Field coordinators and field assistants are needed each year for the turtle seasons at Pacuare Reserve in Costa Rica and Bocas del Toro in Panama.
We are inviting applications for Coordinators and Field Assistants (FAs) to join the conservation projects in Costa Rica and Panama for the 2O12 nesting season of the critically endangered Leatherback turtle. In Pacuare the project continues during the Green turtle season until the end of September.
COORDINATOR’S DUTIES:
A. CHIEF BIOLOGIST/COORDINATOR OF THE MARINE TURTLE PROJECT AT THE PACUARE RESERVE
To be in overall charge of the turtle program and, in particular, to direct and coordinate the following:
- The work of the Field Assistants in monitoring the turtle activity on the beach
- The taking of data on the beach
- The analysis of this data
- Beach patrolling, leading volunteer and student groups
- Talks and workshops with students and volunteers
- The individual research projects of the Field Assistants
- At the end of the season, write and present a report detailing the work of the project and the results obtained from the data collected throughout the season.
B. ASSISTANT BIOLOGIST/COORDINATOR OF THE MARINE TURTLE PROJECT PACUARE RESERVE
The job is to support and assist the chief Coordinator in the activities listed above and in practical matters to do with student groups, volunteers and other people involved in the project.
- Most activities of the Assistant to the chief coordinator will take place in the north station where he/she will be based.
C. BIOLOGISTS/COORDINATORS OF THE MARINE TURTLE Projects AT PLAYA SOROPTA AND PLAYA LARGA IN PANAMA
To be in overall charge of the project and the turtle program and, in particular, to direct and coordinate the following:
- The work of the Field Assistants in monitoring the turtle activity on the beach
- The taking of data on the beach
- The analysis of this data
- Beach patrolling leading volunteer and student group
- Environmental Education activities
- Talks and workshops with students, volunteers and local communities
- At the end of the season, write and present a report detailing the work of the project and the results obtained from the data collected throughout the season
This job also involves working on the practical and logistical aspects of receiving and looking after volunteers, visitors and local guards.
REQUIREMENTS
The successful applicants
- Must be biologists with experience of working with Marine Turtles, especially Leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea)
- They should be fluent in English and Spanish
- Have leadership qualities and the ability to share their professional knowledge with others, especially with the Field Assistants who are in their charge
- They must be able to lead a team but also be part of it, and be prepared for living and working in remote areas, sometimes in difficult conditions
-They must be independent, positive and adaptable to unexpected situations
-They must be able and willing to work long hours during night and day in heat and rain.
LOGISTICS COORDINATOR FOR PACUARE
We need someone to manage the non-turtle activities, such as meeting and looking after all visitors to the reserve, shopping expeditions twice-weekly in neighbouring Bataan, our nearest shopping centre, overseeing food and cooks, cleaners and other employees, overseeing recycling, compost-making, vegetable gardening within the reserve and other non- turtle activities
Must be fluent in English and Spanish
No knowledge of turtles necessary but must be keen nature-lover.
SALARIES
- Biologist/Coordinator at Pacuare Reserve: US$150 a week.
- Assistant to the Biologist/Coordinator: US$125 a week.
- Biologist/Coordinator at Soropta beach: US$125 a week.
- Biologist/Coordinator at Playa Larga beach: US$100 a week.
- Logistics Coordinator for Pacuare: US$125 a week.
Food and accommodation is provided during the stay at the project. On free days you will cover your own expenses.
FIELD ASSISTANTS:
We want to build a team of young people deeply interested in conservation, who could be students or graduates in biology or a related subject, but this is not essential. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to work in a team with people from different parts of the world, to live by a remote turtle nesting beach surrounded by diverse flora and fauna, to participate in the conservation of a critically endangered species, to gain leadership experience and to test yourself physically and mentally as never before!
- Speak good Spanish and English at time of application.
- Have previous field experience an advantage but not essential.
- We need people who are motivated and adaptable, good team members, hard working and happy to live in a small isolated community.
The work of the FAs includes leading night patrols on the beach to identify, measure and tag adult turtles, relocate nests or mark them in situ, daily early morning walks to count the turtle tracks and check status of in situ nests, release hatchlings and conduct post-hatching excavations. This means long hours and hard but rewarding work.
At the Panama stations, FAs must also be prepared to help in collecting food supplies, some cooking duties (at Playa Larga only) and camp upkeep and construction which can be physically demanding.
Volunteers come to all three beaches to participate in the beach programmes and at Pacuare we also receive many student groups. FAs are expected to escort volunteers and students on the beach at night.
At the Pacuare Reserve only, FAs are required to do a personal research project on any subject of their choice excluding turtles. There are 6 kms of beach and 1050 hectares of forest in which to find a subject. we can make suggestions to help FAs make their choice
FAs can do these projects individually or share with another, depending on the extent of the subject.
Accommodation for FAs is simple but comfortable. They have a bed or bunk (with sheets and pillow) in a room which they will share with one or two other FAs.
There are showers and flushing toilets (except for Playa Larga, Panama, which offers a Robinson Crusoe lifestyle).
FAs have four free days a month. They are not paid but receive free food and lodging throughout their stay at the project sites.
The periods for which Coordinators and FAs are needed are as follows
Coordinators:
For Costa Rica: 23rd February to 30th September
For Panamá: 23rd February to 15th July
Field Assistants:
For Costa Rica: 25th February to 30th June
For Panama: 1st March to 15th July
Coordinators and Field Assistants will be chosen by the end of November 2011
For the Biologist/ Coordinator and the Logistic/Coordinator positions please send C.V including the name, telephone number and e-mail address of two people who may recommend you and a covering letter.
To apply for a Field Assistant position, please send C.V including the name, telephone number and e-mail address of two people who may recommend you and a covering letter to Carlos Fernandez