Full name

Email address

Nationality

Contact Phone Number

Please include country code

What is your level of academic qualification?

Do you want to apply for any other roles at this time? (optional)

Please note you will be primarily considered for the role you clicked "apply" for. However, if you also wish to be considered for other positions please let us know here.

Have you participated in an Operation Wallacea expedition in the past?

What languages do you speak and to what level?

Please give a brief description of why you would like to work with us

Please give a brief description of why you would be suitable for a role

What is your availability between June and Mid-August?

All Opwall field roles run between early June and Mid-August. Contract lengths can range from as short as two weeks up to ten weeks.

Any other relevant information

Upload CV

Choose File Upload your CV/resume or any other relevant file. Max. file size: 64 MB.

How did you hear about us?

Please let us know how you heard about the Opwall Jobs site

Operation Wallacea is a network of academics from European and North American universities who design and implement biodiversity and conservation management research programmes across 13 countries worldwide.

We are currently recruiting for a Coral Reef Monitoring Project Leader to work at our Tela site in Honduras. This position will run for seven weeks from 25th June – 12th August, and information on the site is available on our website here – https://www.opwall.com/location/honduras/tela/

The role of the Coral Reef Monitoring Project Leader for Opwall involves working closely with undergraduate students who are completing their dissertations by researching long-term changes in reef fish and benthic communities in a newly established marine protected area (MPA) – https://www.opwall.com/expeditions/thesis-expedition/honduras-marine-dissertation-6/

The aim of this project is to monitor the health of the Banco Capiro reef off the coast of Tela. This project forms the basis of pretty much all the work we do in Tela. It is our coral reef monitoring programme that we use to advise local partners on the state of Tela’s reefs, which in turn are used in developing local conservation management plans, but it also forms a standalone research project of its own where we can answer lots of key ecological questions about coral reefs and how they are changing over time. It also provides vital background data to lots of our other research. Tela Bay was designated as a Marine Protected Area in 2018, meaning we have a data set that shows what was happening on the reefs (i.e. to the reef health and to the fish community) before there was any protection, so we are now collecting data on the health of the reef since the MPA was set up.

The surveys will involve Stereo Video System (SVS) fish surveys, and benthic video transects in-water, followed by analysis of these videos when not SCUBA diving.

Applicants will need to be qualified and confident to lead students on in-water surveys so must be qualified to PADI divemaster or equivalent and have a relevant academic background. Applicants should also have a background knowledge and experience working with fish / benthic community surveys and video analysis, with experience working with volunteers within similar marine conservation projects. Previous experience with Stereo Video Systems is highly desirable.

In return, successful applicants receive full accommodation and food on-site, as well as access to the research and educational programme taking place on-site and the potential to develop their roles within Opwall in future years. Successful applicants will also receive a contribution towards international flights, as well as the chance to dive on the unique and complex reefs of Banco Capiro.

The position will be filled as and when we find suitable candidates so if you are interested, please apply as soon as you can to give yourself the best chance. The positions do involve working with minors so if successful you will be asked to complete a background check. For any questions about the project please contact alex.obrien@opwall.ac.uk.