www.wildlifeandparks.org 

 MARINE CONSERVATION TECH SPECIALIST INTERNSHIP

The Marine Conservation Tech Specialist (MCTS) intern is an integral part of the Wildlife Restoration Foundation (WRF) team. Work to build WRF’s organizational capacity, resource base, and impact on the wildlife of America’s marine protected areas as you contribute and strengthen your tech knowledge and skills. Every WRF staff member plays an important part in meeting the WRF mission, which is to increase park wildlife population viability both ex situ and in situ, working closely with National Marine Sanctuaries, Parks, and Wildlife Refuges, and their aquarium partners. Our goal is to ensure WRF operates effectively and efficiently and generates resources that enable measurable, “fins-in-the-water” wildlife conservation results. 

The MCTS intern will complete an internship project, which is to service the growing number of Aquarium-Sanctuary Partnerships (ASPs) and Aquarium-Park Partnerships (APPs) for America’s Keystone Wildlife™ [https://www.wildlifeandparks.org/partnerships-1]. The MCTS intern will also be responsible for cultivating 3 marine research or veterinary supply companies for sponsorship of WRF’s WildLifeLine™ with at least one success during the internship period.  

Throughout the internship period, the MCTS intern will help ASPs and APPs explore opportunities to tackle serious marine conservation problems throughout the ASP/APP Summary Action Plan and Field Results Log processes. Examples of partnership actions are:

• Track animal movements and identify interventions that could work to help wildlife avoid risks in and around human communities (e.g., boat strikes, coral damage by anchors).
• Use devices (including acoustic) to collect, analyze and act upon real-time data on animal behavior, migration patterns, and health conditions.
• Respond to disease and injury monitoring and response.
• Analyze satellite imagery to assess habitat conditions in ways the assist wildlife managers.
• Raise animals ex situ (at aquarium) and prepare them to survive in the wild.
• Increase the power of aquarium exhibits to describe marine life challenges.

WRF interns are required to designate 16 hours a week to WRF and agree to work with WRF for 4 months. The Marine Conservation Tech Specialist intern must be a self-starter, ambitious, creative, productive, and dedicated to WRF’s mission. The internship is unpaid, but quality interns will be considered for stipends if selected by WRF to extend their internships to 6 months or longer.

Responsibilities

• Perform duties as assigned by the WRF President and Director of Conservation & Operations and participate proactively and enthusiastically on the WRF team.
• Support the development of and updates to the ZPP Summary Action Plan, Field Results Log, and Portal (images and documents) File.
• Recruit 1-3 manufacturers/suppliers of equipment and materials needed for ASP/APP marine conservation field work or aquarium husbandry to sponsor WRF.
• Track and compile summaries of news and research findings related to the National Marine Sanctuaries, Parks, and Refuges involved in ASPs and APPs.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant subject required; Master’s degree/graduate program enrollment preferred.
• Experience with marine protected area management and/or aquariums preferred. 
• In-water conservation field experience highly desirable.

The MCTS Intern will report to Julie Anton Randall, WRF President and report weekly hours and results in written form. Hours are flexible within the week, but participation in a biweekly full WRF team meeting by Zoom and the ASP/APP planning meetings which occur during the week is required. 

Thank you for your interest in being part of the Wildlife Restoration Foundation team.