Department: Conservation Landscapes Programme

Location: Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Uganda

Contract Type: Full-time

Direct Reports:  Reserve Staff – primarily rangers

Reporting to: Pian Upe Reserve Manager

Hours: Full-time (based in PUWR) 10 weeks on / 3 weeks off

Our Core functions

Space for Giants is an international conservation organisation founded in 2011 that works across Africa to conserve the continent’s most important natural landscapes for the benefit of both people and wildlife. Through long-term partnerships with governments, communities, development partners and the private sector, we support the protection, restoration and sustainable management of protected areas and their surrounding landscapes. Our work is focused on two interconnected programme areas: Landscape Protection and Human-Wildlife Coexistence. Through these programmes, we strengthen protected area governance and management, improve biodiversity conservation, support sustainable financing mechanisms, and develop practical solutions that enable people and wildlife to coexist. Collaboration is central to our approach. We work alongside national and local governments to develop and implement science-based conservation programmes that align with national priorities and deliver measurable ecological, social and economic outcomes. Combining technical expertise, strategic partnerships and innovative financing, we help secure resilient landscapes that conserve Africa’s natural heritage while creating lasting benefits for neighbouring communities. To learn more, visit www.spaceforgiants.org.

Role Summary

This position is responsible for supporting the implementation, administration and maintenance of EarthRanger and other conservation technology systems at Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. The role ensures that digital platforms and field technologies—including EarthRanger, LoRaWAN infrastructure, camera traps, radio communications, etc—operate effectively to support law enforcement, ecological monitoring and reserve management. The successful candidate will provide technical support, troubleshoot hardware and software issues, maintain data quality and system performance, and assist with the deployment of new technologies across the reserve.

The ideal candidate must have a qualification in Information Technology, Computer Science, GIS, Conservation Technology, or a related field, with strong technical and problem-solving skills and the ability to learn new systems quickly. They should be capable of working independently in a remote, low-connectivity environment while also training and mentoring staff in the effective use of conservation technologies. Experience with EarthRanger is non-negotiable, and other protected area management technologies are highly desirable, as is previous experience working in protected areas or remote field operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure smooth operation of conservation technology (EarthRanger, sensors, communications equipment, etc.).
• Train, guide, and upskill reserve staff in using technical systems.
• Support data collection, accuracy, and reporting for monitoring & evaluation (M&E).
• Troubleshoot hardware, software, and connectivity challenges in a field setting.
• Assist in maintaining field infrastructure and logistics for conservation operations.
• Integration and data cleaning/warehousing for data processing.
• Display data to be analysed by operations focused staff.
• Learn quickly and share knowledge with other team members.

Job Description

Scope of Work:

1. EarthRanger System Management & Optimization

• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve (PUWR) EarthRanger instance to ensure seamless functionality.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for EarthRanger usage across field operations.
• Integrate all trackable assets (vehicles, ranger patrols, wildlife collars, sensors, etc.) into EarthRanger for real-time monitoring.
• Program and update patrols, missions, and conservation activities in EarthRanger as required to comply with the UWA national system.

2. Training & Capacity Building

• Conduct training sessions for PUWR staff on EarthRanger (web and mobile app), ensuring effective adoption and usage.
• Provide ongoing technical mentorship to field personnel, improving their ability to utilize conservation tech independently.

3. Data Monitoring & Reporting

• Monitor EarthRanger and connected systems to ensure maximum data utilization for law enforcement (LE), community developement (CC), and human-wildlife conflict (HWC) operations.
• Develop custom dashboards, automated reports, and analytics tools to support decision-making by management and stakeholders.

4. IT & Field Technology Support

• Provide IT and communications (ICT) support for reserve operations, including hardware, software, and network troubleshooting.
• Assess existing ICT infrastructure, identify gaps, and recommend upgrades or modifications to improve efficiency.
• Assist in the maintenance and repair of field equipment (GPS devices, radios, cameras, sensors, etc.).

5. Additional Responsibilities

• Perform any other relevant tasks as assigned by the Reserve Manager or Supervisor to support conservation technology and operations.

Person Specification

Key Skills:

Experience, Knowledge & Competencies

Essential Qualifications

• Proficiency in EarthRanger and other conservation data management systems (please do not apply if not proficient in EarthRanger)
• Demonstrated experience with data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau) and geospatial software (ArcGIS).
• Proven training & mentorship ability – Track record of effectively upskilling staff in technical systems.
• Strong IT/ICT competency – Ability to troubleshoot hardware, software, and network issues in remote environments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) for reporting and documentation.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong written English skills for clear communication and reporting.

Preferred Skills

• Earthranger
• Experience with field conservation technologies:
• QGIS and/or ArcGIS
• VHF radio systems, Wi-Fi mesh networks, and other remote communications protocols
• GPS devices (e.g., Garmin) and VHF telemetry management

Prior work in protected areas or wildlife conservation with exposure to rugged, low-connectivity environments.

Space for Giants is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences and are dedicated to ensuring a fair and equitable recruitment process for all.