Turtle Love is a nonprofit conservation organization registered in Costa Rica. Our mission is to conserve sea turtles on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica through community involvement, applied research, and liaison with environmental agencies. Turtle Love runs a community-based conservation project working to protect sea turtles nesting on Playa Tres, the 6-km stretch of beach immediately south of Tortuguero National Park. Together, our nesting beach protection and community involvement efforts decrease illegal harvest and increase hatchling production at Playa Tres.

Every year, Turtle Love selects a team of Research Assistants (RAs) and local Field Assistants who work under the supervision of the Field Coordinator to help protect and monitor 6 km of important nesting beach for green (𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘴), leatherback (𝘋𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢), and hawksbill (𝘌𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘮𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘢) turtles. RAs are primarily responsible for conducting night surveys and morning surveys to collect data on sea turtle nesting activity at Playa Tres. RAs also assist the Field Coordinator with data entry, training and leading groups of paying volunteers, planning and conducting community outreach activities, and day-to-day operation of the headquarters.

Turtle Love seeks applicants who are highly motivated and driven to contribute to our mission; have the flexibility and open-mindedness to conduct fieldwork and share living space with a multicultural team; are able to problem-solve independently as well as follow instructions; are prepared for long hours of activity under physically demanding conditions; enjoy nature and are comfortable working outdoors, at night, and in the rain; are comfortable staying at a remote location with limited access to amenities; and are resilient and have a positive attitude.

All RA applications must be submitted through our online form. Applications for leatherback turtle season (March 15 - June 15) will be accepted on or before February 15. Applications for green turtle I season (15 June 2024 – 15 September 2024) will be accepted or no before May 15. And applications for green turtle II season (15 September 2024 – 15 November 2024) will be accepted or no before Agust 15. Short-listed candidates will be contacted within a week of the application deadline.

𝗗𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀:
RA schedules are dynamic and depend on the tasks at hand, with no set hours or predictable days off. RAs can expect to work long hours on limited sleep 5-6 days per week. Duties include:
1) Conducting sea turtle monitoring activities as detailed in Turtle Love’s research protocol and as instructed by the Field Coordinator. Monitoring primarily includes night surveys (to collect data on nesting sea turtles and relocate nests) and morning surveys (to count sea turtle tracks and nests, check the status of nests, and inventory hatched nests to determine hatching success) along 6 km of nesting beach (the total length of hike is ~12 km).
2) Welcoming, orienting, and training volunteers in monitoring protocols and leading volunteer groups during night surveys, morning surveys, and community outreach activities.
3) Giving presentations on basic principles of sea turtle biology, field research techniques, and other related topics.
4) Collecting data for independent research projects being conducted by visiting researchers and/or students.
5) Other monitoring and research-related tasks, including equipment maintenance and data entry.
6) Developing and implementing outreach and environmental education activities for local community members and visitors.
7) Taking part in communal tasks at Turtle Love’s headquarters, including cooking and cleaning.

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀:
In addition to gaining valuable fieldwork, research, and leadership experience requisite for careers in biology and conservation, RAs receive:
1) Accommodation and three meals per day at Turtle Love’s headquarters in Barra de Parismina for the duration of the RA’s participation. Staying at our headquarters, RAs share the house with Turtle Love staff and volunteers and take part in communal cooking and cleaning. Amenities are basic (no hot water, no A/C, limited internet), and bedrooms are shared among four people (two bunk beds per room).
2) Training in sea turtle monitoring protocols.
3) Certificate of completion signed by our Scientific Director.
We provide RAs accommodation and meals at our headquarters because their commitment of time in exchange for professional development and leadership experience provides valuable help to Turtle Love’s team. RA positions are voluntary, and RAs are expected to arrange and pay for their own travel to and from Turtle Love’s headquarters in Barra de Parismina.
Turtle Love also welcomes Research Assistants interested in conducting research projects for their degrees. Please contact us for details.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺!

Learn more about Turtle Love: https://linktr.ee/turtlelovecr
Contact us: Gustavo Ortiz, Resident Biologist, coordinacion@turtlelovecr.org