DATE OPEN: 13 December 2023
DATE CLOSING: 31 January 2024
STARTING DATE: February 2024 (ideally between 1-12) latest

MISSION TO METRICS
In order to achieve our mission, The Ocean Cleanup designs, develops, and deploys offshore cleanup systems that extract plastic out of our oceans. You will assist the organization in reaching its goal of cleaning the oceans in the most environmentally sound way possible. You will be responsible for coordinating marine life monitoring sampling efforts, implementing mitigation measures, and assisting in the continuous improvement of the environmental aspects of our offshore operations.
"To remove legacy plastic from the Pacific Ocean, we apply environmentally sound strategies and mitigations in order to ensure the net benefit of our operations. You will contribute towards minimizing the negative impacts, monitoring and understanding marine life and continuously improving the environmental scope of our ocean cleanups through onshore and offshore work." - Maira Proietti, Sr Environmental Manager

RESPONSIBILITIES
Your role will be divided into onshore and offshore tasks, with an adequate recovery period after the offshore trips. You will alternate between offshore and onshore work, and you will have the option of taking a rest period before resuming work onshore. Offshore, you will be the onboard Offshore Environmental Coordinator during The Ocean Cleanup’s ocean missions (typically 6-8 weeks at sea). You have an essential role in helping to guarantee the positive net benefit of our offshore operations by monitoring marine life, collecting samples to understand the local environment, as well as by providing support and feedback to improve observation and mitigation strategies.

You are expected to have a high-level understanding of The Ocean Cleanup’s technology, methods, and procedures, as well as of the biological and ecological characteristics of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG). While onboard, you will report to our offshore Operations Manager, work closely with the operations crew, and report to the onshore Environmental and Oceans teams. While onshore, your responsibilities will cover more managerial aspects where you will be responsible for developing and implementing a training program for Environmental personnel to bring them up to the full requirements of the offshore Environmental Observer (EO) role. This aims to build a pool of EOs for The Ocean Cleanup missions to select. In addition, while onshore, you will be responsible for the maintenance of the offshore environmental scope, which includes inventory management, data management, samples management, and procurement of equipment and materials relevant to the environmental work.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Becoming closely acquainted with The Ocean Cleanup’s Environmental Program;

While onshore:

• Setting up and managing an EO training program relevant to The Ocean Cleanup's work
• Selecting and managing other contracted EOs deployed on The Ocean Cleanup vessels
• Managing the EO rosters and ensuring EOs are available for upcoming trips
• Managing sample storage and inventory
• Organizing procurement of materials and equipment for offshore environmental work
• Helping organize sample shipments
• General support to the Environmental and Social Affairs team at The Ocean Cleanup in document and process reviews and offshore planning

While offshore:

• Periodic and as-needed basis reporting to The Ocean Cleanup Environment and Social Affairs team
• Monitoring marine life during transit to the North Pacific Subtropical gyre and around and inside the cleanup system during operations through visual monitoring and a live-view underwater camera system
• Informing the crew of any protected species observations in order to adopt adequate mitigation measures
• Processing and sorting of biological material captured during cleanup
• Coordinating sampling with manta trawls and other eventual sampling needs
• Collecting morphological information, tagging, and releasing live animals
• Conducting marine animal necropsies
• Labeling and organizing samples for posterior shipment
• Inserting biological and sample information in designated spreadsheets
• Compiling and issuing daily logs and reports of species observations
• Managing and organizing data collected offshore
• Providing general training for the offshore crew on marine life observations at the NPSG
• Assisting with the inventory for environmental monitoring materials and helping align future material orders
• Organizing sample shipments
• Responding to questions from the offshore and onshore teams about environmental observations
• Providing feedback on the marine life observations and mitigation measures in order to adaptively manage the Environmental Management Plan

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• A strong affinity and intrinsic motivation to work on our ambitious and meaningful goal
• Comfortable with 7-week offshore fieldwork missions to remote environments
• Independent, proactive, and able to perform well in fast-paced and highly challenging situations
• Strong personal integrity
• Curiosity and ingenuity
• Strong command of English, verbal and written
• The ability to generate creative solutions to challenges
• A critical eye for improvement

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Proven offshore experience with onboard monitoring of marine life as a Marine Mammal/Marine Fauna/Protected Species Observer or other similar roles
• Knowledge of MS Office for writing and reviewing reports and spreadsheets
• Good spoken and written English language and general communication skills
• Experience in ocean sample collection (manta trawling) and marine life identification and necropsies
• Background in marine biology and/or ecology is a plus
• Experience with drones and photography is a plus

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• One of the following certifications is required: Protected Species Observer, Marine Mammal Observer, or Marine Fauna Observer course, or equivalent
• As travel is required, you have no barriers to entry to the EU, United States, or Canada, including a valid passport and up-to-date compulsory vaccinations and other requirements
• Preferred: Valid sea survival training (BOSIET, STCW basic training, or equivalent)
• Preferred: MLC-compliant seafarer’s medical certificate or equivalent