Aquarium Educator

Summary :

The Aquarium Educator’s role is critical to delivering our mission at the Aquarium and throughout Utah. While at the Aquarium, an Educator’s primary responsibility is to enhance the guest experience with high quality interpretive experiences throughout our galleries and education spaces.

Educators will interact with Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) visitors of all ages and backgrounds to provide inspiring personal engagements and activities or more formal presentations, demonstrations and learning stations.

Educators also deliver science education programs to Pre-K high school students throughout the state and perform a variety of programs both on-grounds at the Aquarium and offsite as assigned.

Educators report directly to Education Assistant Managers. Educators collaborate with assistant managers, managers, and their peer educators to improve interpretation skills and techniques.

Educators are required to provide a variety of learning and engagement opportunities for Aquarium guests to enhance their visit.

Education and experience :

• Associate’s degree, or two years of completed college credits towards a degree in biology, zoology, marine science, environmental science, education, or a related field is preferred
• Bachelor's degree in biology, zoology, marine science, environmental science, education, or a related field is preferred
• Experience interacting with children, small groups and / or large audiences, and the ability to adapt programs to audience age level and size is required
• Experience working in a similar guest-related industry such as hospitality, performing arts, teaching, or zoo / aquarium and museum interpretation preferred
• Experience in STEM programming; development and implementation are preferred
• Must be willing to go through an additional background check required by the UT Public Local Education Agency (LEA)
• Bilingual English / Spanish is a plus

Critical Skills / Competencies :

Willingness to go beyond expectations to create a fun and safe environment for guests (and staff alike); Skills include spoken, written, and visual communication skills;

active listening; and understanding guest needs and using appropriate judgement to fulfill those needs

• Ability to confidently and safely handle and present animals, especially reptiles and insects, after training
• Be punctual, communicate clearly with supervisors, and adhere to all attendance protocols
• Take direction and evaluation feedback well, ask questions, and collaborate with others while maintaining a professional work attitude.

Interpretation evaluation and coaching is a key part of our team’s growth and success

• Ability to quickly learn complex and / or factual information, then communicate it to a wide variety of age groups in an engaging and creative manner
• Knowledge of science processes, marine biology, zoology and / or ecology with willingness to increase knowledge
• Ability to engage with guests for over 2 hours in one continuous session. Must be able to stand during long periods of guest engagement.

Must be comfortable working under a wide range of temperature (30-90+ F), noise, and light conditions, including indoor and outdoor settings

• Ability to operate company vehicles and follow vehicle protocol. Must keep a favorable driving record and be willing to permit a periodic review of your driving record, if necessary
• Ability to follow detailed daily interpretation and monthly shift schedules
• Basic computer knowledge and skills
• A valid Utah driver’s license, or the willingness to acquire one within 30 days of hire date, is required. Ability and willingness to drive long distances

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

• Educators scheduled for Aquarium interpretation shifts fulfill the following responsibilities :
• Write individual interpretation schedules, collect engagement materials (example biofacts), and open galleries
• Educate guests during public hours and help close galleries
• Educators scheduled for school outreach shifts fulfill the following responsibilities :
• Deliver engaging and accurate educational presentations in elementary and secondary schools in Utah
• Collect outreach program materials and animals
• Travel to Utah schools, teach between 1 and 6 presentations at each school, return program materials and animals after arriving back at the aquarium
• Use the remaining time to educate guests in aquarium galleries
• Educators scheduled for camp shifts fulfill the following responsibilities :
• Prepare activities and classrooms for camp day
• Lead or assist with camper check in and check out, all education camp activities, and camper lunch
• Clean up classrooms and start preparing for the next day’s activities
• Additional responsibilities include :
• Understand, support and share with others LLPA’s mission and vision
• Assist in maintaining a clean working environment; ensure all areas of the Aquarium are organized and hazard free
• Deliver engaging and accurate field trip presentations that follow the Utah State Core standards in the Aquarium’s classrooms
• Respond to student behaviors effectively / appropriately using effective classroom management techniques
• Prepare, manage and utilize presentation supplies and materials appropriately
• Assist in educational events and additional programs as needed
• Additional duties as assigned

Scope of Position :

• Schedule may include weekends, evenings, and holidays (excluding Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day)
• Full-time positions require four 10-hour shifts a week. Shift times vary and may start as early as 6 : 30 AM and end as late as 11 : 00 PM.

Scheduled days may shift weekly or seasonally based on the education department’s programming needs.

Benefits :

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium provides an array of benefits that include :

Medical / Dental / Vision Insurance and other optional benefits, Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Pet Insurance, Bereavement Leave, New Child Leave, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Paid Holidays, PTO, and 401k.

While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate.

The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.