CAREERS & VOLUNTEERING

If you’re passionate about marine conservation and eager to gain hands-on experience, this internship offers a unique opportunity to work alongside a dedicated team protecting the world’s largest-known population of reef manta rays.

Although this is a quieter time for manta activity, interns will still take part in field research and in-water site exploration, including snorkelling surveys and occasional dives at key manta aggregation sites. These experiences will help you build practical skills in marine fieldwork, species identification, and contribute to our long-term monitoring efforts. This season also provides a greater focus on education and outreach, with interns assisting in the delivery of engaging sessions to local schoolchildren, resort guests, and community members, as well as supporting ongoing awareness campaigns. You’ll also be involved in office-based tasks such as data entry, photo-ID processing, and analysis — all essential to the success of our research programme.

If you’re enthusiastic, willing to learn, and excited by both scientific work and community engagement, we’d love to hear from you. This is a chance to develop your skills, support meaningful conservation work, and explore the rich marine environment of the Maldives.

Requirements:

• Applicants must have successfully completed a BSc degree in Marine Biology/ Environmental Conservation, OR have experience working in a related field; Note – for Maldivian nationals only, a BSc degree is not a requirement but experience working in the field of marine conservation is preferred.

• Minimum PADI Divemaster certification in active status (SSI/BSAC equivalent). Please give details of diving experience and number of dives logged.

• Excellent swimming/snorkelling skills. A demonstrated ability to comfortably free-dive to at least 10-15m. You will spend a lot of time snorkelling down beneath manta rays to get photos of their ID spot patterns.

• Physically fit – Mantas love to be uncooperative, and when conditions are rough/there is a current, it can be physically demanding.

• A strong interest in manta rays, conservation and marine/environmental research.

• Computer literate and comfortable working long hours at a desk.

• Fluent in spoken and written English & Dhivehi.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills - comfortable with public speaking and giving presentations.

• Self-motivated individual with a positive, ‘can-do’ attitude with a flexible approach to a diverse workload;

• The ability to live and work as part of a team in a resort local island environment.

Roles and responsibilities include:

• Carry out research snorkels/dives and site surveys;

• Collect data on all manta sightings (ID photos, gender, injuries, pregnancies, behaviour, etc.);

• Data entry – survey results; sightings updates; research study analysis;

• Lead manta excursions for guests (snorkel and dive trips to manta feeding and cleaning sites), representing the Manta Trust as the manta ray specialist providing expert advice and sharing information about the regional manta ray population.

• Promote safe and responsible tourism interactions with manta rays;

• Active participation in education and awareness events, including the Maldives Education Programme (Moodhu Madharussa);

• Produce material for Manta Trust social media;

• Conduct weekly Mini Manta Biologist session at the resort;

• Participation and assistance in ongoing research projects at the base. These include but are not limited to the Eyes on the Reef project, Ultrasound and SVP measurements; Nursery site assessments; Zooplankton sampling;

Equipment Requirements:

• Personal Laptop with photo editing software (e.g. Lightroom);

• Dropbox Plus Subscription (minimum 1TB storage space).

• Fins (preferably long blades), Mask and Snorkel.

• A waterproof timepiece (to be worn when conducting all in-water activities).

Inclusions & Exclusions:

• Stipend of $300/month (for Maldivian nationals only).

• All food, shared accommodation and internal flight transfers will be covered.

• For those not certified with any Freediving qualification, a theory training course will be provided free of charge.

• Scientific training and experience conducting research in the field.

• Interns will be required to take out their own insurance cover, including but not limited to, travel and personal liability insurance.

If you are interested, and meet all requirements please send your CV/resume (maximum two pages), and a covering letter (maximum one page) to raa@mantatrust.org, quoting the reference above and your name in the email title e.g. ‘Internship Application #MMRP2025 Joe Bloggs’. 

This is an extremely popular and highly competitive opportunity, so really try and impress us if you want to stand out! It should also be highlighted that completion of this internship may present the opportunity to work with the Manta Trust in the future. We look forward to reading your application.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews may be conducted with short-listed candidates before the application deadline. 

Due to limited capacity only successful candidates will be contacted.

Fisheries and Policy Trustee Role Description

Have you worked in fisheries conservation management or research? Do you have experience working on fisheries policy, be it through international conventions such as CITES and CMS, regionally through RFMOs, or nationally with the government? Do you hold a genuine interest in how policy shapes conservation outcomes and a desire to make a tangible impact on the future or our natural world through effective governance? If so, we invite you to consider joining our dedicated Board of Trustees. We are particularly interested in someone with a deep knowledge of, and practical experience working in, the domain of fisheries policies to enhance the breadth of expertise currently on the Board.

Additional skills in any or all of the following are also desirable: corporate fundraising, sales and marketing, media and communications, human resources, cyber security, marine education, and ICT.

Location: Mainly remote, with some travel to London.

Remuneration: This is an unpaid voluntary role; however, reasonable expenses may be reimbursed.

