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Employment Opportunities

Join our Team

MarineQuest seeks enthusiastic and engaged environmental educators, professionals, students and marine scientists to join our team!

Summer Employment

School Program Employment

Summer Employment

Now Accepting Applications!

Are you looking for a summer position in marine science education?  MarineQuest will expand your science toolbox to include communicating science with youth and developing your technical skills (field and lab).  For over 40 years MarineQuest has provided serious science, fun-filled, academic week-long programs for ages 4-17 and multi-week programs for ages 15-17 in Coastal North Carolina.

Explore the positions MarineQuest seeks to fill for the Summer 2024 season.  

Summer Program Instructors

Kayak Instructor

RAs and Support Staff Positions

Interested in the kind of work you'll be doing as a summer team member at MarineQuest? Check out our Summer Programs to learn more. 

Apply Today!

2 students diving behind a boat

Summer Program Instructors

Become a part of a team of amazing informal educators with MarineQuest.  Our instructors come from a variety of marine science and education backgrounds.  Instructors implement a marine science curriculum developed by MarineQuest and collaborating experts.  

Expectations of program instructors:

  1. Learn and implement program-specific curriculum.
  2. Manage time to meet the program's scheduled agenda expectations. 
  3. Provide hands-on, experiential, science instruction for students (age depends on position).
  4. Supervise students in the classroom, university lab spaces, field, and during transportation and meal times. 
  5. Work cooperatively with other instructors and support staff. 
  6. Provide first aid to students.
  7. Implement behavior management policies. 
  8. Some positions require instructors to drive passenger vans.
Qualifications: 
  1.  Must be able to lead and participate in outdoor learning experiences (rain or shine, temperatures over 80 degrees).
  2. Must have strong oral communication skills to communicate effectively with students, parents, co-workers, other university staff, and the general public.
  3. Must demonstrate initiative and leadership qualities. 
  4. Must have previous experience and desire to work with youth. 
  5. Preference is given to candidates who are in (or have completed) a degree program related to marine sciences or environmental education. 
  6. Knowledge of local marine habitats is a plus. 
  7. CPR/First Aid is required.
  8. Lifeguard Certification is preferred and in some cases required. 

Terms of Employment:

  1. Must be available June 3 - July 30 or August 9, 2024.
  2. The pay rate ranges from $10 - $17 and is dependent on qualifications (UNCW-approved pay calculator).  

* Housing available on campus in MarineQuest residential hall *

Apply Here!

Program Instructors

Half-Day Program Instructor

The MarineQuest Half-Day Junior Program team works with our youngest students (Ages 4 - 7).  For many students, this is their first introduction to the marine science world.  Our tested junior program curriculums engage students in marine science topics from fish life cycles to invertebrate and vertebrate zoology. Instructors will learn and implement multiple titled programs throughout the summer.  

Learn more about the half-day core programs by reviewing the program pages:

Small Fry (Ages 4 - 5)

Sea Squirts (Ages 5 - 6)

Sea Safari (Ages 6 - 7)

Full Day Program Instructor

MarineQuest Full Day Junior Program instructors keep our 7 - 8-year-old students busy!  Instructors will lead students on a migratory journey along the North Carolina coast and an investigation into how climate change is impacting our treasured species as well as training students in aquaculture operations.  

Learn the programs you would lead:

Coastal Cruisers

SEAkers

Jr. Aquaculturist

Intermediate and Senior Day Program Instructors

Instructors leading our Intermediate and Senior programs provide students with opportunities to experience what being a scientist or engineer is like.  Spend approximately half the day in the field and the other indoors teaching the MarineQuest curriculum.  All curriculum is inquiry-based where students will ask questions, collect data, and make conclusions while conducting marine science research.  Many of these programs involve trips on UNCW Research Vessels, visits to restricted UNCW science facilities, laboratory activities, and engagement with UNCW faculty.  Instructors will learn and implement multiple titled programs throughout the summer.  

Learn more about the core programming lines:

Mates (Ages 9 - 10)

TREK (Ages 10 - 12)

Ocean Lab (Ages 12 - 14)

Ocean Solutions (Ages 15 - 17)

Oceans 17 (Ages 17)

Dive Program Staff

Do you have a passion for marine science and research diving?  The MarineQuest Dive Staff assists professional PADI Dive Instructors as they train students to earn their open water and specialty certifications.  The dive staff is a part of the MarineQuest instructor team as they will lead various lessons out of the water including career, science, and skill-focused activities.  

Learn more about the dive programs you would lead:

Dive Hawks (Ages 14 - 17)

MarineQuest Scientific Diver (Ages 15 - 17)

Evening Instructor

The evening instructor team supervises overnight students during free time and dinner and leads educational evening activities for students ranging from 9 to 17 years old.  Evening programming includes marine science, career-focused, and leadership themes.  The MarineQuest Overnight Coordinator leads the evening instructor team.  

