Wetlands Ecologist – Trinidad and Tobago

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Wetlands Ecologist for a consultancy assignment financed by Institute of Marine Affairs – IDB loan TT-T1141 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Aninver Development Partners is currently preparing a proposal for an upcoming environmental consultancy assignment in Trinidad and Tobago, funded by the Institute of Marine Affairs under an Inter-American Development Bank loan. The overarching initiative aims to address environmental degradation, coastal vulnerability, and ecological stress within critical marine and coastal ecosystems. Specifically, the project targets mangrove ecosystems in Southwest Tobago to restore their health, ecological functionality, and resilience against anthropogenic and climatic pressures.

To support this vital environmental endeavor, we are seeking an expert Wetlands Ecologist to join our team as a Key Expert. The successful candidate will play a central role in formulating and executing comprehensive rehabilitation and co-management plans for key wetland sites. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to sustainable coastal management, biodiversity conservation, and blue carbon stock assessments in the Caribbean.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Formulate and implement comprehensive rehabilitation and management plans for targeted wetland sites in Southwest Tobago.
• Enhance mangrove health, ecological functionality, and resilience through targeted physical, hydrological, and biological interventions.
• Design and execute a monitoring and evaluation plan, incorporating carbon sequestration potential and aboveground biomass assessments.
• Assess commercial crab species populations and integrate sustainable harvesting practices into the management framework.
• Collaborate closely with national authorities, community stakeholders, and multidisciplinary technical teams to ensure sustainable co-management.

Scope of work

• Conduct extensive stakeholder meetings, public consultations, and workshops with local communities, resource users, and institutional partners.
• Execute comprehensive field surveys, hydrological assessments, water quality monitoring, and ecological inventories at designated mangrove sites.
• Contribute to detailed engineering and ecological designs for hydrological restoration, tidal flushing enhancement, and stress-factor mitigation.
• Formulate targeted ecological rehabilitation plans, incorporating mangrove replanting strategies and biodiversity restoration measures.
• Prepare and compile technical documentation required to secure necessary environmental clearances and permits from relevant authorities.
• Design and implement a monitoring and evaluation framework to track ecosystem recovery, mangrove health parameters, and carbon sequestration potential.
• Assess commercial crab species populations to inform sustainable management guidelines.
• Develop and finalize comprehensive co-management plans and submit all required technical reports in accordance with the project schedule.

Your role as Wetlands Ecologist

• Lead the ecological components of the wetlands rehabilitation and restoration activities.
• Design and conduct baseline assessments, ecological inventories, and habitat health monitoring.
• Provide technical expertise on carbon stock assessments, aboveground biomass measurements, and carbon sequestration potential.
• Assess commercial crab species populations and integrate findings into sustainable harvesting guidelines.
• Collaborate with civil engineers and hydrologists to ensure ecological integrity is maintained within restoration designs.
• Contribute to the drafting of comprehensive mangrove rehabilitation and long-term co-management plans.
• Participate in stakeholder consultations and present ecological findings to local communities and institutional partners.

Requirements

• Education: Advanced Degree in Wetlands Ecology (Bachelor's Degree also accepted)
• Minimum of 15 years' experience in wetlands rehabilitation/restoration (5-14 years also scored)
• Knowledge about technical aspects of carbon stock assessment
• Languages: Fluent in English (oral and written)

Desirable

• Prior professional experience working on wetland restoration projects in the Caribbean region.
• Experience in integrating community-based resource management with ecological restoration.

An experienced Wetlands Ecologist with at least 15 years of background in mangrove restoration, robust knowledge of carbon stock assessments, and a strong track record of ecological fieldwork in tropical coastal environments.

Assignment details

• Location: Trinidad and Tobago
• Financed by: Institute of Marine Affairs – IDB loan TT-T1141
• Estimated duration: 9 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a Institute of Marine Affairs – IDB loan TT-T1141-financed project in Trinidad and Tobago.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.