VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Are you interested in a career working with marine mammals or endangered species? The NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Pacific Islands Regional Office, in Honolulu, Hawaii, has a limited number of volunteer opportunities in marine mammal stranding response and Hawaiian monk seal recovery for highly dedicated and motivated individuals. NMFS oversees marine mammal health and stranding response activities, including responding to live and dead cetaceans and monk seals in the main Hawaiian Islands under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act. NMFS is also responsible for collecting endangered Hawaiian monk seal sighting data, overseeing responses to Hawaiian monk seal haul outs and pupping events, and other activities supporting monk seal recovery. For more information on these programs please visit: http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_marine_mammal_response.html

http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_hms_how_noaa_helps.html

Duties:

Volunteers will support NMFS staff and partners in conducting marine mammal response and Hawaiian monk seal recovery activities, with opportunities to be involved in a variety of ongoing projects, including data collection, data entry and queries, answering the marine mammal hotline, developing educational materials and outreach products, assisting with outreach events, trainings, and community engagement activities, and other field duties as they arise. Volunteers may also have opportunities to take part in live and dead marine mammal stranding response, assisting with duties such as, monitoring animals of concern, documentation and assessment, logistics, carcass retrieval, and necropsies.

This opportunity will provide volunteers with a foundation in endangered species management and marine mammal health and stranding response. This is a unique opportunity to gain experience in the highly competitive field of marine mammal management, science, and behavior while working side by side with professionals in the field of wildlife management and conservation biology.

Requirements:

·       Must be a US Citizen

·       Commitment of a minimum of 16 hours per week (Mon.-Fri. during regular business hours) with some additional weekend availability for a minimum of 6 months. Preference will be given to those who are available for a longer commitment (1+ years). This opportunity is flexible in nature, therefore work hours, start and end date of each volunteer’s program, and duties may vary based on the individual’s availability, skills, and NMFS program needs.

·       College student or recent graduate- coursework in biology, marine biology, psychology, social science, Hawaiian studies, communications, social marketing, animal science, computer science, zoology, ecology or related field is preferred.  

·       Must be able to work in a team environment, have good communication skills, be flexible, detail oriented, and be able to work independently.

·       Dedicated and able to diligently work long hours in computer databases.

·       Work can be physically demanding. Volunteers must be comfortable working in the elements (rain or shine), be able to lift 40 lbs, walk long distances on beaches, and be able to swim.

·       Working knowledge of word processing software, spreadsheets and databases, GIS, and computer networks would also be advantageous.

·       Volunteers must have reliable transportation and be willing and able to submit fingerprints for a background check.

Application Requirements

If you are interested in this unpaid volunteer opportunity, please submit your application materials to: piro.mmrvolunteers@noaa.gov  by December 15, 2019. Include your unofficial transcripts, a resume, and a cover letter summarizing any related professional or volunteer experiences and relevant educational background that describes why you would be a good fit for this position, and 2 letters of recommendation.  Include the length of time you are able to commit, hours and days that you are available, and desired start date. To be considered, the email subject line must read: LAST NAME_MM Response & Recovery 2020 Volunteer