Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire (RRFB) is one of the Caribbean’s leading coral restoration organizations. Since 2012, we have working with the community and the best available science to restore resilient, self-sustaining coral reef ecosystems through adaptive approaches, advancing and sharing knowledge to support reef recovery on Bonaire and beyond. As our organization continues to grow, we are looking for a Reef Restoration Technician to strengthen our operational team.
About the Role
The Reef Restoration Technician plays a key role in the day-to-day implementation of RRFB’s coral restoration activities. Working under the direction of the Operations lead, and in coordination with the Director of Operations.
The Reef Restoration Technician helps ensure that field operations, nursery maintenance, coral propagation, and monitoring support run safely, efficiently, and to a consistently high standard, while also being an approachable, confident, and professional presence for our volunteers, dive partners, donors, and visitors.
The role combines hands-on fieldwork, technical problem-solving, equipment maintenance, outreach, and team collaboration. Every day is different, requiring flexibility, initiative, and strong teamwork.
Responsibilities
Coral Restoration & Field Operations
- Maintain and expand in-water coral nurseries and restoration sites.
- Conduct coral fragmentation, outplanting, and nursery maintenance.
- Assist with coral spawning, settlement, and ex-situ coral husbandry.
- Support all dive team operations, maintaining a strong culture of safety and professionalism.
- Assist in collecting monitoring data, records, and observations, and ensure timely and accurate data entry and quality control in accordance with established protocols.
- Assist in supervising, training, and mentoring interns, volunteers, students, and researchers in field techniques.
- Assist with volunteer activities, outreach events, and educational programmes, including public presentations, always representing RRFB professionally.
- Serve as a friendly, approachable face of RRFB for volunteers, dive partners, donors, and other stakeholders, building genuine rapport and representing RRFB’s values with professionalism in every interaction.
- Maintain restoration equipment, vessels, dive gear, and field infrastructure.
- Maintain accurate field logs, maintenance records, equipment inventories and consumable stock.
- Help improve workflows, SOPs, and assist in developing new restoration techniques.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Marine Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Aquaculture, or a related field.
Experience
Required:
- At least one (1) year of relevant professional experience in the coral restoration field.
- Professional-level scuba certification (Divemaster minimum).
- Minimum of 150 logged dives with excellent buoyancy and situational awareness.
- Experience assisting with team coordination in field settings.
Preferred:
- Coral and larval propagation and outplanting.
- Mechanical, plumbing, electrical, or construction skills.
- Boat handling and maintenance.
- Monitoring and ecological surveys (ie. GCRMN, Photogrammetry).
- Experience in public speaking, outreach and educational settings.
- Additional languages, particularly Dutch, Spanish, or Papiamentu.
Skills
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Strong organizational and planning skills.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to drive manual transmission vehicles.
- Physically fit and able to conduct daily fieldwork in tropical conditions, including two dives per day, 5 days a week.
Personal Competencies
- Proactive, dependable, and highly organized.
- Comfortable working both in the field and on documentation and administrative tasks.
- Strong team player with the ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary field team.
- Clear communicator, comfortable working within a close knit team, interns, and volunteers from different backgrounds and nationalities.
- Comfortable public speaking and engaging with visitors and volunteers, with a strong customer-service attitude.
- Detail-oriented and takes pride in producing high-quality work, both in the field, in data collection and documentation.
- Passionate about coral reef conservation and restoration, and eager to contribute to RRFB’s mission.
Employment Conditions
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Full-time position (40 hours per week).
- Based in Bonaire; this is an on-site position.
- Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for coral spawning , community and outreach activities and events.
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
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Public healthcare coverage through the Caribbean Netherlands social insurance system.
- Opportunities for professional development and training.
- Start date: As soon as possible.
Application
Please submit the following materials to info@reefrenewalbonaire.org:
• Subject line “Reef Restoration Technician Application: [your name]“:
• Your CV
• A motivation letter
(include your nationality and/or which passport you hold, for visa purposes for working in Bonaire)