MARINE SCHOLAR PROGRAMME

As the Marine Conservation Scholar of the Perhentian Marine Research Station, you will first learn and then be responsible for various things including assisting in the station’s management, administration, research, interns, volunteers, and stakeholders. You will work closely with the Station Manager to develop your management skills and to achieve your personal development goals. The focus of the scholarship will always be towards becoming a skilled marine project manager and learning research techniques for the reef ecosystems.

Every year PMRS will open placement to Malaysian youth to undergo conservation training and hands-on experience working with the marine ecosystem of the Perhentian Islands. The 2021 Marine Scholar is funded by East-West Center (EWC), Hawaii under the Innovation Fellowship Initiative. The EWC Innovation Fellows Initiative is a ten (10) year opportunity to support members of the EWC striving to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). EWC Innovation Fellows co-design and co-deliver innovation initiatives for the EWC within their organization or company. Through the Innovation Fellowship program, PMRS is aiming for the Marine Scholars program to cultivate conservation leaders and accelerate conservation impact beyond Perhentian Islands through outreach programs to Malaysian youth.

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Marine Scholars will undertake the role of assisting station manager at PMRS as the experiential learning process in conservation training and to be involved in the decision making process. 

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This role will require excellent man-management skills (adminstration, interns, volunteers, villagers and stakeholders), organization skills and leadership. You will need to have the passion to make a difference in the Perhentian Islands for a long term impact.

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CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT​

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• Stakeholders engagement is an important key area for PMRS, the five year strategy is to have a partnership with resort and dive centres at each bay to work together to conserve the marine ecosystem. You will be expected to keep regular contact with supportive resorts and dive centres to retain good relations with them.

• Develop monthly activities with our stakeholder partners and collectively create a quarterly newsletter to distribute to stakeholders.​

• ​Leading and coordinating Junior Divers program to ensure the development and objectives of the program is achieved.

• Coordinating coral monitoring and restoration projects for Reef Care program

• Develop and implement at least one outreach program for Malaysian youth to promote marine awareness and Marine Scholar program during the placement with PMRS.​

• Create and manage the PMRS social media contents and station website updates.

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​VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT

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• Ensure introductions to the volunteering program and safety briefings are given to volunteers, with all applicable forms signed and records kept.

• Monitor volunteer activities throughout the program with attention paid to safety, morale and participation.

• Facilitate volunteers to gain feedback on the program and to identify key interest areas for long term stays.

• Regularly review the volunteering program with your colleagues to continuously improve the program.

• Be a leader who leads by example through passion, hard work and dedication. Must display a professional example to volunteers and colleagues at all times.

• Attention to detail when it comes to research training, data collection, data input and research monitoring.

• Ensure a good level of communication between yourself and colleagues at all times.

• Undertake and demonstrate consistent planning of your workload and adhere to the given deadlines.

• Meet regularly with your team and other project leaders in the islands as the timetable of the project allows.

• Complete Reports, Risk Assessments, Operating Procedures and programme content as required.

• Provide cover for colleague’s leave and illness as required.

• Able to travel for the purposes of work following agreed timetabling and budgets, provided with an adequate notice of any travel needed whether work related or personal

• High level of water safety awareness and must adhere to all safety measures, protocols and procedures as directed by Ecoteer.

• Must notify Project Leader of issues that affect the completion of set tasks.

• Take on tasks in addition to the descriptions above as delegated by the Project Leader that are deemed fair, achievable within the present task load and within the person’s capability.

● Excellent communication skills and confident public speaker.
● Excellent research data collection experience
● Good swimming ability and water safety awareness.
● High level of organization and ability to meet deadlines.
● Potential management skills and a strong desire to be a leader.
● Knowledge of the work of Ecoteer and marine conservation in Malaysia.
● Competent in using Microsoft Office.
● A flexible and adaptive approach.
● Must be comfortable in asking for assistance in a demanding role.