Be Whale Wise Program Coordinator
Year-round 75% employment $25-30/hour, includes benefits.
Application Deadline: January 5th, 2026 or until filled.
Location: The preferred location for this position is on-site at The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, WA. We are willing to consider alternative locations within the project areas.
Established in 1979 as the first U.S. museum dedicated to whales living in the wild, The Whale Museum (TWM) promotes stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. Through education, we increase public knowledge about whales, other marine species and the Salish Sea ecosystem to promote more responsible environmental stewardship practices.
The Be Whale Wise program is part of our effort to directly educate people and improve the conditions for Southern Resident killer whales and the ecosystem around them. The Be Whale Wise Program Coordinator is a staff position at The Whale Museum with responsibility to implement and advance that educational mission.
Program Goal:
Be Whale Wise is a partnership of governmental agencies, non-profits and others in British Columbia and Washington state to educate the boating public about laws and best practices to protect the region's whales and their environment. The Be Whale Wise partnership helps to create consistent messaging and education for vessel operators, coastal residents, and tourists to the region. Be Whale Wise partners accomplish this goal by educating boaters on shore, then reinforcing the message on-the-water around marine mammals through its partner programs.
Be Whale Wise core partners include: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Transport Canada, the United States Coast Guard, CETUS Research and Conservation/Straitwatch, and The Whale Museum/Soundwatch.
Be Whale Wise Program Objectives:
Required Qualifications:
Preferred Qualities:
Be Whale Wise Program Coordinator Job Tasks:
The Coordinator reports to TWM Research Director and works cooperatively as part of the Museum staff. The Coordinator works closely with TWM leadership and Be Whale Wise partners to coordinate and ensure all aspects of the Be Whale Wise Partnership. The Coordinator is responsible for the organization and staffing of outreach events throughout the region, communication and coordination among Be Whale Wise partners, Be Whale Wise materials, and coordination of volunteers. Details of the Be Whale Wise Coordinator duties are provided below:
The Whale Museum’s benefit package includes: Health Care (medical, vision, dental), Simple IRA Retirement Plan Contribution, Paid Time Off and Holidays.
HOW TO APPLY: Please submit a single PDF file containing your letter of interest, resume and at least three references. Your letter of interest must address (1) examples of accomplishments to illustrate your experience for this role with emphasis on your leadership and outreach/education experience; (2) your philosophy about the position; and (3) insight into what draws you to The Whale Museum's mission and this position at this time in your career. Please email your PDF package to: Be Whale Wise Search Committee, The Whale Museum - email: mike@whalemuseum.org.
The Whale Museum is committed to creating a workplace that reflects the diversity of the ecosystems and communities we serve. Employment decisions are based on qualifications and organizational needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other lived experience.
The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program: 2026 Seasonal Vessel Operator/Educator
The Soundwatch Boater Education Program is seeking a vessel operator for the 2026 summer field season. Soundwatch is a research, education and monitoring program operated by The Whale Museum (TWM), a not-for-profit organization located in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in Washington State. The Soundwatch program mission is to reduce vessel disturbance to marine wildlife, particularly the endangered Southern Resident killer whales, in the Salish Sea region of Washington State (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). Soundwatch is looking for vessel operators/educators to carry out program objectives; educate boaters on best practices for viewing marine wildlife before they leave the shore; reinforce the learning experience in the actual context where disturbances take place; develop and evaluate community-based voluntary guidelines; and provide a scientific platform to monitor vessel activities around marine mammals. To learn more, please visit our website and read Soundwatch’s most recent Contract Report and publications.
Vessel operators/educators will conduct seasonal vessel patrols, educate boaters on regional/federal Be Whale Wise guidelines and regulations, and collect data while monitoring vessel activity around whales. Data from this critical program characterizes vessel activity trends around endangered killer whales and other marine wildlife. The data are used to promote better boater compliance and to inform marine mammal management strategies such as state and federal vessel laws and guidelines.
Vessel operators/educators report to the Soundwatch Program Coordinator and work cooperatively with other museum staff, program interns, and volunteers. This position is classed as Seasonal Field Work Contractor, May-September. The hourly wage for this position is commensurate with experience and starts at $25.00/hour.
VESSEL OPERATOR/EDUCATOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Seasonal field operations:
Be able to work approximately 35-40 hours per week, Mon-Sun. Holiday work required.
Conduct full- or half-day on-the-water educational patrols and monitoring of vessel activity and whale behavior May-September. Possibility for extension into October.
Maintain daily boat patrol protocols and data collection procedures on whale watching and marine wildlife viewing trends, regulation and guideline compliance measurements, and educational materials distribution.
Prevent wildlife disturbance by intercepting boaters before they are within close vicinity of wildlife.
Maintain equipment and collection materials.
Work directly with Soundwatch volunteers and interns, leading daily operations.
Dictate data collection to other crew members to record.
Small Vessel operations:
Operate 17’-20’ outboard vessels.
