Approximate start date: 21/06/2019

Contract Type: Annual contract with the potential to extend, subject to performance, business needs and funding availability.

Probation Period: Three-month probation

Monthly Salary: US$2,000

Location: Little Cayman, Cayman Islands, Caribbean

Benefits: Medical insurance, pension contributions & flight contribution $250 flight compensation. As part of this position the selected applicant will receive extensive training in remote field station management. As well as the necessary skills to manage the operational component of research and educational diving programmes.

Hours of Work: Staff work a standard 45-hour week and are often required and expected to work longer days as required.

 

Job Description

Position Title: Field Station Assistant Manager (FSAM)

Reporting to: Field Station Manager

Line Manager of: n/a

Key Internal Relationships: Operations Department Members, Advancement and Communications Department Members, Education Department Members, Research Department Members

Working with: The FSAM will routinely liaise with education & research groups as well as representatives from the local community.

How to Apply

Applications, consisting of covering letter explaining why you feel you should be considered for this post along with a full CV and contact details for two referees should be sent to manager@reefresearch.org.

 

Please mark your application Field Station Assistant Manager, Little Cayman.

The closing date for applications is 24/05/19.

Interviews: Interviews will be conducted via Skype between the 26/05/19.

 

Regrettably, due to limited resources and the high number of applications we receive, we are only able to contact short-listed candidates. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.

Responsibilities

Purpose

The Central Caribbean Marine Institute is an active research and educational facility located in the Cayman Islands. The extensive suite of research and education programmes are conducted by a team of scientists whom are supported by a variety of grant funders and personal donations. CCMI’s research is focused on factors affecting the structure and function of coral reefs and the adjacent habitats, while its education programmes are designed for a variety of age groups and interests.

1. To support the Field Station Manager in the delivery of CCMI’s Education & Research programmes & grant deliverables through administrative responsibilities, operational logistical management & planning as well as field work.
2. Conduct education, operational and research programme activities under the direction of the departmental coordinator.

General (Approx. 60% of the work load)

All responsibilities will be conducted under the direction of the Field Station Manager.

1. Management of field station staff including:
   1. Training
   2. Development
   3. Time management
   4. Leave (vacation)
   5. Discipline
   6. Management of the CCMI retail, including accounting, inventories and sales.
   7. Management of CCMI weekly Field Station Tour and CCMI Reef Lecture Series.
   8. Manage the tracking of resource use to provide operational information and statistics to the CCMI advancement department required for grant writing & to the CCMI accounting department for billing.
   9. Management of the Little Cayman Lionfish Cull Community programme, including:
      1. Scheduling of cull activities
      2. Participating in lionfish culling activities
      3. Project data management & reporting
      4. Plan & schedule the operational component of visiting groups including education & research groups. Providing logistical support as required.
      5. Schedule, set agendas, participate in and minute operational departmental meetings & project management meetings.
      6. In coordination with departmental coordinators manage station inventories & resupply through the CCMI procurement system.
      7. Assist with the scheduling of resources including boats, vehicles & accommodation to ensure the successful delivery of programme grant deliverables.

10. In coordination with departmental coordinators develop & deliver an annual maintenance plan for the field station and its equipment.

11. Management and completion of staff work permits as needed for seasonal, part-time, and full-time operational staff.

12. Office administration including the creation of quarterly activity and budget reports.

13. Assist with receiving and shipment supplies and equipment (e.g. barge, airport), including all customs, duty, permits, and fees.

1. 14.  Ensure all field station insurance and licensing is up to date.

15. Support the Marine Operations Coordinator (MOC) in their duties ensuring all in water activities are conducted to CCMI & PADI dive standards.

1. Assist the DSO in compressor duties and the filling of SCUBA tanks.
2. Assist in the service of scuba equipment including (training provided)

                                         i.    Tanks

                                        ii.    Regulators

                                      iii.    BCD

1. Assist in the review and processing of dive paper work
2. Assist diving activities by becoming a CCMI boat captain (training provided)

16. All employees must assist the with general operations including:

1. Helping with meal services
2. Collection and movement of goods and equipment
3. Facilities maintenance including tidying & cleaning

Helping with preparing of boats for field work

Education (Approx. 20% of the work load)

All responsibilities will be conducted under the direction of the departmental coordinator.

1. Assist with education group activities such as but not included to:
   1. Set up & breakdown of programme activities
   2. Participation in departmental meetings
   3. Giving education presentations and lectures (training provided)
   4. Guiding in water activities (snorkels & dives)
   5. Conducting Lionfish dissections (training provided)
   6. Leading beach cleans
   7. Providing island based educational activities
   8. Assist with the delivery of CCMI’s Reefs Go Live programme. A virtual live dive experience that delivers lessons on tropical ecology via live-streaming technology into classrooms throughout the Cayman Islands and abroad.

Research (Approx. 20% of the work load)

All responsibilities will be conducted under the direction of the departmental coordinator. Any and all necessary training for research associated projects will be given on site by the CCMI research team or by specific research project staff.

1. Assist with CCMI research project activities such as but not limited to:
   1. Coral restoration work including;

                                         i.    Coral fragmentation

                                        ii.    Coral nursery maintenance

                                      iii.    Coral outplanting

                                       iv.    Coral spawning monitoring

1. Annual coral reef health surveys (AGRRA)
2. Coral Reef Early Warning System (CREWs) buoy maintenance
3. Herbivorous Fish studies
4. Assist with visiting researchers’ projects, while varied have included activities such as:
   1. Seagrass studies
   2. Fish specimen collection
   3. Sea Urchin exclusion experiments

 

Personnel Specification

Skills 

Essential

•           Project management skills

•           Ability to supervise the work of others

•           Strong verbal communication, presentation and networking skills

•           Strong written communication skills, including report writing

•           Strong prioritisation and time management skills, with ability to work to multiple deadlines and a clear focus on delivery of results

•           Advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Outlook and Excel

•           Fluency in English (spoken and written)       

 

Desired

•           Experience in underwater videography

•           Live broadcast experience

•           Field station management experience

•           Boat captain license RYA Level 2 (or equivalent)

 

Knowledge & Experience

Essential     

•           Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Marine Science)

•           PADI Open Water (or equivalent)

•           Emergency First Responder (or equivalent)

•           Knowledge of marine science, particularly in biology and ecology

•           Experience maintaining field station equipment

•           Basic project accounting & budgeting experience

•           Experience implementing standard safety practices in field situations

•           Experience living in remote areas under communal living conditions         

 

Desired

•           Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Marine Science)

•           Experience servicing dive equipment or a Scuba Pro certified service technician

•           AAUS scientific diver

•           Nitrox Certified

•           PADI Divemaster or above

•           First Aid certification

•           Emergency O2 Provider

 

Behavioural Qualities

Essential     

•           Commitment to CCMI’s mission and vision

•           Professional attitude to all aspects of work

•           Commitment to organisational and legal compliance and to responsible management of donor funds

•           Output-driven

•           Rigorous and diligent approach to work

•           Ability to work under pressure and to deal with challenges in a positive way

•           Team player, demonstrating ability to seek out and harness the views and contributions of others

•           Self-starter, able to work well under own initiative

•           Ability to build positive individual and organisational relationships

•           Ability to work within a multi-cultural environment

 

Other

Essential

•           Driver’s license          

Desired

•           Experience driving both manual & automatic.

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