Location of Position: Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i

Reports to: Director, Ke Kai Ola

Position Classification & Expected Hours of Work, and Travel: 

· This is a Fixed Term Full Time Position, from approximately June – December 2026.

· This is a full-time, grant-funded, fixed-term position.

· Regular onsite work is required.

· Evening, weekend, and holiday work is required as job duties demand.

· Days and hours of the work week may vary according to the needs of The Marine Mammal Center.

· Local travel is expected for this position.

Compensation Range: $26.00 - $28.75 per hour.

Benefits:  

· Holidays

· Sick Time

· Vacation 

· Medical, Dental, and Vision

· Life Insurance

· Long Term Disability Insurance

· 401k Retirement Plan

· Employee Assistance Program

Job Summary:

The Marine Conservation Associate supports the day-to-day operations of Ke Kai Ola, The Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian Monk Seal Hospital located in Kailua-Kona, Hawai?i. This role helps advance efforts to protect Hawaiian monk seals, strengthen community stewardship, and engage community members as co-designers in conservation solutions. The Marine Conservation Associate will also cross-train to support public programs and hospital operations and helping to bridge community engagement, education, and animal care to further the Center’s mission and impact.   

Essential Functions:

Community Engagement Support: 60%

· Assist in building and maintaining community and partner relationships in a respectful and culturally grounded way.

· Participate in data collection events including, but not limited to, surveys, focus groups, and listening sessions.

· Assist in carrying out action products as defined by the community co-design process.

· Lead site tours and participate in ongoing public, donor, and organizational functions and events as assigned.

· Provide administrative support of the preparation and submission of project reports for internal and external partners and grant funders.

· Assist in post-project analysis to identify successes, challenges, and opportunities for future initiatives. 

Ke Kai Ola Operations Support: 35%

· Perform routine husbandry needs for Hawaiian monk seal patients, including but not limited to feeding and cleaning.

· Support public hotline by answering calls from public, partner agencies, and others.

· Assist in the delivery and engagement of marine science content while providing excellent customer service while presenting marine science curriculum through best practices and providing a safe and positive learning environment and experience.

· Provide support of volunteer coordination as assigned.

Other Duties as Assigned: 10%

· May represent and promote the Center through donor cultivation participation in partnership with the department as opportunities arise.

· Perform special projects and research as assigned.

· Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:

None

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

· Enthusiasm for environmental conservation and marine life.

· Knowledge of Hawaii’s natural resources and unique challenges.

· Ability to foster positive relationships with a variety of stakeholders and community members (familiarity with Hawaiian communities, culture, and customs is highly desirable).

· Ability to provide exceptional customer service to diverse audiences. 

· Ability to provide conflict resolution, maintain adaptability, empathy, and optimism under pressure.

· Ability to convey information effectively, both orally and in writing.

· Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions and priorities as set by management. 

· Ability to work collaboratively and maintain open communication in a team environment.

· Ability to learn from change, challenges, and feedback.

· Minimal organizational skills or ability to learn attention to detail, multi-tasking, and time-management.

· Minimal skills or ability to learn Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Word) and videoconference technology (Slack, Teams, Zoom). 

· Ability to build and sustain effective working relationships with people from diverse backgrounds while demonstrating self-awareness, respect, and professionalism. 

· Willingness to support and participate in The Marine Mammal Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. 

Qualifications and Experience:

· This position requires a combination of education and experience equivalent to being currently enrolled in college or having an associate or bachelor’s degree in administration, education, marine science or related field; and at least 1 year of experience in customer service or equivalent experience.

· Valid driver license with acceptable motor vehicle record to maintain standards of insurability. (Must be 21+ years old as frequently driving company vehicles is required for this position.)

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

· This position operates in a professional office and hospital environment both indoors and outdoors with access to various parts of the facilities via outdoor pathways. 

· Routinely uses standard office equipment requiring repetitive motion in tasks.

· Ability to work at a desk for extended periods of time using a computer.

· Ability to work in an open cubicle office space environment with many distractions. 

· Working in outdoor weather conditions and elements throughout the year.

· Ability to walk up to 5+ miles during a shift on a frequent basis.

· Ability to safely walk on beaches of various terrains to assist with animal rescues in various locations across Hawai’i. 

· Ability to spend extended periods on your feet, walking, standing, crouching, and climbing stairs (potentially in inclement weather conditions). 

· Ability to work closely with wild animals requires physical strength, dexterity, and reflexes to keep themselves and other personnel around them safe.

· Ability to perform physical work which requires manual dexterity, agility, strength, and coordination, including the ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

· Ability to operate equipment safely and competently to carry out their duties.

· Ability to drive/operate a vehicle for extensive periods of time.

· Risks associated with animal handling such as animal bites or scratches.

· Exposure to allergens and zoonotic diseases.

· Involves strong smells associated with dead animals (carcasses) and the care of live animals.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

The Marine Mammal Center actively engages individuals from all backgrounds. We are committed to embracing diversity within our organization because we firmly believe that diverse employee teams help us to achieve our best organizational outcomes and provide the most effective support to the communities we serve. We are deeply dedicated to creating and maintaining an inclusive, equitable and supportive work environment.  We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. The Marine Mammal Center believes in growth and supporting our employees as best we can so they can become their best selves in and outside of work. We believe that a healthy work environment means building an inclusive culture where people can thrive together and feel supported and empowered. We believe in stretch versus constraint.

OUR MISSION

The Marine Mammal Center advances ocean health through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, research, and education.

ABOUT THE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER

The Marine Mammal Center is leading the field in ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue, veterinary medicine, science, and education. 

For more information, please visit our “About Us” page at www.marinemammalcenter.org

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume and provide a brief description about how your experience aligns with the role.

Note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

In your cover letter, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc). 

We strongly encourage people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and non-binary people, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities to apply. The Center is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.