Perform routine maintenance and minor boat/engine repair, maintain vessel/engine/operation and safety equipment, communicate with coordinator and/or mechanic for troubleshooting advice, provide vessel operation briefing to interns and volunteers.
Education/Outreach on marine stewardship:
Distribution of educational materials on-the-water, at regional boating facilities and to specific organizations.
Communicate with the public and boaters while underway.
Participate in local education and outreach events.
Soundwatch field data-entry:
Assist with field season data entry.
Assist with training of volunteers and interns. Keep track of volunteer activities for future reporting.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor’s degree in marine/wildlife sciences.
Valid US passport or an enhanced driver's license (for the entirety of their position) and CPR/First Aid certification.
Strong situational awareness and attention to detail.
Ability to lead effectively and demonstrate professionalism in demanding environments.
Capable of lifting 40 lbs, standing and being outside on a small vessel for over 8 hours.
Familiarity with recovery priorities related to endangered SRKW.
Minimum requirement: Washington state boater license.
Minimum requirement: 3 years of small vessel operation with experience operating around marine wildlife.
Soundwatch operates under a NOAA NMFS research permit which requires vessel operator candidates to have relevant field experience. The successful candidate must be approved for operation by NMFS as a condition for hiring.
HOW TO APPLY FOR POSITION:
Please send a letter of interest, your CV, and contact information for three references. Please include any hard start/end dates and passport status.
Submit application materials via email as one PDF.
Please include in your subject line: Soundwatch Vessel Operator Application (Last Name).
Soundwatch Vessel Driver/Educator should plan to be on San Juan Island by May 1, 2026 (Exact start date negotiable). Active review of submitted applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
PLEASE SEND INQUIRIES AND APPLICATION MATERIALS TO:
Soundwatch Program Coordinators
Soundwatch@whalemuseum.org
The Whale Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program: 2026 Summer Internship
The Soundwatch Boater Education Program is seeking interns for the 2026 summer field season. Soundwatch is a research, education and monitoring program operated by The Whale Museum (TWM), a nonprofit organization located in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in Washington State. The Soundwatch program mission is to reduce vessel disturbance to marine wildlife, particularly the endangered Southern Resident killer whales, in the Salish Sea region of Washington State, USA and British Columbia, Canada. Soundwatch is looking for three interns to help conduct vessel patrols, educate boaters on regional/federal Be Whale Wise guidelines and regulations, and record data while monitoring vessel activity around whales. Data from this critical program characterize vessel activity trends around endangered killer whales and other marine wildlife. This data is used to inform and update marine mammal management strategies including state, federal, and international vessel regulations. To learn more, please visit our website and read Soundwatch’s most recent Contract Report and publications.
This internship is located in Friday Harbor, Washington. Interns are responsible for securing their own housing and their own mode of transportation on San Juan Island. This position includes a stipend to offset housing costs. Once accepted, TWM staff will be able to assist interns in locating suitable housing options.
INTERN RESPONSIBILITIES:
● Perform a variety of tasks related to data recording and photography in the field aboard small research vessels.
● Perform a variety of tasks related to data entry and photo filing in a research office setting.
● Participation and staffing of public outreach and education events throughout the field season.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS:
● Commit to at least 12 weeks between May and September.
● Be able to work approximately 35-40 hours per week, Mon-Sun. Holiday work required.
● At least 18 years of age, able to lift 40 lbs., able to swim, and not easily susceptible to seasickness. This position requires extensive boating aboard small vessels and is not suitable for those prone to seasickness.
● Ability to spend long hours on the water aboard a small vessel, sometimes in demanding seasonal conditions. Field days occur four to five times a week and may exceed eight hours per day.
● Exhibit strong communication skills, professionalism, and diplomacy.
● Familiar with Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel) and Google Workspace.
● US passport, enhanced driver's license (EDL) or enhanced identification card (EID) is required. Documents must be valid through December 2026.
● Up-to-date CPR/First Aid certification.
● Preference will be given to undergraduates or recent graduates in the marine or wildlife sciences.
● Knowledge of the area and Southern Resident killer whales is preferred but not required.
● A state boater license or equivalent safe boating card is preferred but not required.
● Wildlife photography experience is a plus but not required.
HOW TO APPLY FOR INTERNSHIP POSITION:
Please provide the following:
Submit application materials via email as one PDF if possible.
Please include in your subject line: Soundwatch Internship Application (Last Name).
Active review of applications will begin immediately and continue until 31 Dec 2025, or until positions are filled. Final selections made before 15 Feb 2026.
PLEASE SEND INQUIRIES AND APPLICATION MATERIALS TO:
Soundwatch Program Coordinators
Soundwatch@whalemuseum.org
The Whale Museum's Exhibit Hall is open daily. Each year, approximately 30,000 people visit. We are looking for volunteer docents! If you are interested in learning more or spending time telling visitors about the Salish Sea and the amazing marine life therein, please email us at info@whalemuseum.org.