See Below
The Research & Monitoring Department of the Toledo Institute of Development and Environment (TIDE) is seeking an enthusiastic and committed intern with appropriate qualifications and experience to fill the internship position of Science Communications Officer, assisting TIDE’s Science Director with a wide range of activities within the TIDE Research and Monitoring Department.
Activities include marine and terrestrial fieldwork, laboratory work, reviewing scientific literature, database management, GIS mapping of environmental data, data analysis, interpretation and reporting, social media and web content management, and production of media materials to cover the activities of the Research and Monitoring Department for a variety of purposes. The successful applicant will also assist in the development of monitoring programs and facilitate capacity building for TIDE’s up-and-coming group volunteer program.
About TIDE:
TIDE is a Belizean non-governmental organisation working to protect some of the most pristine coastal and marine ecosystems in Central America, including the healthiest coral reef in the whole Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. TIDE works with local communities to foster sustainable management of natural resources in the three protected areas under its jurisdiction; the 414 km2 Port Honduras Marine Reserve (PHMR), adjacent Payne’s Creek National Park (PCNP) at 145 km2, and 81 km2 of pristine rainforest privately owned by TIDE, known as the TIDE Private Protected Lands (TPPL).
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
The Science Communications Officer will work under the supervision of the Science Director to support all activities of the Research and Monitoring Department at TIDE. Furthermore, there will be opportunities to engage in other program areas, such as education and outreach and community development. Minimal training will be provided and the successful candidate will need to be proactive and self-sufficient.
The successful candidate will have a diverse skillset and experience in applying research and engaging stakeholders to facilitate management of natural resources. This is an interdisciplinary position offering experience in a variety of professional fields in research, conservation, resource management, stakeholder engagement, outreach and advocacy. You will be experienced with database management in both Excel and Access, and confident with data analysis, interpretation and reporting. Knowledge of ArcGIS is also preferred.
You will have the opportunity to participate in various fieldwork activities during your internship, as well as conduct lab work relating to sedimentation, nutrient analysis, dissection and sea grass research. You will support data entry for various programs, both in person and by overseeing community researchers and volunteers.
This important role will involve the following essential duties:
Data management:
– Ensuring all field data are returned from the field and entered into online databases immediately and accurately.
– Ensuring monitoring data are stored and organised properly.
– Maintaining TIDE Access Monitoring Databases under guidance from Science Director.
– Data analysis using Excel, Access, Minitab/SPSS, ArcGIS, Ocean Data View and others.
– Statistical analysis of monitoring data.
Communications:
– Writing reports on monitoring programs.
– Producing articles, press releases and other communications materials relating to R&M activities.
– Writing weekly updates for internal communication relating to R&M activities.
– Producing a monthly R&M newsletter for external audiences.
– Updating TIDE’s social media pages with R&M news.
– Creating content for TIDE’s website to showcase the activities of the R&M department and to serve as a resource for the public.
– Video production to showcase TIDE’s research and monitoring activities for donors, prospective volunteers, stakeholders etc.
Depending upon the interests and aptitudes of the candidate, the role could include any of the following additional duties:
– Initiating relationships with other research institutes in Belize and abroad.
– Designing and distributing publicity for TIDE’s paying volunteer program.
– Engaging with local communities in support of TIDE’s community development objectives.
– Monitoring external media relating to TIDE’s activities.
– Assisting with the 2013 Community Researcher Training Program.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
– A passion for the natural world and biodiversity conservation, with particular emphasis on using research to facilitate community participation in natural resource management.
– A good quality Bachelor’s Degree in coastal management, fisheries science, conservation biology or related field.
– At least one year’s experience living and working in a relevant capacity in tropical developing countries and in other cultures.
– Sufficient funds to come to Belize (if not Belizean) and support yourself for at least 6 months.
– Initiative, energy, enthusiasm and creativity. Interdisciplinary in nature, with express interest getting experience beyond pure research, to include people management and media work.
– Highly competent with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access. Confident and meticulous with handling and manipulating large datasets. Competent with designing and creating user-friendly Access databases.
– Outstanding organizational and time management skills. Competent working independently and as part of a team with limited direct supervision to complete deliverables to a high standard on time.
– Excellent writing skills applicable to a range of purposes; scientific reporting, delivering complex information to stakeholders with limited understanding or awareness of environmental issues, press releases, educational materials, advocacy materials etc.
– Comfortable living in basic conditions at remote field stations for up to a week at a time.
– Minimum SCUBA diving certification of PADI Advanced Open Water or above. Minimum experience 25 logged dives. You must have your own diving insurance.
– Knowledge and experience with regional coral reef monitoring protocols, such as MBRS and AGRRA.
– Competent using ArcGIS to analyse environmental data. Experience using Ocean Data View also preferred.
– Competent with at least one video editing package, such as Final Cut Pro or Vegas Pro 11.
– Please note you will need to have your own laptop computer.
The following would be desirable:
– Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field.
– Website management experience in order to regularly update R&M section of TIDE website.
– Speaker of Spanish, Belizean Creole. A few words of Q’eqchi’ or Mopan would also be well received.
– Good understanding of fisheries science and interest in community-based fisheries management.
The Science Communications Officer Internship is an important role and an extremely rewarding one. You will have the opportunity to provide valuable input into a diverse array of exciting programs, gain experience applying your scientific training in a real-world situation and make a real difference to biodiversity conservation in a stunningly beautiful and culturally rich part of the world.
Our website is temporarily out of action. For more information about our programs and activities, please email info@tidebelize.org and request a copy of our latest annual report. You can also find out about some of our current activities on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TIDEBZE.
To apply, please send your CV/ resume and a covering letter with email title ‘Science Communications Officer Internship’ to Ms Caroline Oliver at coliver@tidebelize.org by 18th February 2013.