Sea Watch Foundation – Voluntary Education and Outreach Assistant
opportunity based in Cardigan Bay for the 2016 summer season
The Sea Watch Foundation is seeking an Education and Outreach Assistant
for the 2016 season. This position will suit a volunteer who has a
strong interest in marine conservation and recognises the importance of
educating and raising awareness by involving the public.
The assistant will be responsible in aiding the Sightings Officer with
the following duties:
• Promoting and organising the National Whale and Dolphin Watch event
(23rd – 31st July 2016)
• Participating in presentations and creating activities to take to
local schools
• Researching and writing articles
• Creating educational/promotional materials (posters, displays, flyers)
• Assisting in the organisation of training courses
• Social networking (Facebook, Twitter, website)
• Raising Sea Watch Foundation’s profile locally (organising events,
manning the Sea Watch stand on the pier, liaising with local boat
operators to produce educational materials)
• Interacting with the media (radio, TV and newspapers)
• Representing Sea Watch at public events within the UK generally
• Liaising with the Adopt a Dolphin Coordinator for the promotion of Sea
Watch Foundation and the Adopt a Dolphin scheme
The Education and Outreach Assistant will also have some opportunity to
be involved in the fieldwork aspects of the “Cardigan Bay Monitoring
Project” (land-based and boat-based surveys). This project, undertaken
on behalf of Natural Resources Wales, manages the conservation of a
coastal population of bottlenose dolphins, the largest in the UK.
Monitoring of harbour porpoise and grey seal populations is also part of
the project.
The field season will run from April to October 2016 and has been split
into two periods of 6 weeks followed by two periods of 8 weeks. One
assistant is required for each half of the season. However, preference
may be given to those who can stay for the entire seven-month field
season. The assistant will be based in New Quay, West Wales.
Accommodation is provided at a rate of approximately £70/week in a
house, sharing with the research interns. The assistant is responsible
for their own travel and living expenses, but it is generally quite easy
to obtain part-time paid work in the area if required.
Intern periods for summer 2016:
Period 1: 18/04 – 12/06, Period 2: 13/06 – 07/8, Period 3: 08/08 – 18/9,
Period 4: 19/09 – 30/10
Important skills/qualifications
Essential:
• a strong interest in marine conservation and education
• outgoing personality with confidence to interact with the public
• excellent verbal and writing skills
• must have initiative and bring their own ideas and personality to the
position
• strong commitment to volunteering work
• an ability to work in an organised and reliable manner and to manage a
variable workload, including appropriate delegation
• an ability to get on well with others in a small team and within
shared accommodation
Desirable:
• a background in marine biology/environmental science or similar
• a strong interest and some knowledge of British cetaceans
• good IT skills (Office package)
• prior experience in public speaking
• experience with postings in social media
• prior experience in boat-based survey work
• willingness to work long hours outdoors in often very changeable Welsh
weather
To apply:
Please send your CV and a cover letter reporting any relevant experience
you have and specifying the period(s) you would prefer to volunteer for,
as well as contact details of two referees, to Kathy James
(kathy.ja...@seawatchfoundation.org.uk).
Deadline: 10th January 2016.
Please specify EDUCATION ASSISTANT APPLICATION into your subject title.
Applicants must be available for interview via Skype between the 20th
and 26th January and will be notified of the outcomes by the 29th
January 2016.
The Sea Watch Foundation
The Sea Watch Foundation is a national marine environmental research
charity that aims to achieve better conservation of whales and dolphins
in the seas around Britain and Ireland, by involving the public in
scientific monitoring of populations and the threats they face. It is
the longest-running research charity in UK focusing upon cetaceans
around the British Isles, and maintains a national sightings database,
the largest in Europe. It works closely with all the UK statutory
conservation agencies, and has provided advice to the UK government, the
UNEP Regional intergovernmental Conservation Agreement - ASCOBANS, and
the European Commission, as well as the major conservation charities and
marine industries operating in the UK.
Public awareness
We aim to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of the
marine wildlife and the habitats supporting them, to encourage respect
and conservation of the marine environment for future generations. We
also run training courses for the public in cetacean identification and
survey methods.
A list of recent of recent awareness and education achievements is given
below:
• Sea Watch Director, Peter Evans, received the European Cetacean
Society Conservation Award, 2012
• Sea Watch Foundation was recipient of the UNEP/ASCOBANS “Outreach and
Education Award”, 2009
• Sea Watch Foundation was voted best UK animal adoption scheme by BBC
Wildlife, December 2008
--
[1]
Katrin Lohrengel / Wales Development Officer
katrin.lohren...@seawatchfoundation.org.uk
Sea Watch Foundation
Paragon House, Wellington Place, New Quay, Wales, SA45 9NR
http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/ [1]
[2] [3]
Links:
------
[1] http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/
[2] https://www.facebook.com/seawatchfoundation?ref=ts&fref=ts
[3] https://twitter.com/WelshCetaceans
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