Environmental Educator Intern/Divemaster

Job description

Interns will be involved in a variety of duties such as:

Environmental Education: IFS employees supplement the group leader's knowledge with local site information and topical lectures. The level of assistance with educational programming will vary according to the group leader’s expertise and experience. IFS employees should be prepared to act as naturalists with a general knowledge of all the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of Andros.

Trip Facilitation: IFS employees are expected to stay in close contact with the group leaders, transport groups to their desired sites, and monitor the group's safety while doing so.

Field Station Operations: There are daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to be completed to maintain the full operation of the field station. Each IFS employee will be involved in varying degrees with the daily tasks, such as interacting with the guests, working the Lodge, running errands, unloading shipments, communicating with the office in Columbus, Ohio, and other duties as necessary.

Maintenance: All employees participate in the maintenance and repair of the vehicles, boats, buildings, other equipment, landscaping, and other facilities tasks as needed.

Divemaster Description and Duties: In addition to their Environmental Education duties, the Divemaster: assists the Dive Operations Manager with PADI course offerings, maintenance and upkeep of the dive shop, keeps up to date dive logs, and leads dives for IFS’ certified guests. 

Benefits:

-  Visa application fees are covered by IFS. Employees are allowed to have two free guests (each with a week-long stay) during their year-long contract.

- IFS employees are entitled to two weeks paid vacation during their internship.

- Free room and board(additional compensation offered to PADI Dive Instructors / PADI Divemasters. Dive professionals are added to IFS’ professional dive insurance policy)

- Training will include but not limited to: trip leading and planning, basic education on local flora and fauna, and station management.

- SCUBA certifications will be offered to educational staff where appropriate. 

- Other training opportunities may include Wilderness First Aid and ACA Sea Kayaking certifications. Employees may stay on for an additional season if it is mutually agreed upon by the Intern, Station Manager, and Executive Director.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Education, Marine Biology, Ecology, Fisheries, Botany, Geology, Environmental Biology, or similar science or education major
• Current Divemaster certification (required). PADI Divemasters preferred
• Experience leading dive groups and logging dives
• Experience with swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, lifeguarding, and/or species identification
• Experience with facilitation and leading trips
• Experience creating and presenting educational programming (middle school to adult audiences a plus)
• Key personality traits include: ability to live and work in a small group environment with limited personal space in rustic and rural conditions, flexible and adaptable, responsible and safety conscious, relatable and personable with students/group leaders/visitors/locals, a team player with a good work ethic
• Must have a valid Driver’s License and be comfortable driving large vans on unpaved, rural roads
• Must consent to and pass a background check
• Physical requirements: Must be able to spend time snorkeling, swimming, walking for up to 8 hours a day, climb up and down ladders, must be able to lift 50 lbs, and must be able to drive a van for up to 1.5 hours at a time

Internship Program: 

The internship runs from October 2025 until August 2026. Training will include but not limited to: trip leading and planning, basic education on local flora and fauna, and station management. Days are long with 1-2 days off per week. SCUBA certifications will be offered to educational staff where appropriate. Other training opportunities may include Wilderness First Aid and ACA Sea Kayaking certifications. Employees may stay on for an additional season if it is mutually agreed upon by the Intern, Station Manager, and Executive Director.