Submission period: Open through December 9, 2024, 11:59 PM ET, or until we reach a maximum of 50 applications, whichever comes first.
IMPORTANT: WDC has a blind hiring process to remove biases in candidate selection. To preserve our ability to fairly review applicants, please DO NOT contact us or have your reference reach out to us regarding the status of your application. We will contact all applicants with the result of your application. Please be patient as this may take a few weeks.
Paid, temporary, full-time
Whale and Dolphin Conservation’s North American office is offering a 12-week, entry-level Marine Mammal Conservation Internship to candidates with little to no prior experience. We have two open positions for this temporary, full-time, paid internship. The internship dates are for spring between February – May 2025 and summer between May – August 2025.This opportunity will help to build skills relevant to the field of marine conservation while providing interns with insight into the inner workings of a non-profit as well as job skills transferable to any field.
This position is designed for those who do not yet have experience in marine conservation and outreach. We will prioritize candidates who do not have practical experience (internship, significant volunteering, employment) in this field outside of a classroom setting. Applicants should be eager to dive into new experiences and enjoy having a variety of tasks to work on. This position will assist Education & Outreach staff while significantly contributing to the development of on-demand fishing curriculum and partnership development. Secondarily, the candidate will assist in Marine Animal Rescue and Response. Occasional opportunities to see whales at sea may also be possible, though no part of this position requires being in the water. A large percentage of the candidate’s work week will take place in our office. Opportunities to deliver education programs or assist in animal strandings may occur outside of the office but cannot be guaranteed.
Successful candidates will gain transferable skills in effective communication and public speaking, project management, developing and delivering presentations and other interpretive resources, working on a close-knit team, and record keeping.
LOGISTICS:
Candidates must be able to demonstrate that they are legally eligible to work in the U.S. by the proposed starting date. Successful candidates will need to make their own arrangements, as needed, for housing and transportation to and from the WDC office in Plymouth, MA, USA. Please note that the cost of living for the Plymouth area is above the national average when considering this role. Successful candidates are expected to work 40 hours a week (including occasional evening and/or weekend work) for the 12-week period of the program; they will be compensated at a rate of $15/hour.
Applicants must be 18 years or older by the internship start date and fluent in English. WDC will assist interested students in obtaining credits for the program through their college or university. Candidates should be advised that WDC’s office is dog-friendly; up to three dogs may be in the office on any given day.
Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Whale and Dolphin Conservation embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We recognize that the field of marine mammal research and conservation lacks diversity, including within our own organization. WDC is dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities which represent diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills and, as a result, our hiring procedure is a blind process, and we do not accept cover letters or resumes.
Candidates in this internship will:
• Have effective verbal and/or written communications skills
• Work well with diverse audiences and teams
• Have an interest in education/outreach initiatives
• Act effectively as a member of a close-knit team
• Be able to problem solve in unanticipated situations
• Have an attention to detail and follow policies and procedures
• Possess a valid driver’s license and be willing to drive a large pick-up truck
• Be able to pass a background check
• Be able to lift or move heavy objects (around 50 pounds) and work outside in adverse weather conditions
• Be comfortable working with deceased/decomposing animals
• Have health insurance coverage and be free of (or able to manage) medical issues aggravated by exposure to animals including their fur and bodily fluids, which could contain transmissible diseases
• Be legally able to work in the United States
• As our work sometimes includes interactions with large crowds of people as well as direct contact with wild animals, we ask that our staff be fully vaccinated (including against COVID-19) unless employee qualifies for exception under applicable law. CDC communicable disease recommendations are reviewed at frequent intervals and guide the updating of WDC's protocols to keep employees safe.
Internship responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Researching and exploring potential education partnership opportunities for on-demand programming
• Supporting WDC's efforts to advance its on-demand gear trials and education initiatives
• Writing blogs, creating social media content, and managing program websites
• Developing outreach materials and grade school lesson plans connected to science standards
• Delivering educational programs to K-12 students as well as adults/families at community events
• Responding to stranded live and dead marine mammals in the field, including assisting with health assessments and examinations to determine cause of death
• Answering WDC’s rescue hotline and handling reports from callers
• Ensuring marine animal response preparedness by inventorying and restocking equipment, cleaning gear, fueling vehicles, etc.
• Supporting WDC policy initiatives including efforts to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.
The programs this internship supports are as follows:
Education
WDC’s formal and informal educational efforts include creating lesson plans, facilitating inquiry-based activities, developing and delivering presentations, managing outreach events, and more.
Interns supporting this program will build a strong set of skills related to educational design and philosophy, public speaking and outreach, communications and marketing strategies (including social media), and contribute new ideas and plans on how to grow WDC’s educational programming.
Marine Animal Rescue and Response
WDC’s Marine Animal Rescue and Response Program (MARR) is responsible for responding to stranded marine mammals along about 200 miles of Massachusetts coastline.
Interns will learn the skills needed to respond to pinnipeds (seals) and cetaceans (whales, porpoises, and dolphins), including standard data collection and data input (Level A and human interaction evaluations) and maintaining response readiness. It's important to note that stranding events are unpredictable and hands-on experience and species encountered will vary.
Funding and support for these paid internships was generously provided by the Binnacle Fund of the Tides Foundation.
To apply: https://form.jotform.com/243265508745159