Marine Mammal Conservation Internship 

Submission period: Open through October 18, 2024, 11:59 PM ET, or until we reach a maximum of 50 applications, whichever comes first.  

Temporary, full-time, paid  

Whale and Dolphin Conservation’s North American office is offering a 12-week, entry-level Marine Mammal Conservation Internship to candidates with little to no prior experience. This opportunity will help to build skills relevant to the field of marine conservation while providing interns with insight into the inner workings of a non-profit as well as job skills transferable to any field.   

This position is designed for those who do not yet have experience in marine mammal conservation and outreach. We will prioritize candidates who do not have practical experience (internship, significant volunteering, employment) in this field outside of a classroom setting. Applicants should be eager to dive into new experiences and enjoy having a variety of tasks to work on. This position will help to assist staff in two key program areas: Marine Animal Rescue and Response and Education. Occasional opportunities to see whales at sea may also be possible, though no part of this position requires being in the water.  

Successful candidates will gain transferable skills in effective communication and public speaking, project management, developing and delivering presentations and other interpretive resources, working on a close-knit team, and record keeping.  

We have one open position for this temporary, full-time, paid internship. The internship dates are November 2024 – February 2025. Each of the successful candidates will be assisting all WDC programming, including Marine Animal Rescue and Response and Education & Outreach.  

LOGISTICS: 

Candidates must be able to demonstrate that they are legally eligible to work in the U.S. by the proposed starting date. Successful candidates will need to make their own arrangements, as needed, for housing and transportation to and from the WDC office in Plymouth, MA, USA. Please note that the cost of living for the Plymouth area is above the national average when considering this role. Successful candidates are expected to work 40 hours a week (including occasional evening and/or weekend work) for the 12-week period of the program; they will be compensated at a rate of $15/hour.   

Applicants must be 18 years or older by the internship start date and fluent in English. WDC will assist interested students in obtaining credits for the program through their college or university. Candidates should be advised that WDC’s office is dog-friendly; up to three dogs may be in the office on any given day.  

Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Whale and Dolphin Conservation embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We recognize that the field of marine mammal research and conservation lacks diversity, including within our own organization. WDC is dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities which represent diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. 

Candidates in this internship will: 

Internship responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

The programs this internship supports are as follows: 

Marine Animal Rescue and Response  

WDC’s Marine Animal Rescue and Response Program (MARR) is responsible for responding to stranded marine mammals along about 200 miles of Massachusetts coastline. 

Interns will learn the skills needed to respond to pinnipeds (seals) and cetaceans (whales, porpoises, and dolphins), including standard data collection and data input (Level A and human interaction evaluations) and managing supply inventory and ordering materials.  It's important to note that stranding events are unpredictable and hands-on experience and species encountered will vary. 

Education  

WDC’s formal and informal educational efforts include creating lesson plans, facilitating inquiry-based activities, making presentations, managing outreach events, and more. 

Interns supporting this program will build a strong set of skills related to educational design and philosophy, public speaking and outreach, communications and marketing strategies (including social media), and contribute new ideas and plans on how to grow WDC’s educational programming.   

 

Lauren Brandkamp​​​​ Stranding Coordinator WDC North America Pronouns: she, her, hers Telephone:  +1 508 746 2522 Hotline:  +1 617‑688‑6872 WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation 225 Water Street Suite A145 Plymouth, MA 02360 United States whales.org

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