JIMAR Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program Field Camp Volunteer

Recruitment is underway for the 2018 The Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program Field Camp Volunteer positions!

JIMAR HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL FIELD CAMP VOLUNTEER

The Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center/Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program (HMSRP) is seeking 4-5 volunteers to assist experienced staff with monk seal research and recovery activities for the 2018 field season.   While volunteer positions do not require as much previous field experience as paid field staff positions, ideal applicants for this volunteer position should have the right personality and basic capabilities to live on a remote, isolated atoll for ~4-5 months.  These volunteer positions require about 3-4 weeks of training and packing at the Inouye Regional Center located at Ford Island, Honolulu before field deployment to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). Once the field season is over, volunteers will spend approximately one week in Honolulu to clean up gear and equipment.  Dates are subject to change, but the positions are tentatively scheduled to begin early March with a field deployment date around mid-April. Field staff will be deployed approximately 4 months with a tentative return date in late August. The position end date is tentatively scheduled for some time in September. Those assigned to the field camp at one site (French Frigate Shoals) may not return to Honolulu until mid-October so the end date for them will be extended to reflect a later return date. 

Travel to and from Honolulu and food, lodging, and transportation in Honolulu before deployment are not provided.  Transportation between Honolulu and field sites and food and lodging in the field will be provided. Due to unforeseen circumstances, departure delays could result in longer periods in Honolulu that may result in additional unexpected and uncompensated living expenses. All other qualifications being equal, preference will be given to applicants currently living on Oahu so they can be incorporated into our program before official field training begins to gain as much useful experience ahead of time as possible.

Volunteers will be working in groups of 2-4 people per camp with rustic living conditions (e.g., living in tents, bathing in the ocean, no internet, no cell phone coverage, limited communication with the outside world). Deployment to these remote field sites is a serious undertaking. There are logistical constraints to working at such sites since the NWHI are hundreds of miles from Honolulu. Transportation to the NWHI is via ship to most sites and takes days to weeks to arrive. Ships are sometimes at the mercy of the weather and subject to mechanical failures which could result in significant delays in scheduled pick-up and drop-off as well as delays in in the event of an emergency (including evacuation). 

Please see the volunteer position description below for more details.  Applicants 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. General information about the program can be found at the link below: http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/hawaiian_monk_seal/ 

To apply:

Please send cover letter, resume, and name and contact information for 3 supervisory references to Lizabeth Kashinsky at lizabeth.kashinsky@noaa.gov.  Positions will be open until filled. However, we strongly encourage applicants to apply ASAP. 

Cover letter should include:

• Address why you are interested in the field camp position
• Clearly address all of your qualifications listed in the field camp volunteer position description (see below) and state why you are a good candidate
• State your availability, including your earliest start date if you are able to start volunteering before the formal training begins in March. Please note that due to the remoteness of the field sites, if you are NOT available for the full field season and training, we cannot accept your application.   

JIMAR HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL FIELD CAMP VOLUNTEER , located at the National Marine Fisheries (NMFS), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) in Honolulu, Hawaii.    DUTIES:  Under guidance of field camp leader, field camp assistant, and/or NMFS personnel, assists in camp preparation, collection, entry and editing of data. Maintains safe working environment for field personnel.  Collects census and life history data on Hawaiian monk seals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands or on remote shorelines in the Main Hawaiian Islands; collects observational data and conducts visual assessments of monk seals, enters data into computer databases; collects, inventories, and removes debris capable of entangling seals and turtles; assists with collection of tissue samples for DNA analysis; assists with tagging and measuring weaned pups under the guidance of field camp leader/assistant; may assist with the disentanglement of seals and other recovery actions which may include mitigation and deterrence of shark predation by assisting the leader/field camp assistant while translocating weaned pups from areas of high shark predation to areas of lower shark predation risk. This may also involve assisting the field camp leader during shark fishing procedures by photographing, recording data, handing equipment and supplies to the leader, and holding the line taut, all while standing at a safe distance away. Also, assists with preparation of equipment and supplies for field camps; packs equipment and supplies for shipment to Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; loads and unloads gear from transport vessel; assists with establishing field camp at remote site.  At the field site, under guidance of field camp leader, field camp assistant, and/or NMFS personnel may assist with necropsies; collects and assists processing of scats and spews for food habits analysis. Participates in daily maintenance and operation of field camp.  Assists with return, repair, and clean-up of field equipment and supplies. May participate in boating operations under the direction, and at the discretion of, the field camp leader.  Performs other duties as assigned.  PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS:  EDUCATION:  High School Diploma or equivalent.  EXPERIENCE:  Some field or wilderness experience, including working in small groups.  Some previous experience collecting or working with data. ABIL/KNOW/SKILLS:  Good communication and team skills.  Ability to perform accurate data entry. Ability to follow directions and abide by the restrictions of living and working in a fragile (and federally protected) ecosystem. Capable of maintaining a positive attitude in challenging field conditions and succeed and thrive in an isolated environment with minimal contact with current events and family/friends during the extent of deployment. Demonstrated ability to be a good team player. Working knowledge of personal computers including use of word processing, spreadsheets, and databases. PHYSICAL/MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS:  Ability to swim.  Ability to work in remote locations for extended periods of time.  Must be able to work long hours in the sun.  Must be able to walk long distances (up to 7 miles) in the sand carrying 25-35 pounds of field gear.  Must be able to manually restrain immature seals (up to 200 pounds).  Must be able to obtain medical clearance for embarking/working on NOAA research vessels or other appropriate vessels which includes providing proof of required immunizations and/or obtaining the necessary immunizations as required by NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations.  SECONDARY QUALIFICATIONS:  Prior field experience, including experience working within small groups in remote settings.  Wildlife handling experience. Prior monk seal experience in the main Hawaiian Islands or in a Hawaiian monk seal field camp.  Previous experience in field or laboratory studies of marine mammals, previous experience handling marine mammals, previous data entry experience.  Prefer applicants interested in pursuing career in marine mammalogy or related field.  For positions requiring travel between multiple-island atolls, possess prior experience with small boats and/or the ability to conduct routine maintenance on small boats.  Possess NOAA certification for small boat operations (having completed Motorboat Operators Certification Course (MOCC), open water module (OWM) and NOAA small boat component training) to work at multiple-island atolls.  INQUIRIES:  Lizabeth Kashinsky  lizabeth.kashinsky@noaa.gov