Bottlenose dolphin research volunteers

IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) is recruiting volunteers for the 2014 season (March to November) to collect data
on the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay and to help run our visitor centre, educational and awareness raising activities.

About CBMWC

The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is based in New Quay, west Wales, UK and is the marine wing of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. Since 1996 we have been dedicated to raising awareness of the local marine environment through education and research. Using boat-based and land-based surveys, photo-ID and acoustic studies we monitor bottlenose
dolphin, harbour porpoise and Atlantic grey seal populations in the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and wider Irish Sea. We also run a busy visitor centre as well as an education and activity room which offers marine educational activities for families with young children.

Position description

Seasonal volunteer positions are available for specific periods from 31^st March through to 3^rd November 2014 to help with our ongoing research, education and awareness-raising programmes concerning the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay.

As CBMWC is run almost entirely by volunteers, this is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a positive contribution to marine
wildlife conservation and meet new people who share your interests. You will learn about the species and habitats in Cardigan Bay, gain experience in field work, research methods, data processing, public awareness and education programmes. The data you collect will contribute to long running research studies on bottlenose dolphin site usage, abundance, photo-identification
and acoustic studies.

Responsibilities/duties will include (but are not limited to):

• Visitor centre operation, including dealing with enquiries and taking boat bookings
• Land-based surveys in conjunction with Ceredigion County Council
• Boat-based surveys*
• Educational and awareness-raising activities with children and the general public
• Data entry and checking
• Updating daily sightings information
• Beach cleans

 * Please note that boat surveys are weather dependent and volunteers take turns to join trips to act as onboard researcher.
During times of bad weather, you will spend more time carrying out shore-based activities.

You may be expected to work up to 8 hours a day, six days a week. Field work can involve long periods outdoors, in often
inclement weather. All volunteers are expected to contribute to all CBMWC activities, tasks and field work and to attend all training sessions provided. As such, if you are only looking to gain field experience, this is not the opportunity for you.

Person specification:

Essential skills

• Positive, reliable, conscientious and mature attitude
• Ability to work and live closely with others as part of a small team
• Strong work ethic with an ability to work unsupervised
• Adaptable and patient (particularly as boat work is weather dependent)
• Confident in dealing with the public both face to face and over the telephone
• Fluency in English
• Willing to ask for help if unsure and admit mistakes

Desirable skills

• Interest and/or experience of working with children in environmental education
• Research and surveying experience
• IT skills, including Microsoft Office and GIS

Please note that enthusiasm for our work and the marine environment is as valued as experience, since full training is provided.

Student projects

We welcome undergraduate and postgraduate students who require field work support – including boat time – and office space to conduct their research projects. Please note that we do not have a list of specific project ideas but if you have a project idea in mind, please contact us to discuss whether your ideas are feasible.

Time commitment

Volunteers positions are available from 31^st March until 3^rd November 2014 for five separate blocks ranging from 4 to 9 weeks. You must be able to commit to an entire block and preference will be given to volunteers who are able to commit to more than one block. Applications are encouraged from volunteers who would like to join the team for the majority of or entire season and would like gain additional experience in photo-ID analysis, environmental education and volunteer training and coordination. Volunteers living locally who are available on a part-time basis are welcome year round and are greatly appreciated.

2014 volunteer dates

• Block A 31^st March-27^th April (4 weeks)
• Block B 28^th April-1^st June (5 weeks)
• Block C 2^nd June-6^th July (5 weeks)
• Block D 7^th July-7^th September (9 weeks)
• Block E 8^th September-3^rd November (8 weeks)

Volunteer fee

An administration fee of £45 will be required from all successful applicants.

Accommodation and expense arrangements

Shared accommodation in a comfortable and fully equipped house will be arranged for successful volunteers (where required) at a cost of £55 per week, including fuel bills. Volunteers are responsible for their own food, travel and accommodation costs.

Due to payment arrangements with the house owners, accommodation costs will be required in advance to cover the cost of each block so before applying please ensure that you can cover this and all other expenses.

How to apply

Download a seasonal volunteer application form from our website www.cbmwc.org/volunteer/ and email it along with a CV and covering letter (no more than one side of A4) outlining how you meet the personal specification and your motivations for
applying to volunteer@cbmwc.org with ‘Volunteer application 2014’ in your subject line. Please make sure you fill in your
availability.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 31^st January 2014

For further information

Visit www.cbmwc.org/volunteer

If you have any questions please email volunteer@cbmwc.org with an appropriate subject line or call Laura on +44 (0)1545 560224.