Lead Marine Science Interpreter

The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for a Lead Marine Science Interpreter (LMSI) to join the Visitor Engagement (VE) team.  The LMSI is a lead for daily operations for the Visitor Engagement (VE) team. VE staff are ambassadors for our guests from around the world, helping bring our exhibit floor to life for all.  In collaboration with the VE leadership team, this position will support communicating and implementing updates across the team and with other departments.  Daily responsibilities include interpreting Aquarium habitats, supervising volunteers, maintaining supplies, and assisting with training of new staff and volunteers. 

Key functions: 

Marine Science Interpretive work is approximately 60% of responsibilities:

• Anticipate needs of visitors and volunteers, addressing barriers to participation for BIPOC, LGBTQ and disability communities in an effort to create an inclusive community.  Maintain an awareness of self, co-workers, volunteers, and guests in order to help and enhance our guests’ experience.  
• Supervise interpretive volunteers, including creating engaging daily updates, new volunteer training and co-facilitating continued education opportunities. 
• Prepare and deliver formal interpretive talks, and hands-on activities to visitors and school/tour groups; adapt communication style to meet guests’ varying needs and interests.  This includes interacting with guests at interpretation carts.  
• As part of the VE team, coordinate and communicate openly with coworkers from all Aquarium departments, contribute to maintenance and organization of supplies, props, and exhibits, and participate in regular meetings & program focus groups as needed.
• All Aquarium staff and volunteers are expected to participate in advancing and integrating into their work Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Regenerative practices in alignment with our SALISH Values. 
• Maintain flexibility and ability to cover shifts and assignments for others when they are out unexpectedly. 

Daily operations, program support and training are approximately 40% of responsibilities.

• Support volunteer engagement, including new volunteer training and continued education opportunities; this includes supervising volunteers on the floor.    
• Maintain and organize carts, activity kits and maintenance of supplies.
• Serve as team point person for daily onsite operations; collaborate with internal teams for IT, AV and marketing requests and needs.  
• Support special event programming (on site and virtual). 
• Assist with hiring, initial training and ongoing professional development of staff. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Working conditions:

• A flexible schedule is required; must be willing to workdays, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays based on seasonal programming and third-party events on a regular basis.  
• Ability to be active on the exhibit floor for periods of up to eight hours . 
• Job requires time spent in the offices, exhibits, service areas and in the field. 
• Job requires working outdoors in all weather conditions and terrain.  This includes exposure to elements as employees are located in campus environment with multiple buildings, outdoor and semi-covered areas.   

About the Seattle Aquarium: 

The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world’s one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing an inspiring visitor experience, engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more.  

Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.  

Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, we’re among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 850,000 people each year. Guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we’re working to substantially increase our conservation impact by expanding our campus with a new building, the Ocean Pavilion. Learn more at SeattleAquarium.org. 

Experience Required

• Experience with non-formal, learner-led education programs with community members. This can be through paid or volunteer experience.
• Experience working with a public audience such as school or tour groups.
• Experience working with and training staff and volunteers.
• Ability to assess priorities in a rapidly changing work environment - shifting gears comfortably or when needed - to make decisions and act without having the total picture.
• Ability to adapt communication and teaching style to meet varying needs and interests of guests, including to speak with and direct large groups. Multilingual and multicultural communication skills and experience are preferred.
• Ability to help with the creation of new education programs and build upon existing ones.
• Consistently and proactively communicate, track, and organize work to keep self on track and others in the loop.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the Aquarium’s Mission and Values, including Regenerative and Equity work.
• Leadership abilities, willingness to take charge, and work independently as primary interpretation staff.
• Familiarity with MS Office programs, including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams. Familiarity with, or ability to learn volunteer databases (Better Impact).
• Able to learn and convey information about marine science and conservation to the public with flexibility, strong listening skills, and respect for learners’ prior knowledge and experiences.

Further Comments

Pay is dependent on experience. Please include pay expectations in your materials. Full-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium’s comprehensive benefits package to include medical, vision, dental, an employer-funded health reimbursement account, medical and