As a leading charity in the proactive conservation of marine wildlife through research and education, MARINElife relies on a diverse team of highly-valued volunteers. From research scientists to administration assistants, we are always eager to welcome volunteers who can offer their support.
If you are enthusiastic, reliable and want to make a positive contribution to the crucial work we do by becoming involved in our dynamic team, we would very much like to hear from you.
There are many ways in which you can offer support.
Maybe you would like to help us with our shore-based work? The following are just a few ways you can help and you can click on each for an overview of the role, but if you have a specific idea or offer, please don't hesitate to contact us:
- Fundraising
- Merchandising
- Data entry
- Project coordination
- Events organiser
-
Surveys Coordinator
Or maybe you have the necessary skills to become an offshore researcher?
Our core offshore work is in researching distribution, abundance and population trends for whales, dolphins, seabirds and other marine animals from commercial vessels. We operate year-round surveys along fixed 'transect' routes through the Channel, Bay of Biscay, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, working on ferries, freight ships, cruise liners and smaller recreational boats. We adhere to strict scientific methodologies when conducting our research surveys so welcome observers with experience of cetacean and / or seabird identification.
If you believe you possess the necessary expertise and you are
18 years or older, please send a brief CV in a Word document plus a
head and shoulders photo to the Surveyor Recruitment Officer,
Rachael Stilgoe: rachael.stilgoe@marine-life.org.uk
In your CV, please focus on the experience and skills you
can bring to the work that we do. For ship-based research, please
highlight your experience with cetacean and/or pelagic bird
identification (mention species seen) and any other form of
wildlife watching. It would also be helpful if you would give an
indication of how flexible your availability is for survey work at
short notice.
Your work history and education are not really relevant to us unless they are with cetacean or seabird surveys/research. Other voluntary work for MARINElife doesn't necessarily need particular knowledge or skills - just enthusiasm and a willingness to have a go, linked with a genuine concern for our marine environment.
Please include ALL contact details in your CV:
Full postal address
Email address
Mobile
telephone number
Landline telephone number
For some of our routes the shipping company also needs
to know one or more of the following (depending on which company it
is):
Passport number
Car registration, make and model
Date of birth
Nationality
A full passport is required (except for the
Fleetwood to Larne survey). Researchers must provide their own
binoculars and we suggest that 8x42 or 10x50 binoculars are used
when on survey. We carry out the survey from the ship's bridge so
wet weather clothing is not required. The ability to cope with the
ship's motion under a range of sea conditions is important in order
to maintain the research effort at all times.
We require that our researchers are familiar with the
identification of cetaceans and/or seabirds at sea. Marinelife's
work in research needs to meet strict scientific standards in order
to be published in peer-reviewed academic papers, so some relevant
experience with one or both these animal groups is important.
However we realise that to gain knowledge of such subjects it is
necessary to spend time at sea and we therefore place great
emphasis on the enthusiasm of each applicant to undergo field
training as a trainee, helped by more experienced
researchers.
If you are a beginner and want to become more involved in our
survey work by gaining invaluable experience at sea, you may like
to consider joining one of our exciting identification trips where
we provide training led by some of the most experienced researchers
in Europe. Click here for the latest
available dates and routes.