What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Guest Engagement Educator position at Tennessee Aquarium?
The Lead Guest Engagement Educator position supports the mission of the Tennessee Aquarium to connect people with nature and empower them to make informed decisions about water and wildlife. The Education Department is passionate about lifelong learning, respect for conservation, recognizing the abilities of all people and their experiences, the value of both using and contributing to research about informal education, and a collaborative, learning-based, respectful work environment.
This position will engage with guests utilizing best practices in conservation education messaging during interactions with Aquarium guests during their visit along with supporting training needs within the Education Department.
Key Responsibilities
- Implement training needs for Guest Engagement Educators and Fellows, including being the point person during training. Includes assisting with program rubric checkoffs.
- Assist with diver chat program, gallery volunteer, and education new hires orientation/trainings as needed.
- Support the implementation of the daily floor/program schedule, as set by the Guest Engagement Coordinator, helping to ensure all programmatic needs are met, including Gallery Volunteer support when needed.
- Learn and use suitable techniques for guest engagement, including storytelling/interpretation, inquiry based learning, and interactive experiences, while facilitating education programming of different types.
- Encourage active discovery and curiosity for our guests. Make impromptu changes to programs to meet the needs of various audiences, such as families, adults, or children of different ages and needs.
- Establish cross-departmental relationships to collaboratively facilitate engaging educational experiences.
- Follow all protocols related to ambassador animal handling along with obtaining and maintaining the appropriate animal program certifications.
- Participate in Education Department meetings, learning experiences, events, and special projects.
- Ability and willingness to assist with any programming needs of the Education Department.
Key Qualifications
- Minimum of 6 months' experience in a guest engagement or similar position preferred
- Storytelling/Interpretation and training experience preferred
- Animal handling experience is preferred
- Experience or coursework in Environmental Sciences, Biology, Education or a related field preferred
- Comfort with learning to handle a variety of Ambassador and exhibit animals, including invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, small birds, and small mammals.
- First Aid/CPR Certification preferred (Certification class offered by Aquarium for active staff if needed).
- Passion for the environment, nature, and communication.
- Adequate communication and public speaking skills
- Bilingual preferred
Part-time, hourly ($16/hour, max 20 hours/week); work week either Sunday through Wednesday or Wednesday through Saturday. Evenings, weekends, weekdays, and some holidays are required
All submissions must be received by February 20, 2025.
Salary : $16
