Communications & Outreach Officer

The Sea Watch Foundation is hiring a Communications & Outreach Officer to enhance public education about marine conservation, particularly concerning cetaceans in the UK. Responsibilities include organizing local outreach events, managing the visitor center, and contributing to national conservation education. A degree in biological science and public outreach experience are required. The position is full-time, based in New Quay, UK, with a salary of £25,000 per annum.
The Sea Watch Foundation is a long-established national UK marine environmental research charity concerned with monitoring the numbers and distribution of whales, dolphins and porpoises in the seas around the British Isles, as well as investigating the conservation threats that they face. In the 1970s, its Director developed cetacean “Citizen Science” in the UK, with a special partnership between scientists and trained volunteer observers drawn from all walks of life, which has led to one of the largest and longest-running cetacean sightings databases in Europe. For more information, see the Sea Watch website: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk

The post of Communications & Outreach Officer is to facilitate public education and awareness through the regular dissemination of environmental information, particularly the results from Sea Watch’s UK-wide research and monitoring programmes.

Minimum Requirement: A university degree in biological science or a related subject with experience at public outreach and communications.

Preferred Experience: Applicants having knowledge & direct experience with cetaceans around the British Isles, and aspects of marine ecology and conservation.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Highly organised and conscientious
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Public speaking experience
• Proven website management and social media experience
• Ability to write and express oneself to enthuse others through the written word and face to face
• Experience of events management including keeping budgets, ordering merchandise and education materials
• Creation and design of information displays for visitor centre and public events
• Experience at organising webinars
• Capability of managing volunteers in support of education & outreach activities
• Knowledge and passion for UK cetaceans and their conservation

Job Title: Communications & Outreach Officer

Job Location: Sea Watch Office at Paragon House, New Quay, Ceredigion, Wales

Hours: Full-time, five days (i.e. 40 hours total) per week.

Amount paid: £25,000 per annum

Start Date: As soon as possible.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Duties include:

Education & Outreach Activities

a. Locally: Organise, prepare, and run educational and outreach events, and school visits within the region of Cardigan Bay. Ensure regular education & outreach activities on the pier at New Quay, beach cleans, rock-pool safaris, “scientist for a day” and organise local evening / weekend events. Participate in fundraising activities and promotion of the Adopt a Dolphin (AAD) campaign.

b. Nationally: Develop on-line marine conservation education and outreach. Assemble bulk of the material for members’ monthly news magazines & bulletins and contribute to AAD newsletters. Support promotion of SWF’s two major public events: Orca Watch (late May) and National Whale & Dolphin Watch (late July).

Visitor Centre

Co-manage the visitor centre with the Education and Outreach volunteer Assistant, liaising with the Director and other staff. Support the Monitoring Officer in the delivery of intern training and adult training courses. Oversee educational and outreach materials, stock control of merchandise, manage utilities, and maintenance of financial records (in liaison with Monitoring Officer, Sightings Officer and the Director).

Website & Social Media

Actively manage the organisation’s website, including linked social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn), harnessing these platforms as tools for outreach, communication to observers, regular dissemination of new information, and calls for support (members, volunteers, etc). Maintain static content and regular updates with news, research items, and recent sightings. Prioritise promoting our research e.g., regular sightings updates.

Press Releases

Develop and maintain an active network of relevant media contacts. Increase Sea Watch’s profile among media and the public by proactively disseminating news releases for the media on stories of environmental interest and writing articles for specialist magazines in liaison with the Director and other staff.

Event Management

Work alongside the Sightings Officer to manage Sea Watch Foundation’s two flagship citizen science events, National Whale and Dolphin Watch (NWDW) & Orca Watch (OW), and Online Training Courses and Webinars. Oversee budgets and costs, manage marketing around the events and oversee general logistics such as merchandise orders & venue booking etc.

Management of Volunteers

Welcome new research interns, oversee their wellbeing; ensure SWF behaviour codes are followed. Oversee intern rotas, ensuring communication channels between interns & staff are fully functioning (regular meetings e.g., weekly). Provide training, supervision and support for the Education & Outreach Assistant, the local NWDW Assistant, and anyone else at SWF undertaking outreach/education from New Quay.

Funding Applications

Actively source funding opportunities and complete applications with input from the Director.