The role will see you organising and delivering seaweed plant-out and monitoring sessions in coordination with other Marine Coordinators. We aim to collect and process high-quality data of which you will be a fundamental part, utilising existing data collection methods, analysis and reporting, and further refining approaches. There will be opportunities to share our methods and findings with other groups involved in seaweed restoration through community events, conferences, workshops, etc. As part of the project, you will also be involved in education programmes with schools and community groups regarding marine ecosystems, impacts and restoration. You will work with a group of 4 experienced and keen Marine Coordinators. 

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Our ideal candidate will be an experienced marine/environmental scientist with experience working in the field. You should love spending time outdoors, working in the marine environment and be comfortable in the Wellington weather. The candidate should also be able to rigorously follow scientific methods and have excellent reporting skills (verbal and written). The candidate should have critical and creative thinking for continuous evaluation of the work and the ability to innovate. The team works closely to ensure we always deliver high-quality results, so you should be willing to lend a hand wherever needed. Health and Safety is essential to be able to carry out our mahi, the candidate will need to be able to follow all our safety procedures and be able to identify risks and hazards when carrying out activities following our processes and procedures. Previous experience working in a Not-for-profit environment is a bonus!

ABOUT US 

We’re a passionate and dedicated team, and we work to connect people with te taiao.  We work with communities delivering programmes and events championing restoration and science.  We thrive on variety, positivity, community-connection and time in the outdoors. We reach thousands of people every year through these activities. Find out more at: www.mountainstoseawellington.org/

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Within Mountains to Sea Wellington, the Love Rimurimu Project (LR) is piloting the regeneration of Wellington’s underwater seaweed (rimurimu) forests, using a range of restoration techniques and exploring the reasons for their decline. This multi-year project is being led by Mountains to Sea Wellington (MTSW) with collaboration from Taranaki Whānui, Victoria University of Wellington and the National Institute of Water and Air (NIWA). Reconnecting the community to Te Whanganui-a-Tara and restoring its mauri are key to the project’s aspirations.

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WHAT WE OFFER:

• Flexible working hours and working from home options.
• Opportunities to be working outdoors, connecting to nature and the community.
• Contributing to hands-on restoration of marine ecosystems. 
• Team days for whakawhānaungatanga and fun.
• Staff well-being, equipment and technology allowances.
• Professional development in marine science, restoration and science communication.

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THE ROLE

You’ll have a wide variety of responsibilities – managing collection, storage, analysis and outcomes of data from our restoration project. You will be organising seaweed planting events and monitoring sessions. You will also help with science communication and work alongside the community in all things seaweed! You will spend a lot of time in the water doing field work, so it is essential that you are a confident swimmer and diver with experience in the less-than-ideal conditions that our moana here challenges us with (poor visibility, choppy sea surface, cold waters). 

Key responsibilities:

Love Rimurimu Science and Monitoring Coordinator 

• Lead the management, planning, and coordination of the Love Rimurimu Science and Monitoring Programme.
• Manage data collection and monitoring activities from LR programme
• Management of Volunteers, Interns and Research Assistants. 
• Community education and training programmes 
• Support the broader work of the LR project by building knowledge and undertaking  key activities such as maintenance of aquaculture systems, spore collection, research/community  collaborations and community education and outreach activities as required

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Marine Coordinator

• Delivery, Coordination and Development of Education Programmes, Community Events, Restoration Projects and Community Science.
• Delivery of EMR and LR programmes to school and community participants across the greater Wellington region
• Community snorkel days and community events.
• Contributes to having operational equipment and premises fit for purpose. 

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OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE

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Skills & Experience required: 

• You'll have a degree in marine science and/or environmental science and post-grad studies.
• Proven marine fieldwork experience.Fit and resilient for year-round marine fieldwork.
• Extensive experience in-water, and a high level of free-diving capability is critical. You will be required to undergo skills assessments.
• Well-developed research and report-writing skills.
• Experience with data analysis tools such as R or CoralNet.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal).
• You'll also understand the importance of community involvement in projects like this and be keen to share your knowledge with others.
• A background working in the education or non-profit sector would also be an advantage, but not crucial.
• Fit and resilient for year-round marine fieldwork.
• Proven ability to build relationships with partners and teammates to get best outcomes.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with mana whenua
• Full driver’s license, and ideally a personal vehicle.
• Good time management and critical thinking.
• A professional approach and ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively, to ensure high quality results within deadlines.
• Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• New Zealand resident or citizen.

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SOUNDS LIKE YOU?

Please email your application as one PDF file to ben.knight@mtsw.org.nz in the following format:

• Subject heading: Science and Monitoring Coordinator
• Attached file name: firstname_lastname.SMC.pdf
• Please include:

1. Cover letter. 

2. A resume outlining relevant skills and experience.

3. Two relevant referees.

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The application deadline is Friday 2nd May 2025. Please note that appliations will be reviewed as they come in and we may appoint a candidate prior to the application deadline.

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