Call for Field Coordinators (FCs) and Field Assistants (FAs) for PRETOMA’s
sea turtle projects in Costa Rica.
PRETOMA will be conducting sea turtle conservation projects in Punta Banco
(Puntarenas), San Miguel (Guanacaste) and Playa Caletas (Guanacaste), located on the
Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Positions available for the 2006-2007 nesting season:

2 Field Coordinators for Playa Caletas, July 1st, 2006 – March 31st, 2007

6 Field Assistants for Playa Caletas for 10-12 week periods between July 1st,
2006 – March 31st, 2007

2 Field Coordinators for San Miguel, July 7th, 2006 - December 20th, 2006

2 Field Coordinators for Punta Banco, July 15th, 2006 - December 15th, 2006
Below is information on responsibilities related to the Field Coordinator (FC) and Field
Assistant (FA) positions.
To apply (or for questions) send an email or fax which includes:
1. Cover letter indicating:
a. Position(s) for which you are applying
b. Why you are interested in the position(s)
c. Your strong points
2. CV/Resume
3. Two references
To:
Alexander Gaos
Beach Projects Director
PRETOMA
Email:
Fax:
alexandergaos@tortugamarina.org
+(506) 236-6017
Field Coordinators (FCs).
The responsibilities of FCs vary from site to site, but generally entail the proper and
professional recording of all technical data, coordinating the work of project members,
working with communities and ensuring the overall success of the project.
Preference will be given to potential FCs that meet the following requirements. If you
do not meet all of the requirements but are enthusiastic and motivated, we encourage
you to apply. Couples are also encouraged to apply:








Highly motivated, responsible, and have strong interpersonal communication
skills
Fluency or a solid ability in both Spanish and English
Recent graduate or advanced student in biological sciences or related fields.
Comfortable in an isolated setting
In good health condition to walk long nightly hours
Ability to undertake physical labor in the heat and/or rain
Previous experience performing field work with sea turtles is desirable
Available for the duration of the project.
FCs are responsible for conducting night patrols to count, identify, measure and tag
all adult turtles, relocate nests into hatcheries or mark them in-situ, daily early morning
walks to count turtle tracks and check status of in-situ nests, monitor hatcheries around
the clock, release hatchlings and conduct post hatching nest excavations.
Cooperatively, the two FCs must conduct all project activities using the help of
paying participants and FAs (in the case of Playa Caletas), which can vary from 0 – 12 in
number, as well as a couple of local workers. FCs are expected to greet, orientate and
coordinate the paying participants and FAs (in the case of Playa Caletas) upon there
arrival and motivate them for the duration of their time with the project. The projects
often have many participants in the beginning of the season (July and August, which is
summer in North America and Europe), when their is less work, and few participants
during the peak of the nesting season, when there is more work. Whatever the
personel situation may be, FCs are expected to continue to responsibly conduct all
aspects of the project.
FCs also need to establish a friendly relationship and maintain constant
communication with members of the local communities and carry out community
enriching activities such as beach cleanups, painting of buildings, English classes, etc.
Keep in mind that the social relationship with members of the community is a very
important aspect of these projects.
FCs do not get scheduled days off and are subject to the needs of the project. All
project sites are very remote and are visited by project directors only once a month, a
high degree of responsibility and commitment is expected from FCs.
ATTENTION: FCs have their food and lodging expenses covered while at the project
sites, but are expected to cover all costs to and from the project sites.
Field Assistants (FAs)
We are only looking to select FAs for the Playa Caletas project. Playa Caletas is an
extremely remote site and project personnel are usually the only people on the beach.
The project encampment consists of large communal tents, a cooking area, an outhouse,
a well, and two project hatcheries. The camp is rustic and not for the faint of
heart. There is no running water and FAs should be ready to live a “Robinson Crusoe”
lifestyle.
Openings will be starting on July 1st 2006, through the end of the nesting season
on March 31st, 2007. If you are interested in being an FA please indicate during what
time frame, out of those listed below, that you are interested in.
Openings are currently available for the following time frames:
1. July 1st – September 15th (be in San José by the 30th of June)
2. September 16th – November 15th (be in San José by the 14th of September)
3. November 16th – January 15th (be in San José by the 14th of November)
4. January 16th – March 31st (be in San José by the 14th of January)
Preference will be given to potential FAs that meet the following requirements. If you
do not meet all of these requirements but are enthusiastic and motivated, we encourage
you to apply:









Be highly motivated and responsible
Be comfortable in extremely remote conditions
Get along well with folks from different cultures
Ability to undertake physical labor in the heat and/or rain
Be in good health condition to walk long nightly hours
Support FCs in every aspect of the work
Knowledge of Spanish and English
Previous experience performing field work (especially with sea turtles)
Be available for the duration of the selected time frame
FAs are responsible for conducting nightly patrols of several hours each to identify,
measure and tag all adult turtles. Nests are either relocated into a hatchery or marked
in-situ. Daily early morning walks must be done to count turtle tracks and to check the
status of in-situ nests. 24 hour hatchery maintenance, hatchling release and post hatching
nest excavations are also conducted on a daily basis.
Beside sea turtle duties, FAs will be responsible for camp/hatchery upkeep and
construction, which can include carrying heavy logs, shoveling sand, hammering nails,
plant control (using a machetes), watering of plants (during the dry season) and other
strenuous physical activities.
FAs do not get scheduled days off, they must be negotiated with the FCs and are
subject to the needs of the project. FAs are expected to stay at the beach with the
project for the entire period for which they are selected.
ATTENTION: FAs are expected to help cover food and project costs in the amount of
US$150 per month.