Field Assistant

Pantai Chakar Hutan, Kerteh, Terengganu, Malaysia

Job Type:

Location:

Pantai Chakar Hutan, Kerteh, Terengganu, Malaysia

Duration:

Duration: 15th February – 31st December 2025, Minimum 4 months

Introduction

PULIHARA is looking for two passionate and engaging individuals with experience in sea turtle conservation to join as field assistants for our mainland project based at Pantai Chakar Hutan in Kerteh, Terengganu, Malaysia. This project provides plenty of opportunities for hands-on conservation work while learning more about nesting turtle monitoring, public outreach, local community engagement, and awareness.

Work Description

PULIHARA collaborates with the Department of Fisheries and WWF-Malaysia at Chakar Hutan to monitor the nesting beach, manage a hatchery and carry out outreach activities. While a Field Assistant is expected to contribute in many ways to the Chakar Hutan project, typical responsibilities include the following:

Conduct literature reviews.
Do nightly beach monitoring to collect nesting data.
Relocate sea turtle nests into the hatchery.
Conduct nest checks, hatchlings releases and post-emergence inspections.
Respond to any reporting of stranding turtles and collect stranding data.
Carry out beach clean-ups and collect data on the marine debris collected.
Prepare daily exhibition setup, give educational talks to visitors at the hatchery and information centre, and organise hatching release events.
Carry out outreach programmes.
Enter and analyse data.
Assist in any activities or surveys for the project.
Responsible for maintaining and properly using all PULIHARA equipment and updating all inventories.
Guard the hatchery and visitor hut during day time.
Adhere to all safety measures, protocols, procedures and budgets as directed by LTTW.
Travel for work following the agreed schedule and within the budget.
Attend PULIHARA events, as necessary.
Take on tasks in addition to the descriptions above as delegated by higher management deemed fair and achievable within the present task load and within the person’s capability.

You are expected to become familiar with the project activities during the first months. Every field assistant will be given a research project to work on after. As the field assistant will be sharing working and living space with other staff members, research assistants and interns, you are expected to:

Assist in any other duties that may be required including covering for team members’ leave and illness, shopping for project supplies and participating in local events.
Ensure that the hatchery and information centre are kept clean and tidy at all times.
Ensure that the project houses are kept clean and tidy with the help of other staff, research assistants and interns through daily chores on a rotation basis.

General Requirements

Experience in sea turtle nesting monitoring and hatchery management.
Organised and meticulous, with strong attention to detail.
Experience in public outreach and engagement.
Possess good communication skills, work with people from different backgrounds, and have confidence in public speaking.
Proactive and independent – two of the most important elements, as you will work with minimal supervision.
Able to live and work in a small team.
Undertake and demonstrate consistent planning of your workload and adhere to self-set deadlines.
Be physically fit to do hourly night patrols on a 1.4-km beach.
Able to work at odd hours due to work exigencies as a turtle conservationist.
Flexible and adaptive – the daily routine can alter depending on multiple factors, and adapting to this is essential.
Good knowledge of Malay and English.
Culturally sensitive – as the project is in Terengganu.
Must be competent in Windows OS and Microsoft Office.
Knowledge of statistics and the use of SPSS, R, and GIS are advantages.

Preferably possess own transport for commute between the field house and the beach. Otherwise, be willing to cycle 3–5 km daily. However, the project motorcycle is available for work.

Accommodation

While this is a paid job, PULIHARA will cover your in-country land travel to/from the project site, as well as food and accommodation whilst on the project. You will live in a field house, where living is communal with shared facilities with the other staff, FAs and interns. You will prepare your meals.

Contact

If you feel you’re the right person to be part of our young, passionate and dynamic team of conservationists, please send a copy of your C.V. and a cover letter to our Admin, Mary, at mary@pulihara.org, with Chakar Hutan Field Assistant as the subject heading before 27 January 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Field Assistant

Pantai Chakar Hutan, Kerteh, Terengganu, Malaysia

Job Type:

Location:

Duration:

Introduction

Work Description

General Requirements

Accommodation

Contact

Share:

Subscribe To Our Newsletter