The Whale Museum’s Soundwatch Boater Education Program: 2016 Summer Boat Driver Positions Available

The Whale Museum, Friday Harbor, WA

Soundwatch is a successful and internationally acclaimed education and monitoring program working to reduce vessel disturbance to orcas and other marine wildlife in the Salish Sea region of Washington State (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). Soundwatch needs drivers to conduct seasonal vessel patrols, educate boaters on regional guidelines and regulations and collect data while monitoring vessel activities around whales. Data from this critical program characterizes vessel activity trends around endangered orcas and other marine wildlife. The Soundwatch program is operated by The Whale Museum (TWM), a not-for-profit organization located in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in Washington state.

Driver responsibilities:

• Conduct daily on-the-water public education and monitoring of vessel activities from May thru September within the San Juan Country Marine Stewardship Area (including National Wildlife Refuge areas and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Biological Preserve Areas).
• Maintain daily boat protocols and data collection procedures on vessels, marine wildlife viewing trends, guideline/federal law compliance measurements, and educational materials distribution.
• Prevent wildlife disturbance by intercepting boaters before they reach wildlife areas.
• Maintain equipment (including routine boat maintenance and minor boat/engine repairs)
• Work with Soundwatch volunteers and interns.
• Maintain communications with whale research and commercial whale-watch community.
• Report marine mammal strandings to the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
  

Driver Benefits:

• Gain valuable experience working with an endangered population of killer whales under a NOAA research permit
• Paid position for 30-40 hours a week, Mon-Sunday, May - September
• Shared affordable housing is likely.
• Live and work in one of the best places in the United States

Applicant requirements:  Physically fit (able to lift 40 lbs), must be able to swim, familiar with field data collection.  Drivers will need a valid US passport or an enhanced driver's license, CPR/First Aid certification,  a state boater license/or equivalent safe boating card and previous boat driving experience. Knowledge of the area is preferred but not required.

HOW TO APPLY FOR DRIVER POSITION

Please send a letter of interest, a resume, and contact information for three references. Be sure to include what dates you can start/end.  Preference will be given to applicants able to work from May 16^th thru September 16^th.

Applications accepted until May 1st, 2015. 

PLEASE SEND APPLICATION MATERIALS TO:

Elizabeth Seely

Soundwatch Coordinator

P.O. Box 945

Friday Harbor, Washington 98250

Or email (preferred) to: soundwatch@whalemuseum.org  

Please visit The Whale Museum’s Web site for more information on Soundwatch: http://www.whalemuseum.org/programs/soundwatch/soundwatch.html