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
Minimum Qualifications:
- 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
- Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the US. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
Working Conditions:
The seasonal instructor spends most of their day outdoors. Being able to comfortably work in variable weather conditions is extremely important. In the winter months, water temperatures in Florida Bay, where we enthusiastically lead student groups, can reach the low 60s. In spring/summer, the air temperature is generally in the 90s all day with high humidity and pop-up storms are common.
Closing Date: November 1, 2023
