Overview

Whale and Dolphin Conservation’s North American office is excited to offer a new, 12 week internship to entry-level candidates interested in marine conservation. This opportunity will provide interns with transferable job skills and insight to the inner workings of a non-profit focused on the conservation of marine mammals.

This position is best suited for those who may not yet have practical experience in this field. Applicants should be eager to dive in to new experiences and enjoy having a variety of tasks to work on, as the internship will support many priority projects. Interns will build a strong set of skills working on projects related to public outreach (including formal and informal education), communications, and fundraising. Opportunities for fieldwork may also be possible (*see COVID-19 notes below).

Upon completion of the internship, candidates will gain experience in:

  • Effective communication with a variety of audiences
  • Project and resource management
  • Day-to-day operations of a non-profit
  • How to engage with stakeholders

LOGISTICS:

This is a seasonal, temporary position for 2021. Candidates must be able to demonstrate that they are legally eligible to work in the U.S. Successful candidates are expected to work 40 hours a week for the 12 week period of the program; they will be compensated at a rate of $15/hour and a sum not to exceed $7,200 over the course of the 12 weeks.

We have two (2) open positions for this temporary, full-time internship, which is available as early as May. We will consider both in-person and remote candidates to fill these roles, which are desk-based positions. If the internship will be in-person, successful candidates will need to make their own arrangements for housing and transportation to and from the WDC office in Plymouth, MA, USA. (*see COVID-19 notes below). While there may be opportunities to work on board a boat, no part of this position requires being in the water.

Applicants must be 18 years or older and fluent in English. Remote interns will need access to a computer and reliable internet access for the duration of the internship. WDC will assist interested students in obtaining credits for the program through their college or university.

Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Whale and Dolphin Conservation embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We recognize that the field of marine mammal research and conservation lacks diversity, including within our own organization. WDC is dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities which represent diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.  

DEADLINE TO APPLY: MARCH 31ST, 2021

Candidates in this internship will:

  • Have effective verbal and/or written communications skills
  • Be open to speaking with groups of people of all walks of life
  • Have an interest in education initiatives
  • Act effectively as a member of a close-knit team
  • Have an attention to detail
  • Be able to problem solve in unanticipated situations

Potential internship responsibilities include but are not limited to:

  • Assisting staff with school programming for various grade levels
  • Participation in outreach events (in-person and/or virtual)
  • Writing blogs and social media content
  • Informational video content creation
  • Using educational software to create engaging activities for students and/or the general public
  • Researching and exploring potential educational partnership opportunities
  • Assisting with the implementation of WDC’s boater outreach programs (See A Spout, Whale SENSE, Sharing the Seas)
  • Researching marine policy issues and preparing summary documents

Important Notes Regarding COVID-19:

Some of the goals outlined above are currently dependent on COVID-19 protocols at the starting time of the internship, in particular, the ability to carry out fieldwork and public outreach events.

Applicants who are offered an in-person internship experience must adhere to all state, federal, and WDC COVID-19 protocols throughout the duration of the internship.

WDC may encourage verification of a negative COVID test taken within 48 hours prior to arrival. Additionally, if traveling from outside of Massachusetts, you may be asked to quarantine after arrival to comply with state and federal requirements.

Should an in-person internship experience not be possible, we have outlined a scope of work that develops a similar set of skills via remote alternatives.