Marine Mammal Rescue Operations Manager

The Marine Mammal Rescue Operations Manager role leads several aspects of the Marine Mammal Rescue (MMR) team. The primary responsibility of this role is to ensure the MMR team maintains operational readiness through the oversight of facilities, vehicles, and response support personnel (volunteers and interns). The position supervises a Facilities and Equipment Technician and works in coordination with other response staff. As with all MMR roles, the MMR Operations Manager will be a primary responder for the team, serving on the hotline and responding to all types of marine mammal strandings, associated follow up, data collection and entry, and recovery and preparedness. This role reports directly to the Senior Director of Rescue and will serve as one of the leaders of the MMR team, aiding in driving the team forward through operational efficiency, greater engagement and use of interns and volunteers, and support of all operational aspects of the program.

Role and Responsibilities

Intern and Volunteer Coordination

• Oversee the development, implementation and management of the MMR volunteer program (~200 volunteer responders), including recruitment, training, and review of volunteers, general communications and engagement, and adherence to agreed policies and procedures. Maintain volunteer management software.
• Serve as liaison to Americorps Cape Cod (ACC) program; submit annual proposals to maintain an ACC placement. Supervise the ACC member working with the MMR team each annual assignment.
• Coordinate outreach efforts including organizing outreach events (up to 12/year), maintain and develop outreach materials and resources, and document outreach request and efforts.
• Oversee the recruitment, training and management of MMR interns.
• Work to progress diversity in the intern program through partnerships, and other innovative means.
• Develop and maintain intern and volunteer protocols and training materials (training in coordination with IFAW’s Academy of rescue & Conservation).

Facilities, equipment and operations

• Oversee facilities and equipment maintenance and readiness through supervision of the Facilities and Equipment Technician.
• Ensure vehicles and vessels receive scheduled maintenance, needed repairs are made and they remain response- ready.

Stranding Response

• Participate in 24 hour/365 hotline coverage within the team; provide 24-hr stranding hotline coverage on assigned days of the week and weekend/holiday coverage as necessary.
• Lead and participate in all types of stranding response: live cetacean rescue, mass stranding response, health assessments, treatment, release and post-release monitoring; pinniped rescue, large whale response, necropsy of all taxa, etc.
• Support data collection, entry, management and reporting.

Other Activities

• Manage assigned budgets, ensuring timely recording of expenses, quarterly review and reporting of budget status.
• Oversee maintenance of vehicle and vessel insurance and assigned contracts.
• Serve as lead for Safety program, ensuring protocols are up to date and personnel are adequately trained. Serve as liaison for reporting of safety issues/injuries. Ensure that all safety equipment is in working order.
• Lead grant proposal development and grant reporting as relates to intern and volunteer management, and facilities and equipment.
• Coordinate planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning related to intern and volunteer programs and facilities/equipment maintenance. Develop key performance indicators. Capture data for indicators as related to MMR program and ARC PMEL measures.
• Train with Disaster Response team and respond when needed both within the US and internationally.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in biology, animal science, or marine science preferred; relevant higher degree ideal.
• At least 5 years of experience in marine mammal stranding response, stranding management, species identification, and clinical care. Hands-on experience with stranded cetaceans and pinnipeds is required.
• Experience working with volunteers, volunteer management, intern management, training and public engagement.
• Understanding of veterinary technology, photography, necropsy, small boat handling, database management, and telemetry preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft WORD, EXCEL, PowerPoint and ACCESS software.
• A valid Massachusetts driver’s license, or ability to acquire one, required.
• DOT medical clearance, or ability to acquire clearance once hired, is required.
• Ability to walk on rough terrain during inclement weather, swim, and lift 50 pounds.
• Familiarity with the Cape Cod region is a plus.

Core Competencies

• Excellent time management and ability to prioritize a variable set of activities.
• Ability to both lead a team and serve as a strong, integrated team member.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to connect with a variety of audiences from professional and scientific, to general public.
• Resilience; the ability to deal with adversity in a positive manner, learning from mistakes.
• Ability to recognize and take initiative within the team to meet the needs.

At IFAW, we aim to create and foster a workforce that reflects and contributes to the diverse, global community in which we work to improve the lives of both animals and people. We are dedicated to fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion so we actively encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds.