Research Assistant opportunity with Akazul: Community, Conservation & Ecology, on Guatemala’s Pacific Coast - 2013

Background Information

Akazul: Community, Conservation & Ecology is a UK registered not for profit Community Interest Company (CIC) and has been operating its sea turtle conservation project in La Barrona, Guatemala since 2011. Akazul’s mission is “To utilise Guatemala’s sea turtles as a ‘flagship’ species, engaging coastal communities in conservation practices through science and education.” La Barrona is one of Guatemala’s key nesting sites utilized by olive ridley and a declining number of leatherback sea turtles and key to our long-term goal is conducting monitoring activities on the turtle nesting beach in order to further our understanding of Guatemala’s sea turtle populations. As well as sea turtle monitoring, Akazul provides a range of educational activities and community initiatives which are critical in encouraging local support for conservation.

Duties

The Research Assistant (RA) will be working under the instruction of the Monitoring Leader, assisting with activities associated with the Sea Turtle Monitoring project that Akazul conducts on the 7.5 km nesting beach at La Barrona. The RA will be working closely with both international volunteers and local Sea Turtle Interns throughout the duration of the sea turtle nesting season from 1^st July to 15^th January. As turtle egg harvesting is legal in Guatemala, much of the RA’s role will involve working with local egg collectors on the beach.

Core activities will consist of the following:

• Conducting nightly beach patrols (approximately 4 hours per night) - tagging and measuring nesting females,  receiving egg donations from local egg collectors, relocating nests
• Hatchery work: Releasing hatchlings, post hatching nest excavations
• Morning surveys – track and nest counts
• Additional data collection: Monitoring of nest conditions, meteorological data collection, and sea turtle strandings.

In addition to the monitoring work, the RA will be expected to participate in some community activities including: environmental education, English lessons and general site maintenance such as painting, construction and repairs.

Requirements

The RA is required to commit to the full duration of the sea turtle nesting season (1^st July – 15^th January) and the following skills/experience are required:

• Basic understanding of spoken Spanish
• Excellent social and communication skills
• Be motivated and enthusiastic
• Ability to work independently off own initiative
• Ability to work and live in a communal environment with a variety of people from various cultures and backgrounds
• Much of the work will involve walking long hours on the beach at night, so the RA must also have a good level of fitness and be prepared for sleep disruption

Desirable skills/abilities:

• Previous experience with sea turtles
• Previous experience working or travelling in Latin America

Benefits/Costs

This is an unpaid position but free shared accommodation in the Akazul project house will be provided for the duration of the season. Food is not provided by the project but the RA will have access to a kitchen and evening meals are done on a rota system, shared amongst volunteers and project staff. The RA will be entitled to 1 day off every 10 days and 1 week of holiday after 80 days in order to complete their visa renewal. All other travel should be arranged outside of the project season.

The RA is expected to pay a $200 (USD) deposit which will be refunded upon completion of the project.

Additional Contact Information

Please refer to the website for any further information on the project. To apply for this position please send a cover letter and up to date CV detailing any relevant experience to the email address provided below.

Akazul: Community, Conservation & Ecology

34 Honiton Road, Exeter, Devon, EX1 3ED, UK.

Tel/Fax: +44 7715 304600

e-mail: admin@akazul.org
web: www.akazul.org