applicants upon request.

The successful candidate will be required to have, and maintain, legal work authorization to work in the country of employment.

Key Responsibilities

Data Consolidation & Harmonization

• Lead the establishment of harmonized national and regional databases on jaguars, prey, habitat, and human–wildlife conflicts.
• Organize a regional multi-stakeholder workshop within the first six months to define database structure, roadmap, and data-sharing agreements.
• Coordinate with institutions such as Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA) and its Amazon Regional Observatory (ORA) to ensure sustainability and avoid duplication.
• Oversee data integration, cleaning, quality control, and reporting to national focal

Collection of New Complementary Data

• Design and harmonize field data collection protocols, including camera traps, DNA sampling, and socio-economic surveys.
• Coordinate country-specific campaigns:
  • Brazil (University of Pará, Imazon, Legacy Landscape Fund).
  • Suriname (eco-guards from Matawai, Alalapadu, Sipaliwini).
  • Guyana (Wapichan Wildlife Committees, Wai Wai community).
  • French Guiana: coordination with OFB´s mission manager, INRAE and PAG on cross-border cooperation and scientific monitoring on DNA collection in French Guiana and coordination of DNA collection projects in the other countries of the Guiana Shield.
• Supervise integration of DNA and photographic data across countries, ensuring standardized protocols and collaboration with existing projects.

Capacity Building

• Conduct national assessments of training needs in database
• Organize one national workshop per country (minimum 30 participants each) combining theory and field exercises.
• Train national institutions, community members, and students in database use and standardized monitoring methods.
• Mentor four young researchers through advanced training and a structured program to build sustainable local expertise.

Knowledge Production & Policy Integration

• Coordinate the development of the Atlas of the Jaguar in the Guiana Shield 2025 and precise definition of connectivity corridors between protected areas.
• Produce at least three peer-reviewed scientific publications on jaguar status, distribution, prey, and habitat.
• Develop a user-friendly website hosted by national institutions to facilitate access to jaguar
• Propose a roadmap for interoperability of national databases, enhancing regional visibility and informing international frameworks (CBD, CITES, CMS, Jaguar 2030 Roadmap).

Required Qualifications

education & Professional Background

• Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in wildlife ecology, conservation biology, environmental science, or related fields.
• Minimum 7–10 years of experience in ecological research, data management, and biodiversity
• Proven track record in leading and co-authoring scientific publications related to jaguar and prey species ecology, behavior, and conservation.
• Proven track record in multi-country, multi-stakeholder conservation projects, ideally in Latin America or the Guiana Shield.

Technical & Managerial Skills

• Expertise in database design, management, and
• Experience with ecological monitoring protocols (camera traps, DNA, GIS, remote sensing).
• Strong capacity for stakeholder engagement, including governments, NGOs, universities, and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) for data collection, sharing and other objectives related to the position.
• Familiarity with international biodiversity frameworks (CBD, CITES, CMS, Jaguar 2030 Roadmap, Nagoya Protocol).
• Ability to produce scientific publications and knowledge products for policy

Leadership & Personal Competencies

• Strong organizational and problem-solving
• Ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams across
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with fluency in English and working proficiency in Portuguese, French, or Dutch considered a strong asset.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and participatory approaches in
• High integrity, accountability, and alignment with Panthera’s

Work Conditions / Physical Demands

Work Environment

• This is a remote position that may be based in one of several countries where Panthera has a legal entity related or close to the project (Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, France, UK), with regular travel across the Guiana Shield region and physical office in Suriname. Candidate must have work authorization to work in the duty station country.
• Mix of office-based tasks (database management, reporting, coordination) and field-based activities (data collection, training, workshops).
• Frequent interaction with government agencies, NGOs, Indigenous communities, and international partners.

Travel Requirements

• Extensive travel within remote forested areas, including multi-day missions to rural and Indigenous territories.
• Use of boats, off-road vehicles, and small aircraft to reach project
• Willingness to work in challenging environments with limited

Physical Demands

• Ability to undertake moderate physical activity during field visits (walking long distances, climbing, carrying equipment).
• Adaptability to extended periods in remote areas with limited communications or medical
• Flexibility to work irregular schedules, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate community meetings or urgent conservation needs.