OPEN STAFF POSITIONS

Project Manager - Maldivian Manta Ray Project

The Maldivian Manta Ray Project (MMRP) has gone from strength to strength and over the last few years we have built an ever growing network of marine biologists in our flagship project in the Maldives. With so many islands, reef systems and potential manta sites, we continue to expand our research and partnerships to enable us to monitor manta ray populations throughout the Maldives archipelago. The MMRP is currently looking to fill a regional Project Manager role in the Maldives.

Essential qualifications & skills:

-          Minimum BSc (hons)  in marine biology/conservation or similar and can provide graduation certificate upon application (visa requirement);

-          Minimum of PADI Dive Master (active status) or equivalent and can provide certification card upon application (please give details of diving experience/number of dives/date of last dives);

-          Excellent swimming skills;

-          Fluent in spoken and written English (additional languages desirable);

-          Knowledge of MS Office Package (Excel, Word, Power-Point, etc.);

-          Excellent written and verbal communication skills in order to represent the Manta Trust to members of the public, external organisations and colleagues;

-          Experience of data collection, data analysis and report writing;

-          Demonstrate organisational and administrative skills with the ability to plan and deliver to deadlines;

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

-          Minimum availability from November 2018 to October 2019.

-          Coordinate and manage other marine-related activities including turtle, whale shark & shark monitoring and identification

-          Conduct weekly kids club activities themed around manta rays (resort dependent)

-          Promote manta excursions and the Manta Trust research to guests

-          Promote safe and responsible tourism interactions with manta rays

-          Communicate effectively between resort management, on-site dive centre, and Manta Trust colleagues and management

-          Active participation in education and awareness events

-          Produce material for Manta Trust social media

-          Other resort specific roles depending on the resort

Equipment Requirements:

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

-          Camera equipment (incl. underwater housing and SD cards)(*Gopro not recommended)

This is a self-employed (consultancy) role. Consultants will be entitled to a monthly consultancy fee with food and accommodation provided, plus internal work-related travel and reimbursement of one international return flight, on completion of contract. Additional details available on request.

Please submit a cover letter, CV, graduation certificate and professional divecertification card as well as two reference letters to info@mantatrust.org only if you meet the essential requirements and would like to apply.

Closing date for applications is the 19th October 2018.

Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews may be conducted with short-listed candidates before the application deadline. All shortlisted candidates will be contacted within two weeks of the closing date.

ANNUAL Internships & Volunteering

Every year we offer internships with the Maldivian Manta Ray Project, as well as advertise summer volunteer positions for the Mexican Caribbean Manta Project.

Currently we are not accepting applications for these projects, however we normally open the application window between December - January each year. Please check back here and on our social media channels for updates on when to apply for these positions. In the mean time, please see below for more information about what is involved in volunteering with these two projects.

INTERNSHIP - MALDIVIAN MANTA RAY PROJECT

For three months, you will be involved in collecting vital data on the world’s largest-known population of reef manta rays, working and learning from researchers running one of the best-known manta research projects. The position will give you first-hand experience of working as a manta scientist; operating from our dedicated research vessel, interns will cruise the atoll in search of mantas, and potential new aggregation sites. All data collected will contribute to the database we have built up for over a decade and will be used to inform both local communities and government officials to ensure protective measures are met for the successful conservation of manta rays and other megafauna.  

Requirements:

·        Applicants must be able to commit to one of two 3-month periods (1st June – 31st August, or 1st September – 30th November). Applicants that are flexible and able to commit to either period will be preferred.

·        Due to visa requirements, applicants must have successfully completed a BSc degree in Marine Biology/ Environmental Conservation, or a related field, and be able to provide academic certificates and transcripts.

·        Minimum PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification (SSI/BSAC equivalent). Please give details of diving experience and number of dives logged. Whilst diving is not a common activity for an intern, applicants without this diving qualification will NOT be considered.

·        Excellent swimming/snorkelling skills. A demonstrated ability to comfortably free-dive to at least 5m. You will spend a lot of time snorkelling down beneath manta rays to get photos of their ID spot patterns.

·        Physically fit – it is likely you will spend 3+ hours a day, 6 days a week swimming in the ocean. 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. After a long day at sea, interns will be expected to spend 3 hours+ in the afternoon/evenings processing ID photo data in the office with the other researchers.

·        Fluent in spoken and written English (additional languages desirable).

·        Excellent guest relation and communication skills. Comfortable with public speaking and giving presentations.

·        A friendly, outgoing personality.

·        The ability to live and work as part of a small team in a multi-national, small & remote island resort environment, in an Islamic country in the tropics.

Equipment Requirements:

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

·        Dropbox Plus Subscription (minimum 1TB storage space)

·        Camera equipment (incl. underwater housing and SD cards)

This is an extremely popular and highly competitive opportunity, so really try your best 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. This will be based primarily on good performance during the internship period, demonstrating a passion for marine conservation and a willingness to advance your dive qualifications to professional level (minimum of Divemaster required for staff positions).