 

Learn more about the MarineQuest overnight program experience: 

Overnight programs (Ages 9 - 17)

Weekend Instructor

The MarineQuest weekend instructors lead O.C.E.A.N.S. and Oceans 17 programs Friday night through Sunday night.  Weekend activities include field excursions, service projects, kayaking, and other marine adventure-based activities. During the weekend MairneQuest aims to provide students with more recreational and bonding activities while maintaining a safe and academic environment. 

Candidates must be at least 21, have a valid driver's license, and lifeguard certification.  

Kayak Instructor

The MarineQuest Kayak Instructor is responsible for teaching and leading trips for students ages 10-17. Many of the students are first-time kayakers. Trips will range from 2 to 4 hours and will be primarily in salt marshes-based habitats in the Wilmington area. You will be required to work independently while transporting kayaks to various locations. Each trip will include a maximum of 22 students and two additional MarineQuest staff. MarineQuest uses tandem "sit-on-top" kayaks for students and solo kayaks for instructors. The kayak instructor must be able to drive a passenger van and tow a kayak trailer with 12-16 kayaks atop.

Apply Today!

RAs and Support Staff Positions

The MarineQuest RAs and Support Staff provide a part-time opportunity 

Expectations of program instructors:

  1. Manage time to meet the program's scheduled agenda expectations. 
  2. Learn and implement program-specific curriculum.
  3. Provide hands-on, experiential, science instruction for students (age depends on position).
  4. Supervise students in the classroom, university lab spaces, field, and during transportation and meal times. 
  5. Work cooperatively with other instructors and support staff. 
  6. Provide first aid to students.
  7. Implement behavior management policies. 
  8. RAs are expected to live in the residential hall from June 3 - July 26.
  9. Some positions require instructors to drive passenger vans.

Qualifications: 

  1. Must have strong oral communication skills to communicate effectively with students, parents, co-workers, other university staff, and the general public.
  2. Must demonstrate initiative and leadership qualities. 
  3. Must have previous experience and desire to work with youth. 
  4. Preference is given to candidates who are in (or have completed) a degree program related to marine sciences or environmental education. 
  5. Knowledge of local marine habitats is a plus. 
  6. CPR/First Aid is required.
  7. Lifeguard Certification is preferred and in some cases required. 
  8. Some positions must be at least 21 years of age.
  9. Some positions require a valid Driver's License.

Terms of Employment:

  1. Must be available June 3 - July 30 or August 9, 2024.
  2. Attend mandatory staff training the week of June 3, 2024.
  3. The pay rate ranges from $10 - $17 and is dependent on qualifications (UNCW-approved pay calculator).  
  4. RAs must live in the residential hall during MarineQuest programs in June and July.

Apply Here!

Support Staff Positions

MarineQuest residential assistants live in the MarineQuest residential hall during June and July. They are responsible for enforcing all MarineQuest policies including designated quiet time, use of technology, lights out, and wake-up times for overnight students. RAs ensure students eat a proper breakfast and are prepared for programs each day.  In addition, they are available as needed for students throughout the night and work with the Overnight Coordinator for emergencies.
MarineQuest seeks an individual with a passion for marine debris advocacy and prevention education.  The marine debris program lead is responsible for the setup of Watson the Whale, and delivery of the associated curriculum on Friday mornings.  The marine debris lead will also be responsible for leading the Turtle Trash Collectors lesson.

MarineQuest is looking for a team member who will lead our half-day junior program students on their salt marsh expedition aboard Boat Float (inflatable kayak). This position is responsible for transporting necessary materials to field sites and proper maintenance of inflatable kayaks.  

Must be at least 21, have a valid driver's license, and lifeguard certification. 

The airport liaison is the first face students will see from MarineQuest when arriving via air travel.  This overnight team member will safely transport students from ILM to the MarineQuest residential hall on Sundays and return at the end of the program.  

Must be at least 21 and have a valid driver's license. 

Lead Junior Program students in program-specific “lab investigations” ranging from simulated frog dissection to eel and fish dissections. Assist with intermediate program shark dissections and other marine anatomy content.    

The equipment manager is responsible for the maintenance of all MarineQuest field tools.  This includes seine nets, dip nets, life jackets, and fishing poles as well as supporting the maintenance of kayaks.  They will ensure all equipment is cleaned and maintained through the summer and fix things as they break. They will assist instructors during visits to key field sites (e.g. municipal docks, marsh, Watson the Whale). 

School Program Employment

Application OPEN for 2023-24 School Year

We're looking for qualified assistants to help lead academic-based activities for individual and group participation during school field trips to the MarineQuest lab, local field sites, or at local schools.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Apply here

“ As part of MarineQuest, I was able to share with Sea GEMS my research conducted in Antarctica. They were surprised to learn that I paid my way by working on a cruise ship. Developing Sea GEMS was a fantastic experience. ”
Dr. Rebecka Brassp Sea GEMS Instructor

Contact Us

MarineQuest

Phone: (910) 962-2640

marinequest@uncw.edu

Main Office: 626 MacMillan Ave. 
MarineQuest Lab: Center for Marine Science, 5600 Marvin K. Moss Lane 

Registration Office:
Phone: 910.962.2939

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday,
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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