Conservation Gallery Assistant

Job Summary

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is hiring a full-time Conservation Gallery Assistant at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Kinigi, Rwanda. Responsible for guiding exhibition tours, greeting international visitors, managing registration/payments, and monitoring VR/AR interactive exhibits. Candidates require a relevant Bachelor's degree, English/Kinyarwanda fluency, and public speaking confidence. Deadline: August 14, 2026.

Key Roles & Operational Responsibilities

1. Visitor Reception & Administrative Management

• Guest Welcome & Registration: Receive visitors, VIPs, school groups, and donors in a warm, professional manner; collect guest details, process admission payments, and manage donations.
• Database & Reporting: Maintain accurate visitor records, support data entry tasks, and submit comprehensive weekly activity reports to management.
• Opening/Closing Routines: Execute standard gallery opening and closing protocols, ensuring security, cleanliness, and operational readiness.

2. Guided Tours & Public Engagement

• Interpretive Guiding: Conduct engaging, accurate guided tours covering gorilla biology, conservation history, and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s field research.
• Special Event Coordination: Support the planning and delivery of VIP tours, behind-the-scenes visits, educational school workshops, private events, and evening sundowners.
• Visitor Support: Answer guest queries, explain static and digital exhibits, and participate in staff rotation across diverse visitor stations.

3. Interactive Technology & Exhibition Care

• Exhibit Monitoring: Regularly inspect gallery displays, devices, and furniture to maintain high aesthetic and operational standards.
• Tech Troubleshooting: Perform basic troubleshooting on interactive devices—including the 360-degree theater, VR/AR headsets, and digital tablets—reporting technical bugs to IT and management.

4. Team Support & Capacity Building

• Mentorship: Assist with the orientation, training, and supervision of new gallery interns, volunteers, and student trainees.
• Professional Development: Participate in ongoing staff development workshops, staff training, and collaborative departmental initiatives.

Foundational Capabilities & Prerequisites

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Tourism, Hospitality, Communication, Education, Conservation, or a closely related field.
• Language Skills: Fluency (spoken and written) in English and Kinyarwanda.
• Public Speaking: Proven confidence presenting and conveying complex conservation concepts clearly to diverse, international audiences.
• Technical Proficiency: Competency with computer applications, including email, Google Docs, spreadsheets, data entry, and basic database tools.
• Interpersonal Skills: Outstanding customer service orientation, problem-solving ability under busy operational conditions, and a genuine passion for wildlife conservation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: 1+ years of experience in hospitality, customer service, tourism, guiding, or visitor engagement (gained via employment, internships, or volunteering).
• Additional Languages: Proficiency in French or other international languages.

Working Conditions & Compensation

• Location: Ellen DeGeneres Campus, Kinigi, Rwanda.
• Schedule: 40 hours/week (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, 5 days per week). Requires scheduling flexibility for weekends, public holidays, and evening events.
• Environment: World-class conservation campus interacting with international researchers, donors, tourists, and local communities.

Skills Required:

• Communication / Pr / Journalism
• Education / Teaching / Training
• Hotel / Tourism