Our marine biologists are in charge of running the Marine Centre, caring for the sea turtles, progressing our coral gardening efforts, raising environmental awareness within the community, monitoring local reef health and managing the international volunteers who pay to participate our Marine & Turtle Conservation programme.
As such, the work requires constant commitment and passion. The position takes on a lot of responsibility and the chosen candidates will be expected to shoulder this responsibility in a disciplined and professional way while also keeping a healthy balance between work and fun. We attract volunteers from around the world, from different backgrounds and with different needs. You will lead and interact with these volunteers daily and we strive to make certain that they have a meaningful stay with us.
Responsibilities
As the Head of Marine your job description will include the following…
Managing the operations and expansions at our marine centre:
· Maintaining and improving aesthetic appeal, operational facilities and educational content/displays
· Daily opening to receive and educate visitors (locals and tourists).
Managing and expanding/improving the Turtle Conservation programme:
· Ensuring correct sea turtle husbandry (daily)
· Working towards effective protection for sea turtles and their eggs
· Establishing and maintaining constructive communications with other sea turtle institutions
· Continuing turtle conservation contributions for the Maldives Sea Turtle Monitoring Network
Managing and expanding/improving the Marine Conservation programme:
· Monitoring and continuing coral gardening work
· Monitoring reef health in the surrounding areas
· Continuing manta conservation contributions for the Manta Trust
Managing and expanding/improving awareness outreach into the community:
· Weekly nature club lessons (ages 14-18)
· Environmental events to reach the whole community
· Nature Cinema screenings
· Reaching out to neighboring islands
5. Ensuring the health and happiness of participating volunteers
6. Planning and overseeing the duties of our participating local and international volunteers
7. Writing progress reports, funding reports and funding proposals where necessary
Requirements
The below criteria are extremely important as your effectiveness here will depend on your ability to thrive in the conditions and face all the tasks ahead.
Necessary…
1. You must have a degree in a related field; marine biology, marine ecology etc.
2. Experience working with sea turtles, whether in the wild or a captive-scenario, this experience will be hugely beneficial as the health and happiness of the turtles is our first priority.
3. You should have proven experience working in a tropical and/or developing country. Conditions are basic, food is simple and island operations and supplies tend to be limited and slow under the concept of 'island time'.
4. You will need to be an easy-going, approachable and friendly 'team player' as this position is more than a scientific one. You will be leading a team of culturally diverse volunteers, working within a small community and working with busy NGO members.
5. The ability to work independently will be important as your 'behind-the-scenes work/ideas' will lead and mould the programme going forward.
6. You will need to be a confident and charismatic speaker with experience delivering informative but attractive and interactive slideshows. You will be delivering presentations to volunteers, school children and even adult members of the community, council or other NGOs.
7. You will need to be physically fit and comfortable/strong in the water. It is extremely hot and unsheltered and you will have to travel around the island by foot.
8. You will need to be available for a minimum of 12 months.
Desirable…
1. A working knowledge of reef ecology and tropical marine species.
2. Experience in developing and implementing outreach and awareness activities and events.
What's in it for you?
Well, aside from the obvious perks delivered by the Maldives, namely the beautiful setting and fantastic marine life, you will be based in a wonderfully friendly community, fully supported in your work with a programme that is yours to mould and take into the future.
Being based on a local island, as opposed to a resort island, you will have the very real and exciting opportunity to instigate beneficial change right where it is needed. The community is responsive and ready to be educated.
Becoming our new marine biologist will also grant you the unique chance to experience life in the 'real' Maldives, outside the crowded and expensive tourist resorts. On our island there are just over 5000 inhabitants so expect to be living in a small island community where everyone knows everyone and where you are bound to be welcomed with open arms and a sense of hospitality which is rare in this world!
We do what we can to engage our volunteers in social activities. On the weekends we arrange weekly excursions to explore the wonders of the Maldives, whether it be to uninhabited islands or our favourite snorkeling spots. This is an unpaid position. However, your board, lodging, domestic travel and visa will be covered while you are in Naifaru.
Please send your CV and covering letter to our volunteer coordinator at coordinator@atollvolunteers.com
Deadline for applicants is October 15th . Candidates should be available to start by beginning of November.