Community Conservation Intern

Community Conservation Intern

We're recruiting! The Community Conservation Intern supports The Marine Mammal Center's Hawaiian monk seal sighting hotline by effectively communicating with our volunteers and the general public regarding hauled out Hawaiian monk seals. They support and educate callers, evaluate the needs of the animal, provide detailed documentation of the exchange and sightings, and coordinate volunteers for response. This internship provides broad exposure to several key program areas, offering a well-rounded introduction to our work.

Location of Internship:
Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i

Reports to:

Response and Outreach Manager

Internship Classification:
This is a grant-funded internship from September 5, 2026, through December 5, 2026. This internship is onsite at Ke Kai Ola located in Kailua-Kona 2 days per week. Optional additional experiences offsite in the field may be available. Days and hours of the internship may vary according to the needs of The Marine Mammal Center.

Stipend: $3,000.00 total

Essential Functions:

Response Program Support: 50%

• Answer calls from the public, partner agencies, and others, gathering detailed information from callers about location and situation.
• Utilize scoring rubric to determine the need for response and dispatch responder as the situation demands.
• Positively represent the organization at community outreach events including monthly Open House.
• Complete data entry about calls for hauled out Hawaiian monk seals and responses into partner databases.
• Update photo server and database accurately.

Team Support: 20%

• Assist in collection and analysis of social science data.
• Support a variety of education programs for 4th grade and high school students.
• Assist staff at youth events with professionalism, enthusiasm, and cultural sensitivity.
• Shadow animal care crew as the opportunity arises.

Capstone Project: 15%

• Design project to engage community members at outreach events.

Other Duties as Assigned: 15%

• 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 Responsibilities:

None

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Interest in marine and environmental conservation.
• 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 maintain flexibility in a changing environment.
• Ability to learn from change, challenges, and feedback.
• Ability to learn Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Word) and video conference technology (Slack, Teams, Zoom).
• Ability to learn custom-build computer systems for data entry.
• Ability to conduct oneself in a calm and professional manner when engaging with the public, volunteers and/or difficult situations.
• Ability to practice self-awareness and respect while engaging with staff, volunteers, and members of the public.
• Willingness to support and participate in The Marine Mammal Center's diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Qualifications and

Experience:

Must receive college credit for this internship and be currently enrolled in a college or university. No prior experience is required.

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.
• Working in outdoor weather conditions and elements.
• Ability to walk up to 5 miles during a shift on a frequent basis, and potentially in inclement weather conditions.
• Ability to perform physical work which may require the ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Potential exposure to allergens and zoonotic diseases.
• Potential risks associated with animal handling such as animal bites or scratches.
• May involve strong smells associated with dead animals (carcasses) and the care of live animals.

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