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Education Specialist
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
USD 24-26 / hour
Posted on May 18, 2026
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Supervisor: Senior Program Operations Manager
Status: Part-time (24 hours/week), non-exempt, term position (end date: December 2026)
About the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Founded in 2000, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, is the national nonprofit partner to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS). Together, we work to protect America’s most treasured ocean and Great Lakes areas — places of extraordinary biodiversity, maritime heritage, and community value.
Guided by our commitment to Waters for All, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation connects people to the ocean and Great Lakes through education, conservation, and community engagement.
As the official nonprofit partner of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, we support 18 marine environments from Massachusetts to American Samoa and the Great Lakes to the Florida Keys. We protect these iconic places, care for marine wildlife and habitats, honor our nation’s maritime heritage, and promote the enjoyment of public waters by all Americans.
Through public fundraising and partnerships, we invest in community stewardship and engagement, on-the-water conservation and restoration, education and outreach in visitor centers and gateway communities, and cutting-edge scientific exploration.
For more than 25 years, we’ve strengthened people’s connections to our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes—our shared history, culture, and maritime heritage—and built partnerships with coastal communities and businesses tied to over 629,000 square miles of public waters that belong to all Americans.
About the National Marine Sanctuaries
America’s national marine sanctuaries are living classrooms, laboratories, and community assets that protect the waters shaping our shared future. Managed by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), this network of 18 marine protected areas is multi-use by nature and spans more than 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes — from coral reefs and kelp forests to historic shipwrecks and whale migration routes.
In partnership with marine research institutions, universities, and private-public partnerships, activities in each sanctuary are sources of solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. Sanctuaries safeguard marine biodiversity, sustain fisheries, power coastal economies, and inspire stewardship through science, education and outreach, and outdoor recreation from boating to fishing. Many sanctuary gateway communities include visitor centers and community partnerships with zoos, aquariums, and museums that extend this impact — serving as hubs for conservation, innovation, commerce, and tourism where people engage directly with the ocean and Great Lakes.
Together, these sites demonstrate how healthy waters and thriving communities are inseparable — and why protecting them is essential.
What We Need
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (the Foundation), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, is seeking a part-time Education Specialist responsible for implementing K-12 education programs for Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (Monterey Bay NMS).
Specifically, the Education Specialist will support work that is part of the scope of a cooperative agreement between the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries focused on engaging the public with the 15 sanctuaries and 2 marine national monuments in the National Marine Sanctuary System.
Working collaboratively as part of a passionate, mission-focused team, the Education Specialist will support and lead K-12th grade in-person education programs at the Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz, as well as coordinate both in-classroom programming and field trips to the Center for K-12th grade schools in Salinas. The Education Specialist will also work to build partnerships with minority-serving community organizations, facilitate public programs throughout the community, and assist with special events at the Exploration Center. The position requires the performance of a highly independent professional who provides impactful educational and outreach programs and services to support the mission of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The ideal candidate for this position will be fluent in both English and Spanish, but bilingual skills are not required.
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is committed to a culture of inclusion, equity, and belonging. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We honor experiences, perspectives, and unique identities, and welcome the contributions that you can bring to the dedicated team. With a diverse team of employees, we can grow and learn better together and achieve our mission to protect the health of the ocean, coasts and Great Lakes for current and future generations.
What You’ll Do
The Education Specialist will lead education programs at the Exploration Center in Santa Cruz and will lead programming in Salinas schools focused on Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This position will build relationships with partners, teachers, and schools to ensure the public can better understand the value of protected areas like national marine sanctuaries and encourage exploration, discovery, and a connection to the wildlife and habitats of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The Education Specialist will:
Coordinate Learning Programs:
- Advertise available program offerings to teachers
- Coordinate with schools to deliver classroom presentations on marine topics to 5-10 classes in Salinas (mileage is reimbursed)
- Lead the Exploration Center’s field trip, in-class, and virtual programs when scheduled
- Maintain all program data and field trip supplies
Additional responsibilities at the Exploration Center:
- Assist with special events on site and within the community, which may occur on evenings or weekends
- Act as a floor lead and open and close Center operations as needed, including:
- Operating and troubleshooting computer equipment associated with exhibits
- Greeting visitors during open hours (including on weekends)
- Assist volunteers with day-to-day activities
- Assist with the training and mentoring of student program assistants
Who You Are
As an Education Specialist, you have a passion for sharing the marine environment and for education, and can implement engaging and interactive programs that bring the wonder and value of Monterey Bay and the entire National Marine Sanctuary System to life for your audience. You have a commitment to lifelong learning, a strong sense of initiative, and work well independently.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or proven equivalent experience in science, environmental science and environmental education (or combination)
- Experience in informal and/or formal education
- Confidence leading and speaking to groups of students, both in-person and over video-conferencing platforms
- Ability to work independently with a history of self-directed work
- Ability to take direction and demonstrate sound decision-making skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Familiarity with Google Drive applications
- Availability to work at least one weekend day and occasional evenings
- Reliable transportation to travel to classroom presentations (mileage reimbursement is included)
Preferred Qualifications:
- 2 or more years experience in informal and/or formal education
- Bi-lingual (English/Spanish)
- A sincere interest in, and commitment to, our mission
We anticipate that not every qualified candidate will have every requirement listed above. If you feel strongly about our mission and meet several of the above requirements we encourage you to apply.
Why You Will Love Us
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (“Foundation”) is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, working with communities to conserve and expand those special places for a healthy ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. The Foundation works in close partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to increase stewardship of our ocean and Great Lakes through on-the-water conservation projects, education and public outreach activities, and by support for research. Together, we safeguard species and the places they call home and support coastal communities and economies.
- Dedicated and passionate staff committed to marine and Great Lakes Conservation
- Preparing for the Future: 403(B) with employer contribution after one year of service
Compensation: $24.00 - $26.00/hour based on experience.
Apply through the Foundation’s online portal. A resume, cover letter, and three professional references are required. Applications must be received by June 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
Location: Santa Cruz, California
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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This commitment applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. The Foundation makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.