The staff and facilities on TNC’s Palmyra Preserve supports scientific research by TNC, the USFWS, and world-renowned research institutions.  Staff are hired on a seasonal basis for approximately 3 months at a time to run the operations, maintain the facilities and support visitor and research trips.  Board and lodging are provided while on-island.

The successful candidate must possess, or be able to obtain, a valid Passport with an expiration date later than your term of employment, proof of a physical examination showing good health, a current tetanus vaccination and first aid/CPR certification current throughout assignment.

Palmyra Atoll is one of the most spectacular wilderness areas on Earth. Located 1,000 miles south of Hawai‘i, Palmyra is a 680-acre atoll with 480,000 acres of lagoons, coral reefs, and submerged lands. TNC’s Palmyra Preserve is located within a US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Refuge within a protected Marine National Monument. The Nature Conservancy owns and operates a Preserve at Palmyra to care for this special place while learning and developing innovations to improve ecosystem health and resilience and enhance biodiversity. Supporting research and management at Palmyra is a rewarding challenge for the right applicant (see nature.org/palmyra)

 

The Preserve Manager (PM) is responsible for the overall management, supervision of seasonal staff and volunteers, and safety of the Preserve operations and staff.  The PM is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of Preserve facilities and equipment including generators, marina & boats, photovoltaic, runway, and the oversight of kitchen and housekeeping services.  The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader with strong facilities management and project management skills and experience, and the proven interpersonal savvy to build and maintain effective relationships with staff, partners, and guests (donors, researchers, visiting vessel’s crews & passengers).  The PM will report to the Operations Coordinator who is based in Hawaii.

DUTIES:

• Supervises maintenance, marine, and hospitality staff to ensure efficient and effective operations and a safe and healthy community environment for all.
• Organizes staff and prepares facilities in support of research, conservation action, facilities maintenance, and donor trips to ensure successful outcomes. Ensures preserve staff and volunteers understand daily tasking and significance of Palmyra to TNC conservation success.
• Oversees safety training and rescue responses with staff to minimize injury and reduce risk to staff and facilities.
• Ensures compliance with all TNC and USFWS policies and procedures to foster a safe and professional work environment.
• Promptly communicates preserve operations and compliance issues and concerns to the Operations Coordinator. Also identifies and communicates opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce risk.
• Provides preserve orientation, safety and other training for all visitors, employees, and volunteers.
• Ensures a reliable point of contact for all communications systems, including satellite and daily on-island radio contact with researchers and staff who go out in the atoll for research or recreation.
• Tracks supplies, food, operations, and equipment inventory and communicates priority needs promptly to ensure uninterrupted operations.
• Ensures and confirms receipt of all items on incoming cargo manifests.
• Ensures runway maintenance, minimizes seabird strike risk, and communicates weather and environmental conditions to pilots and flight service representatives.
• Coordinates safe and efficient loading and unloading of flights and ships.
• Acts as Spill Prevention Coordinator, ensuring spill prevention and maintenance of fuel and chemical storage.
• Ensures HAZMAT compliance for all chemicals used in preserve operations and research.
• Monitors renewable energy hybrid microgrid consisting of solar P.V., battery storage, back up diesel generator and wind turbine generator.
• Performs as host for all guests including designated US Coast Guard flights and visiting vessels with USFWS approval.
• In the event of an emergency, the PM will be the lead emergency responder and working in conjunction with the CMO and others, administer first aid, and a rescue response to address the safety needs of all involved.  This may include responding to minor/major medical emergencies by administering first aid or CPR, diving accidents, stranded vessels, tsunami evacuation events, marine rescue events, fuel spills and/or fire containment, etc.

 

• Ability to live and work productively within a small and confined community on a remote location for up to 3 months, adjusting as needed to support science and philanthropic endeavors.
• Work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of people, providing and obtaining needed information to ensure smooth operations, and a safe and healthy work environment.
• Will work 6 days per week, in variable weather conditions (hot, humid, wet), at a remote atoll location, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances. These conditions will involve considerable physical exertion and/or muscular strain, frequent possibility of injury, long hours in an isolated setting, with exposure to petroleum and cleaning products.
• All staff are asked to be physically and mentally prepared to respond to an emergency 24 hours a day. In the event of an emergency, staff may be tasked with specific duties to ensure communal safety and welfare.
• Will need to train designated staff to respond as operator or crew of a rescue vessel in the event of an emergency.  These situations could include operation of rescue vessel for marine rescue events or performing first aid and CPR to injured persons.
• All staff will assist with community chores as needed, even on days off.
• All staff are expected to follow best practices, help develop tools and resources, and share lessons learned and methods to ensure consistencies across seasons.
• Will direct or convey work instructions to other crew or volunteers. Consult with supervisor to develop plans for resolution of unusual or complex problems.