Marine Project Scientist

Responsible to: Head of Science

Principle place of work: CCC field base, Philippines

Remuneration: This is a voluntary position with benefits provided in kind - Accommodation, board, and active CCC work related expenses

Date of commencement: 26^th July 2017

Contract duration: Six months (with the option to extend – subject to review)

 

Requirements

Minimum

MSc qualification in a relevant field (BSc with minimum 2-years relevant experience)

Experience in marine ecological survey work

Experience in fishery assessment, community liason and project development

Excellent administrative and organisational skills

Excellent written and oral communication skills (production of scientifc reports)

Ecological data analysis competency

Minimum PADI Advanced Open Water (>50 logged dives)

Demonstrable passion for the natural environment

 

Desirable

Experience of living and working in remote areas

Experience of cultivating partnerships and project management

Teaching experience

Knowledge and understanding of natural resource management issues and community based conservation in developing countries

 

Timing and Remuneration

The position is a minimum six-month post, commencing 26^th July 2017. The Project Scientist (PS) role is a voluntary position, however the successful candidate will receive some benefits in kind (as stated in the employee’s contract), including accommodation and board for the duration of their stay on the project site.

 

Principle duties and responsibilities

The PS will be based in the Philippines and is responsible for overseeing the delivery of CCC’s focused and active conservation projects throughout the working region.  The PS will coordinate the delivery of project goals and aims, in collaboration with Head Office staff (Head of Science), and is the key point of contact for project partners in-country. The responsibilities of the PS include the coordination and provision of on-going training to CCC volunteers and local Scholars in basic tropical reef ecology, identification skills, surveying techniques and natural resource management, as well as the co-ordination of the survey work undertaken by the team (Volunteers and Staff) and the planning of long-term survey strategies.  In addition to this, the PS is responsible for data management, assimilation and analysis with the production of CCC scientific reports whilst maintaining and developing institutional links in country. Coordinating community outreach programmes and reporting on scientific activities, with assistance from the Marine Science Officer (SO), will also form an integral part of responsibilities.

The PS is assisted by the SO who is appointed for a period of up to 6 months to one project site.  Additional staff may also be present to assist with the delivery of conservation projects, such as a Community Liaison Officer (CLO).  Prior to and during the expedition, the PS will be in regular contact with the CCC's Head of Science in the UK. The PS will be provided with a ‘Science Staff Manual’ for reference use throughout the employee’s contract.

You will undertake an essential role within an established, driven and exciting organisation with clear aims, goals and objectives. By ensuring the smooth running of the practiced marine ecological data collection, you will strive to promote sustainable resource extraction, altering attitudes within subsistence coral reef fisheries whilst educating and inspiring local community members and international volunteers. The data collected by CCC survey teams are utilised to develop conservation-driven directives in partnership with municipal and local government units for the prosperity of the Philippines’ natural resources. Some of these include, but are not limited to: the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and their respective ordinance; coral nurseries and rehabilitation; scalable and replicable novel marine survey techniques; and capacity building and educational workshops.

 

Background

CCC is an award-winning organisation that provides resources to help sustain livelihoods and alleviate poverty through the protection, restoration and management of coral reefs and tropical forests. To achieve these aims, CCC recruits teams of paying international volunteers to finance and participate in conservation expeditions worldwide. The project in the Philippines has been established in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte (PGSL).

In 2002, the PGSL invited CCC to conduct research in Sogod Bay. This resulted in the formation of the Southern Leyte Reef Conservation Project (SLRCP). The SLRCP utilises trained volunteers to survey the region's coral reefs and provide training and conservation education opportunities for project counterparts. The aim of this is to develop local capacity and ensure the long-term protection and sustainable use of marine resources throughout Southern Leyte. Between 2002 and 2013, CCC focused on implementing baseline surveys throughout Sogod Bay to understanding the composition of coral reef associated communities, benthic cover and reef health. In 2013, having surveyed much of the accessible area in the Bay, CCC shifted its focus to concentrate on MPA establishment and their respective monitoring. Under these new goals and objetcives, surveys are implemented inside and outside of existing MPAs to evaluate their efficacy and in unprotected areas to assess their potential for MPA establishment.

CCC lead scientific monitoring surveys of marine ecosystems to feed in to sustainable conservation management based on sound scientific recommendations. Working in close partnership with local communities that depend on the natural resources, the project aims to enhance natural resource management by developing an integrated programme that includes building local and national stakeholder conservation management capacity, increasing community awareness and developing education, and alternative livelihood programs.

