Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
A full list of qualifications are stated in the job announcement and include but are not limited to the following:
High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent
One to three (1-3) years of field experience, which includes experience working or camping in small groups in remote or isolated settings. Prior experience handling or working with wildlife or other animals
Strong boating skills and/or boat maintenance experience, and/or knowledge of Hawaiian waters are a plus
Ideal candidates for both positions will also have experience working and camping outdoors in remote or isolated areas, working with diverse groups of people, possess both physical and mental agility and endurance, and very importantly, demonstrate an ability to maintain a sense of calm and steadiness in the face of many unexpected challenges that such a remote location presents. Small boat experience and familiarity with Hawaiian waters is also a plus. Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders, minorities, kamaʻāina, and those with a strong connection to place and interest in giving back to place are encouraged to apply.
Selected candidates will have the rare opportunity to live and work within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM), a place with thriving coral reefs and that is home to a diverse array of seabirds, sea turtles, Hawaiian monk seals, and other marine life, many of which are unique to the Hawaiian Islands. It is also a place of great cultural importance to Native Hawaiians.
Selected individuals will study the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and may conduct other protected species work while deployed. The work is part of a long-term annual Hawaiian monk seal population monitoring and conservation program by NOAA Fisheries and includes: conducting trend counts, tagging seals, identifying individual seals by tags, scars, natural markings, and applied bleach marks, monitoring reproduction, survival, injuries, entanglements, migration, vaccinating against morbillivirus, performing necropsies, collecting scat & spew samples for food habitat, parasite load, and hormonal analysis, collecting tissue samples for DNA analysis, and removing debris capable of entangling seals and other wildlife. Behavior data are also collected at some sites. Researchers may participate in shark predation mitigation activities. Training will include Wilderness First Aid and a NOAA Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC).
General information about the program can be found via the links below:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/hawaiian-monk-seal#science
Field teams will be stationed at field sites located within PMNM. Fieldwork is accomplished with a Technician who will serve as the team lead, and usually one or more assistants. Researchers live in wall tents at the various sites which are accessible only by ship (2-8 day travel; 830-2,300 km from Honolulu). Few (if any) resupply opportunities exist and communication with others outside of field sites is limited throughout deployment due to the remoteness and lack of infrastructure.
The employment period varies, but in a typical year, the duration of employment includes up to about 4 months of deployment to a field site with approximately 4-6 weeks of training and packing in Honolulu, and ~1-4 weeks at the end of the field season back in Honolulu to clean up gear and summarize data. For the 2024 field season, plans are still being formulated, but positions may begin as soon as late February/early March with a deployment to field sites around late April. Applicants must be flexible in their availability as dates could change, including unforeseen delays such as inclement weather or ship delays. Travel to and from Honolulu and food, lodging, and transportation during the training period and post season in Honolulu before/after deployment are not provided. Transportation between Honolulu and field sites and food and other living costs are covered by the program during the deployment. Due to unforeseen circumstances or mission logistics, departure delays or returning earlier than expected could result in longer periods in Honolulu that may result in additional uncompensated living expenses.
Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien, and must be able to meet both the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) security requirements to access the work location, and also the health requirements to board a NOAA vessel.
Instructions to apply for both the technician and assistant positions are in the attached job postings and as indicated below. Please clearly address all qualifications in your cover letter and resume. If you do not clearly address all qualifications, we may not be able to consider you as an applicant.
For example, to address the experience qualification, indicate in your cover letter how many years (cumulative months or years) of field experience you have and be sure that is reflected in your resume.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: You can access both recruitments here and search for indicated job ID #s. Note that if applying for both positions, you must do so separately.
CIMAR/PIFSC HMSRP Field Camp Research Assistant - search Job ID #223687
You must submit the following documents online to be considered for the position: 1) Cover Letter, 2) Resume, 3) Supervisory References, 4) Copy of Degree(s)/Transcript(s)/Certificate(s). All online applications must be submitted/received by the closing date (11:59 P.M. Hawai‘i Standard Time/RCUH receipt time) as stated on the job posting (11/06/2023). If you do not have access to the RCUH system and the closing date is imminent, you may send additional documents to rcuh_recruitment@rcuh.com. If you have questions on the application process and/or need assistance, please call (808)956-7262 or (808)956-0872.
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