The CREES Foundation has been training volunteers in conservation research and sustainable community initiatives in the Peruvian Amazon for over 8 years. Our volunteer programme actively trains and educates up to 16 volunteers each month to become knowledgeable, engaged and positive agents for change.

We are looking for a passionate and experienced outdoor leadership and environmental educator, with rainforest experience, to lead and manage our volunteer programmes in the Amazon.

Primary Role

The Volunteer Programme Instructor (VPI) is responsible for training and educating volunteers in CREES’ work, core issues affecting the Amazon, and providing basic first aid and health and safety training. The VPI will focus on building a team spirit, understanding individual volunteer motivations and expectations, and exposing volunteers to all aspects of CREES’ work. The VPI will implement the ideal crees volunteer experience, track and mentor volunteers throughout their stay, and ensure that educational and personal challenges are being met. Volunteers stay between 2 and 26 weeks and so the depth and focus of activity will vary.

The VPI will build on the CREES Make a difference, Learn and Connect concept; looking to produce long term supporters of CREES who have an understanding of the issues affecting rainforests, and the tools to make positive change.

This role requires a self-starter capable of adaptive thinking who has good structural planning and is highly organised. You will have excellent people skills and be a real team player. As part of the role you may be required to deal with complex situations in remote environments and therefore will need to work well under pressure, have superb leadership and people management skills and be a fluid communicator who can engage people.

The role is across 3 core areas:

1. Operational Planning & Supervision: (works in direct coordination with the General Manager in Peru)

Responsible for up to 16 individuals and their safety requires tight planning and excellent communication skills. The VPI is responsible for planning and overseeing all the operational elements as they relate to the volunteer programme (transport, expeditions, guides, equipment sourcing, emergency suppliers, risk assessments, etc).

2. Creating Personal / Career Development (in coordination with the UK Volunteer Coordinator)

The volunteer programme must teach personal and career skills along the lines of the CREES’ core programme learning objectives. Volunteers must be mentored, supported and challenged.

3. Inspired Educator (in coordination with the UK Volunteer Coordinator)

This role is central to the CREES vision of actively engaging more people to become stewards and ambassadors for the Amazon. The content of the course must be updated to take into account new ideas and knowledge. Most importantly the content should be presented in a dynamic, fun, and engaging way.

Job Specification
Minimum Requirements:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant work experience
• Minimum of 2 years in the field of education
• Must have at least 4 months living and working in tropical
• rainforest environment
• Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification; First aid instructor
• A valid CRB check
• Intermediate Spanish (good written and verbal skills)
• Experience in leading at least 5 expeditions to remote
• environments
• Excellent communication skills
• Dynamic, good humoured and positive personality
• Active, fit and healthy
• Ability to operate at altitudes in excess of 3,750m

Contract Duration

12 months (subject to 3 month probation)

Accommodation & Food

Basic food and accommodation provided in Cusco (10% of time) and the Manu Learning Centre in the Peruvian Amazon (90% of time)

Holiday

28 days, holiday allowance can be taken from mid Dec – mid January