Time Commitment: Four board meetings per year (with each meeting lasting around two and a half hours). Plus, attendance at occasional events and meetings with key stakeholders.

Report To: Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Closing Date: Rolling advert.

Interview Date: TBC, held in London or online.

About the Role

This is a pivotal voluntary role for an individual who can provide expert strategic guidance and active support in navigating and influencing the fisheries and management policies that impact mobulid conservation. You will be instrumental in offering critical insights on pertinent policies, regulatory frameworks, and their implications for achieving our conservation goals.

Principal Responsibilities

The formal duties of the Board of Trustees collectively are to:

• Ensure that the Manta Trust complies with its five-year plan, governance, charity law, fundraising, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

• Work collaboratively with the Manta Trust Core Team, Fisheries & Conservation Policy Team, Board of Advisors, and fellow Trustees.

• Provide expert strategic direction and oversight regarding the charity's engagement with the response to fisheries policies.

• Support the development and implementation of conservation strategies that are informed by effective interaction with relevant policy frameworks.

• Offer insights and contribute to discussions on conservation projects and priorities, particularly concerning their fisheries and policy content.

• Safeguard the good name and the values of the Manta Trust.

• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Manta Trust.

• Ensure the financial stability of the Manta Trust.

• Act always in the best interests of the Manta Trust and declare any conflicts of interest.

Expectations

To fulfil the role of Trustees effectively, all Trustees are expected to:

Attend Board meetings, currently held quarterly. Meetings in Q2 and Q4 are conducted via video call, whilst meetings in Q1 and Q3 are hosted in person in London. When Trustees are unable to attend Q1 and Q3 meetings in person they can join via video conference, but the preference of the Board is for these to be face to face meetings.

Attend and participate in the Board’s annual strategic planning day held on a weekday (usually in London).

Occasionally attend functions on behalf of the Manta Trust, liaise with other Trustees and the Senior Team in between Board meetings.

Read Board papers in advance of meetings and come prepared to discuss key points arising from those papers.

Please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your interest in the role and how your skills and expertise meet the requirements to the Deputy Chief Executive, kate.polley@mantatrust.org

Fundraising Trustee Role Description

Are you a strategic thinker with a proven track record in charity fundraising? Do you hold a genuine interest in conservation and a desire to make a tangible impact on the future of our natural world? If so, we invite you to consider joining our dedicated Board of Trustees. We would be particularly interested in someone with knowledge and experience in charity fundraising to add to the wide range of skills and capabilities that the Board possesses. Additional skills in any or all of the following are also desirable: sales and marketing, and media and communications.

Location: Mainly remote, with some travel to London.

Remuneration: This is an unpaid voluntary role; however, reasonable expenses may be reimbursed.

Time Commitment: Four board meetings per year (with each meeting lasting around two and a half hours). Plus, attendance at occasional events and meetings with key stakeholders.

Report To: Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Closing Date: Rolling advert.

Interview Date: TBC, held in London or online.

About the Role

This is a pivotal voluntary role for an individual who can provide expert strategic guidance and active support in developing and implementing our charity's fundraising strategy. You will be instrumental in identifying, cultivating, and stewarding relationships with funders (especially corporates) who are aligned with our conservation goals and eager to support impactful environmental work. Whilst extensive experience in wildlife conservation is not a strict requirement, a strong interest in this area and a willingness to engage with our conservation programmes are highly desirable.

Principal Responsibilities

The formal duties of the Board of Trustees collectively are to:

• Ensure that the Manta Trust complies with its five-year plan, governance, charity law, fundraising, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

• Provide expert strategic direction and oversight for the charity's fundraising activities, with a focus on securing significant partnerships.

• Support the development and pitching of compelling corporate partnership proposals that highlight the impact of their support on our conservation outcomes.

• Work collaboratively with the Manta Trust Core Team, Board of Advisors, and fellow Trustees.

• Offer insights and contribute to discussions on conservation projects and priorities, ensuring alignment with potential corporate support for the charity.

• Safeguard the good name and the values of the Manta Trust.

• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Manta Trust.

• Ensure the financial stability of the Manta Trust.

• Act always in the best interests of the Manta Trust and declare any conflicts of interest.

Expectations

To fulfil the role of Trustees effectively, all Trustees are expected to:

Attend Board meetings, currently held quarterly. Meetings in Q2 and Q4 are conducted via video call, whilst meetings in Q1 and Q3 are hosted in person in London. When Trustees are unable to attend Q1 and Q3 meetings in person, they can join via video conference, but the preference of the Board is for these to be face-to-face meetings.

Attend and participate in the Board’s annual strategic planning day held on a weekday (usually in London).

Occasionally attend functions on behalf of the Manta Trust, liaise with other Trustees and the Senior Team in between Board meetings.

Read Board papers in advance of meetings and come prepared to discuss key points arising from those papers.

Please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your interest in the role and how your skills and expertise meet the requirements to the Deputy Chief Executive, kate.polley@mantatrust.org.