Position: Intern Coordinator at Khmer Ocean Life

The organisation:

Khmer Ocean Life (KOL) is a non-profit organisation, registered in the UK (registration number 14857387), partnered with local NGO Samaky Organization in Kampot, Cambodia. KOL’s mission is to promote the conservation of Cambodia’s marine ecosystems and marine megafauna through encouraging and highlighting research, capacity building, outreach, and community collaboration.

The project:

KOL’s main focal species are the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis), Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides), and the dugong (Dugong dugon). The team consists of a small, tight-knit mix of international and local Khmer staff.

Where: Kampot, Cambodia 

When: ASAP

Preference will be given to Khmer candidates and those who can join for over six months.

The intern coordinator is responsible for: 

• Recruiting and coordinating the interns and volunteers participating in the project - advertising, emails, interview calls, and onboarding 

• Assisting during all research activities - marine mammal land, boat, and aerial surveys

• Assist with the training of the interns both during office work and fieldwork - using training presentations provided

• Coordinate data entry and data proofing

• Personal research project, based on feasibility

• Assisting with marketing e.g. website updates and social media content creation

• Building positive relationships and work effectively with international and Khmer team members and colleagues

• Upholding organisation values to support biodiversity and conservation goals: Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, Diversity, Transparency, Accountability, Animal Welfare

• Work alongside the Khmer team in conducting outreach in schools - give marine lessons to children

• Be responsible for the tidying schedule of the shared volunteer apartment

Essential requirements:

• Minimum age of 18

• Strong motivation to work in marine mammal research and conservation

• Speak, read, and write in fluent English

• Be adaptable as fieldwork is weather dependent

• Prior experience in marine mammal or boat-based surveys 

• Be prepared to spend many hours on a small boat and under the sun, able to swim and work in harsh weather conditions both in nearshore and offshore waters

• Be prepared to spend many hours in the office (generally 6 hours per day) 

• Be sociable with a positive attitude 

• Good teamwork skills, and ability to work independently

Desired requirements:

• Degree or equivalent experience in marine science, or similar

• Motivation to learn the local Khmer language

• Previous experience managing volunteers or interns

• Previous experience managing data

• Previous experience living abroad, especially in a South East Asian country

Other information:

This position is unpaid but accommodation and a motorbike for personal use is provided. The intern coordinator will share an apartment with the interns. Successful applicants will be responsible for organising and paying for their travel arrangements to and from Kampot.

How to apply: 

Send your CV and a cover letter (please indicate the preferred period, date of arrival and departure, previous experience and skills, and at least one reference contact) to rose.ellis@khmeroceanlife.com addressed to Rose Ellis, no later than 19th April 2024.

Successful applicants will be contacted for a Zoom interview.

For any further inquiry, please send an email to info@khmeroceanlife.com

Rose Ellis and Sarah Tubbs

Co-founders and Directors or Khmer Ocean Life