Living Seas Research Assistant (Voluntary)

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) is one of six local Wildlife Trusts in Wales and is part of a wider movement of 47 Wildlife Trusts which cover the whole of the British Isles. The Wildlife Trusts aim for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone, striving to secure Living Seas where marine wildlife thrives, from the depths of the ocean to the coastal shallows. We recognise this as an inspirational end point where our environment, society and economy coexist for the benefit of wildlife and people.

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is recruiting a Living Seas Research Assistant (voluntary) to join our volunteer team at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre throughout the 2017 field season (27th March to 30th October).

About CBMWC

The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is based in New Quay, west Wales, UK. 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 our Discovery Room which offers marine educational and awareness raising activities for families, schools and groups. In April 2015 we became part of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) and will be delivering the trusts Living Seas programme.

What You will Gain

Volunteering for the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales at CBMWC is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a positive contribution to marine wildlife conservation and meet new people who share your interests as well as others working in the environment sector. You will learn about the species and habitats in Cardigan Bay, gain experience in field work, research methods, data processing, volunteer coordination and leadership skills. Past volunteers have gone on to further education, work as Marine Mammal Observers and to work for other conservation or Government organisations.

Overall Purpose of The Role:

Assist with the delivery of our Living Seas research objectives focused on marine megafauna in Cardigan Bay and the Irish Sea.

Tasks include (but are not limited to):

• Assist the Living Seas Science Officer with a range of research projects including assisting with research equipment maintenance and data analysis
• Conducting land and boat based* marine megafauna surveys
• Data entry and maintenance of CBMWC research databases
• Assist the ShoreFin and SeaSeal volunteers with their project
• Assist with volunteer coordination and training – responsible for volunteer shared house
• You may also be asked to assist with other aspects of our work including manning our visitor centre and assisting with community engagement activities

* Boat trips are run by an external company who we collaborate with. They are weather dependent and volunteers take turns to join trips to act as on-board researcher.

Important: The previous project volunteers have worked up to 6-8 hours a day 6 days a week, to ensure surveys can be conducted during periods of good weather and volunteers gain the most out of the experience. Some training and activities may take place outside of normal office hours. Field work can involve long periods outdoors and in inclement weather, wet weather gear is provided. All volunteers are required to attend training and to contribute to all CBMWC activities, tasks and field work.

We are looking for volunteers with the following skills/qualities:

• Research and surveying experience
• IT skills, including Microsoft Office
• Positive, reliable, responsible, 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)
• Fluency in English
• Experience of working in a small team

Desirable skills

• Leadership experience
• Experience of GIS and Word Press

Volunteering Dates:

The successful applicants must be available to start on 27th March and volunteer for the entire field season until 30th October.

Please note that volunteers are responsible for their own food, travel and accommodation costs.

How To Apply:

Download a volunteer application form from our website www.cbmwc.org/volunteer/research-assistant/ 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 ‘Research Assistant application 2017’ in your subject line.

You may also apply for the other long term roles of ShoreFin Volunteer and SeaSeal Volunteer in the same application form.

Incomplete applications will not be assessed so please make sure you complete the form fully, including availability and be sure to attach your CV and covering letter.

The closing date for applications is 23:59pm on Sunday 19th February 2017