 

Application

Please submit an application form, CV and brief covering email to Tom Dallison, Head of Science at info@coralcay.org. Application forms can be found on our website at www.coralcay.org/careers. The deadline for applications is 23:59 on 23^rd April 2017.

 

Please see below for a detailed breakdown of responsibilities:

 

Project management in-county

            The PS will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of the Southern Leyte Reef Conservation Project goals in-country.  They will work with the Head of Science to ensure that project goals are met and that targets are achieved in a timely manner.

 

Maintenance and development of institutional links

            The PS will meet on a regular basis (minimum monthly) with project partners and representatives from collaborating organisations. The purpose of these meetings will be to keep collaborating partners updated on the achievements of CCC, to keep lines of communication open and to evaluate progress towards conservation goals. The PS will also be required to represent CCC at Technical Committee meetings and any other meeting or conferences to which CCC are invited.  The PS will offer their knowledge and services wherever possible, for example to provide lectures at local schools, colleges and universities or to tutor field staff. The PS will initiate visits to schools and will also offer to give talks and project work to classes.

 

Co-ordination of research

            Field co-ordination of the research programme to monitor marine and terrestrial resources.  This requires management and guidance of the SO and volunteer teams to meet the objectives of the research programme.  The PS is also required to be available for volunteers to ask questions relating to surveying and to answer these requests to the best of their ability.  The PS is responsible for planning long-term research strategies in collaboration with CCC Head Office science team. Plans should be made for all eventualities such as bad weather and vehicle breakdown, and suitable alternative activities prepared.  Survey targets should be set for weekly, monthly and six monthly periods and survey progress fully documented to CCC HO and explained to present volunteers.

             

Delivery of the CCC training programme

            Coordination and teaching of CCC courses in basic tropical terrestrial and marine ecology, species identification and survey techniques following guidelines laid out by CCC Head Office staff.  The PS will contribute to delivering CCC’s Skills Development Programme given to all volunteers and local Scholars on arrival (every four weeks), assisted by the SO.  Subsequent to the initial science training, the PS will provide further lectures and facilitate discussion groups where necessary regarding issues such as advanced identification, natural resource management and coral reef health.  The PS is also expected to facilitate local education efforts in any reasonable manner which will enhance the objectives of the project and compliment the surveying programme.

 

Co-ordination of community outreach programme

            The PS is responsible for co-ordinating community outreach efforts in-country. They will be assisted in this by the Education Officer (when present).  This will entail maintaining good relations with local communities and schools as well as organising events and activities as appropriate, for example: open days, puppet shows, film showings, presentation of survey reports, attending fiestas etc.

 

Staff management

            The PS is responsible for line-managing the scientific staff in-country, this includes the Science Officer(s), Community Liaison Officer and Education Officer (where present). 

 

Management of scientific equipment

            The PS must ensure that the scientific equipment and facilities are well maintained. These include a number of teaching resources (books and slides) and equipment for use on the surveys (such as Global Positioning System, recording forms, ropes and buoys).  The PS must also maintain an inventory of the scientific materials and submit requests for re-supplies to maintain the specified level of stocks and anticipate a greater need for stock in busy months.

 

Office duties

            The PS is responsible for all general administrative work associated with the in-country delivery of project goals, including report writing, correspondence etc. The PS should also manage scientific data entry to ensure quality and accuracy of data and conduct some preliminary analysis of data collected by CCC survey teams.  The PS is encouraged to write collaborative papers with CCC HO on work undertaken within the CCC science programme.

 

Provision of weekly reports

            The PS will be required to provide bi-weekly reports to the Field Base Manager (FBM) and CCC Head Office science staff, summarising the progress of the project including training (if applicable), surveying, scientific findings, community engagement work, project partner liaison and CCC’s local Scholarship scheme. Any requests or queries should also be included. At the end of the project the PS will provide CCC with a final report detailing all training, surveying and problems / recommendations / comments.

 

Other duties

            The PS's responsibilities do not lie solely within the field of science. As a member of expedition staff, the PS is expected to assist the FBM and other staff members in all areas of expedition management.

 

Professionalism

            As a member of staff, the PS is a representative of CCC and therefore must maintain the highest level of professionalism at all times during the expedition. The PS must support both the FBM’s judgement in managing the expedition and CCC's objectives of providing assistance to the host country in the development of resource management initiatives.  Any grievances or problems experienced by the PS must be reported immediately and exclusively to the Head of Science and if necessary to the CCC Directors. The PS is directly responsible to the Head of Science.