MarineLab is the education arm of Marine Resources Development Foundation (MRDF), a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1970 in the US Virgin Islands.
After years of conducting research and developing underwater research stations and the technology for living and working in the sea, MRDF’s founder Ian Koblick turned his eyes towards Florida and expanding MRDF’s activities to include education.
About the role
The seasonal field instructors work within the education team to provide high quality experiential education programs to visiting school groups during our busiest times of year. Seasonal instructors will lead student groups, 5th grade – high school, in our core curriculum on the boats, in the classroom and in the labs.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Greet student groups on arrival to MarineLab and orients group to facility
- Lead classroom discussions on seagrass ecology, coral reef ecology and fish identification
- Lead lessons on the boat on topics such as mangrove ecology
- Serve as point person during meals a few times a week
- Serve as a lifeguard both in the water and out of water
- Teach hands on labs (usually in the evenings) on topics such as invertebrate diversity and zooplankton identification
- Act as a mate on Coast Guard inspected vessels which includes submitting to pre-employment and random drug screening, per Coast Guard requirement.
- Lead up to 18 students on snorkels in seagrass, mangrove and coral reef habitats
- Drive a staff vessel to conduct evening plankton tows
- Assist with a wide range of maintenance tasks including but not limited to: general upkeep of the facility (painting, etc.), cleaning boats, conducting necessary boat drills and recording appropriately, maintaining educational equipment (cleaning microscopes, calibrating water quality tools, creating/making/purchasing necessary curriculum supplies), cleaning snorkel gear and updating curriculum
- Other duties as assigned
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a life science (or education degree with marine science experience)
- Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR certified
- Knowledge of tropical/subtropical marine habitats; experience working within tropical/subtropical marine habitats preferred
- Teaching experience with students in 5th grade through high school
- Boating experience
- Enthusiasm for sharing your passion for marine science with students
- All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States prior to applying
Salary and benefits
- $450/week stipend
- Shared on-site housing
- Paid training
- Some meals
- Experience at the helm of a our program and staff vessels
- Potential for future seasonal and/or full time employment
