Employment Opportunities & Volunteer at BFREE

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Interested in employment opportunities and volunteer experiences at BFREE? Explore below!

BFREE staff enjoying a hike in the rainforest, with multiple staff members standing on a natural staircase among lots of tropical plants.

Employment Opportunities

The Belize Foundation for Research & Environmental Education (BFREE) strives to successfully integrate scientific research, environmental education, conservation, and create sustainable development opportunities for alternative livelihoods for Belizeans. BFREE provides staff with a competitive salary based on work experience. Staff working at the Field Station are provided room and board while at BFREE. Staff schedule is 10 days on-site and 4 days off. Staff receives Social Security benefits and two weeks of paid vacation after working one full year.

If you have any questions about working with BFREE, please contact us by email at jobs@bfreebz.org.

Current Job Openings

Assistant Cook

Assistant Cook - Job Description

A full-time position in the BFREE Kitchen is now available. The current opening is for an Assistant Cook.

REQUIRED - Current Food Handler's Certificate issued by Belize's Public Health Department and one year of cooking experience in a restaurant, hotel or similar.

TO APPLY - Email resume and references to jobs@bfreebz.org or text via WhatsApp 621-6685.

Deadline: 25 NOVEMBER 2025

Start Date: DECEMBER 2025

Housekeeper

Housekeeper - Job Description

A full-time position in the BFREE Housekeeping team is now available. The current opening is for a Housekeeper.

REQUIRED - One year experience as housekeeper in a hotel, resort or similar.

TO APPLY - Email resume and references to jobs@bfreebz.org or text via WhatsApp 621-6685.

Deadline: 25 NOVEMBER 2025

Start Date: DECEMBER 2025

Organic Gardener

Organic Gardener - Job Description

A full-time position in the BFREE Facilities team is now available. The current opening is for an Organic Gardener.

REQUIRED - One year experience as an organic gardener, either in your own farm or in a professional farm setting.

TO APPLY - Email resume and references to jobs@bfreebz.org or text via WhatsApp 621-6685.

Deadline: 25 NOVEMBER 2025

Start Date: DECEMBER 2025

Wildlife Fellow

Wildlife Fellow - Job posting Science and Education Fellowship

A full-time position in the BFREE Fellowship Program is now available. The current opening is for a Wildlife Fellow assigned to BFREE’s Hicatee Conservation and Research Center.

The BFREE Science and Education Fellows Program is a two-year immersive work-training opportunity for recent Belizean junior college and college graduates who exhibit leadership potential combined with a clear interest in the conservation of the country’s natural resources.

Apply: APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED

Deadline: NEXT DEADLINE JUNE 2026

Start Date: POSITION FILLED

Field Station Manager

Field Station Manager Full Job Description

The Station Manager assumes a leadership role at the field station. The SM oversees the field station staff (approximately 25 – 30 persons) and ensures smooth operations for both employees and visitor experiences. The SM encourages and fosters positive attitudes, sets a good example, and prioritizes staff efforts. The SM supports the mission and activities of BFREE and exemplifies a concern for the environment.

Apply: Follow the instructions listed within the job description.

Posted: JULY 2025

Deadline: POSTING ON HOLD

Start Date: TBD

Volunteer

BFREE has opportunities for motivated individuals to get hands-on experience in conservation and sustainable living programs in the rainforest of Belize. Opportunities are for all ages (18+) and last 2-4 weeks on average.

Hundreds of interns and long-term volunteers have stayed at our tropical field station since its inception. These volunteers have benefited from the unique experience of living and working in the rainforest and have made tremendous contributions to our wildlands conservation programs, environmental research, and education efforts, as well as to the development of our sustainable facilities.

2026 Volunteer Opportunities

Research and Husbandry Volunteers

BFREE accepts volunteers to work with the Hicatee Turtle Conservation Team and the Park Ranger Team between the months of December and July. Volunteers will be assigned various roles to support the team depending on the time of the year and the most significant needs.

Assignments may include:

Assist in care of turtle hatchlings
Assist in feeding and care of adult and subadult turtles
Assist in maintenance of the turtle facility
Data Collection
Documentation, including photography
Trail Maintenance and development

In addition to working with the team, volunteers will be assigned a schedule to assist with general day-to-day needs around the field station, such as helping with meal preparation and clean-up, and trail maintenance. Duties may change as determined by current needs at the time of your assignment.

Garden and Food Production Volunteers

Do you have experience growing healthy, delicious fruits and vegetables? Want to support the expansion of the garden and orchard in the rainforest of Belize? We are looking for volunteers to support the expansion of the BFREE garden and orchard. Opportunities will begin in January of 2026. Volunteers will be assigned various roles to support the team depending on the time of the year and the most significant needs.

Assignments may include:

Assist in horticulture and crop management: starting seeds, planting, weeding, and harvesting food for our raised beds
Manage our compost and use it to add nutrients to the garden plants and orchard trees
General garden maintenance like creation raised beds, repairs of chicken coop, etc.
Animal husbandry - Assist in daily care of the chickens

In addition to the general work or if rain prevents daily work to take place, then garden volunteers may be assigned other duties. Duties may change as determined by current needs at the time of your assignment.

General Learning Objectives

Requirements

Volunteers should be committed to BFREE’s mission and have a passion for environmental education and conservation. One should have a positive and flexible attitude, desire to learn and work hard, willingness to adapt to a changing work environment and be comfortable living in remote and rustic living conditions in a tropical environment. All volunteers must complete a physician-signed health form of good health.

There is a 13-night/14-day minimum for volunteers. Volunteer work hours typically follow the regular field station work schedule of 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM with a scheduled lunch hour and breaks. Sundays are unscheduled, with some activities available.

Costs

BFREE Field Assistants are volunteer positions. Field Assistants pay for their international airfare and travel costs from the airport to the BFREE Field Station.

A small daily project fee covers lodging, meals, administration, and trainings. Many past students have received funding and/or credit from their host institution to participate. Payment is due 30 days in advance of arrival.

Volunteers who choose not to walk in the 6-mile Entrance Road to BFREE can arrange for transportation at a fee.

Apply