Response Apprentice, San Luis Obispo

We’re Hiring! Response Apprentice, San Luis Obispo

Location of Position: Morro Bay, California

Reports to
:
Satellite Operations Manager

• This is a full-time, fixed-term position.
• This position is 6 months, approximately March – July 2026
• Regular onsite work is required.
• The work schedule is Thursday through Monday.
• Days and hours of the work week may vary according to the needs of the Center.
• Evening and weekend work is required.
• Some travel within California may be expected for this position.

Compensation Range: $20.00 - $25.88

• Holidays
• Sick Time
• Vacation
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• The Marine Mammal Center offers benefits to support the emotional wellbeing of you and your loved ones (Employee Assistance Program)

The Response Apprentice will contribute meaningful support to the response & animal care of marine mammals at our San Luis Obispo Operations and the sea otter conservation program at The Marine Mammal Center. The 6-month apprenticeship provides a high-level view of community powered conservation while supporting the advancement of an inclusive environment within one of the world’s largest marine mammal stranding response programs.

• Supports the San Luis Obispo operations with marine mammal response and animal care to facilitate an efficient stranding response program.
• Communicate with Sausalito Dispatch team about incoming stranding reports and dispatch volunteer teams to local responses.
• Complete data entry about all stranded animal calls, responses, patients, etc. into the Center’s custom-built animal database. Participate and lead marine mammal rescues, releases, research, and other field work.
• Participate and lead teams of volunteers to provide basic and advanced animal care for patients.
• Coordinate logistics of patient transports to and from San Luis Obispo operations.
• Assist with dead stranded marine mammal response, data collection, and necropsies as needed.

• Support live and dead sea otter response activities, including safe capture support, data collection, and release logistics, as assigned.
• Participate in post-release sea otter data collection, following established data standard and management best practices as assigned.
• Assist with training volunteers in sea otter response and post-release monitoring procedures.
• Maintain, inspect, and update sea otter response equipment to support safe and effective response operations.

• Participate in community engagement, including public outreach events and education programs as assigned.

• Perform special projects and research as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• With proper training, the Response Apprentice, SLO, will become a crew supervisor, responsible for training and managing volunteer crews in field response and animal care.

• A passion for marine and environmental conservation.
• Basic knowledge of marine mammal biology and conservation.
• Willingness to develop skills in community engagement.
• Ability to operate equipment safely and competently to carry out their duties.
• Ability to drive/operate a vehicle.
• Ability to maintain reliable transportation to and from the facility. Public transportation between housing accommodations and worksite(s) is limited.
• 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.
• Minimal skills or ability to learn Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Word) and video conference 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 Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

• Valid driver license with…