Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch (MWDW) is recruiting 2 full-time volunteer Research and Outreach Assistants for the 2024 season. This internship is based on the Isle of Man (British Isles).

The placement runs for ~5 months from 6th May to mid or end of September and we are looking for candidates who are available for the entire duration. 

This is a unique opportunity to join our small but active team, becoming involved in all areas of research and outreach work.

• Managing our Visitor centre and talking to tourists.

• Daily admin work; maintaining our busy public sightings network by logging sighting reports and responding to social media messages and emails.
• Entering and analysing data collected on land and boat-based surveys. Opportunity to learn QGIS software. 
• Updating our photo-identification catalogues, primarily Risso's dolphin. Reaching out to cetacean groups across the UK to collect images from other regions

• Conducting land-based surveys from dedicated coastal sites.
• Boat-based surveys as and when the weather and other factors permit.
• Opportunities to guide on local tourist boats. (Assistants must be aware that all boat surveys are extremely weather dependent and can be infrequent. We will not guarantee you a certain number of boat-surveys during your stay.)
• Public outreach and education. Regular public sea watch events, information stalls and workshops, activities for children at our Visitor Centre, assisting with school visits and other events. 

Work pattern

We do not have a typical working pattern, but you will be expected to work 5 days a week including most weekends. Survey work can only take place in calm weather, so flexibility is key, and fieldwork must take priority where possible. There may be long consecutive days when we are working out in the field with early starts or late finishes. Likewise, there will be days or weeks that we are office based. The season is extremely busy, but if you love what you do, the work is very rewarding. 

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking 2 assistants who are looking to gain hands-on experience with a small but busy cetacean research group. 

Experience is not essential, but you should be able to demonstrate a strong desire to pursue a career in marine mammal science or environmental education. 

As this role combines elements of research and outreach, you must be happy working in both of these areas. If you are looking for a solely research based project, this may not be for you. 

You must have a strong work ethic and be able to think proactively, learning from the role and using your own initiative to develop new projects over the course of the summer. You will be happy working within a small, closely knit team. This is a busy placement and we need assistants who are passionate about the work and willing to get stuck into all of the tasks. This internship can provide you with a wide variety of transferable skills. 

Location

The Isle of Man is located in the middle of the Irish Sea between England and Ireland. 

This is a residential placement and accommodation is £125 a week. You will have your own room in a large, shared town house in the centre of Peel. Local pub work in the evenings is easy to come by and has been a popular option for previous volunteers to help with living costs.

For more information about our work, visit www.mwdw.net 

To apply, please email Jen Adams on info@mwdw.net with a copy of your CV and a covering letter explaining why you want this role. Deadline for applications is Friday 8th March at 11pm.

Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch Charity number 1188 phone: +441624 610 131 address: 31 Michael Street, Peel, IM5 1HD web: mwdw.net email: info@mwdw.net