Ocean Job Board
578
Organizations
1,045
Jobs
Waterfront Engagement Coordinator
Seattle Aquarium
Posted on Oct 15, 2024
JOB POSTING
Waterfront Engagement Coordinator
Posted: Open to internal and external applicants
Reports to: School and Public Programs Manager
Status: Full-time, hourly, benefitted position
Hours of work: Tuesday – Saturday, 8am–5pm, occasional need for Sunday or after-hours work as related to events and other projects. This is a hybrid position, and some admin work can be done from home with supervisor approval.
Date needed: January 2024
Posting expires: When filled. Priority given to candidates who apply by October 28
Position description:
The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for a Waterfront Engagement Manager to join the Conservation Engagement and Learning (CEaL) team. A new and expanded Seattle waterfront will bring an estimated 15 million people from all walks of life to the Seattle Aquarium’s front door and provide an incredible opportunity to engage diverse communities and fulfill our mission of inspiring conservation of our marine environment. The Waterfront Engagement Coordinator is a new position created to center on building relationships, reaching new audiences, and creating public programs. As part of the CEaL department at the Seattle Aquarium, the Coordinator will build and deepen relationships with community, work with community to co-design programs, and oversee these programs that will take place in the public spaces along the downtown Seattle waterfront. This position will create programs that center messages about climate change, environmentally regenerative practices, and Indigenous knowledge. This position will be fully funded by a grant until August 31, 2026.
We are seeking a candidate who is enthusiastic about marine science education and committed to increasing access to conservation programs for diverse communities. The ideal candidate will bring strong networking and communication skills with experience in public engagement and working in community settings. You will work collaboratively with the team to oversee the creation of new programming, form lasting community connections, and ensure the success of the Aquarium’s long-term efforts to foster inclusive and impactful engagement that extends beyond the walls of the Seattle Aquarium.
The coordinator will work closely with the CEaL Department to ensure that programs are well-coordinated and run smoothly, while ensuring that equity and inclusion remain at the forefront of all efforts. This role is essential in removing barriers that prevent community members from engaging meaningfully with the Aquarium by fostering authentic, mutually beneficial relationships along the public waterfront. By building connections with diverse audiences, the coordinator will help create an accessible and welcoming environment that supports the Aquarium’s mission of inspiring conservation. This work is aligned with our Strategic Plan to make the Aquarium and its programs inclusive, seamless, and available to all.
If you’re passionate about community-centered environmental work, dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices, and excited to create transformative programming that connects diverse communities to marine conservation, we invite you to join us in this impactful role.
Key functions:
- Coordinate the daily operations of waterfront engagement surrounding the Seattle Aquarium with an emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility. Works with other CEaL staff to deliver authentic and effective public interaction and programming in line with Aquarium mission and values.
- Lead CEaL staff in co-creating waterfront engagement programs and events with marginalized communities, fostering relationships built on mutual respect, shared goals, and understanding of the communities’ cultural and environmental perspectives.
- Collaborate with the School & Public Programs (SPP) Manager to determine appropriate staffing levels and scheduling needs for waterfront engagement, with a focus on creating diverse, inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. Support equitable hiring and training practices that uplift underrepresented voices. This includes supporting department hiring and training, as needed.
- In coordination with People & Culture and the SPP Manager, supervise, mentor, train, and evaluate staff & volunteers essential to the operation of waterfront engagement. Ensure direct reports are well trained, feel supported, and aligned with the Aquarium’s S.A.L.I.S.H. and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) values.
- Oversee the creation and implementation of new and revised waterfront engagement programming in conjunction with SPP staff. This includes both formal programs at scheduled events and informal public interactions along the busy Seattle Waterfront. Also includes working with the team to acquire and design program materials in line with evaluation-supported programming goals.
- In collaboration with the SPP Manager, provide additional support to waterfront programming and events, including promotional events, performances, summer camps, and school events.
- Collaborate with the Principal Evaluator to ensure that all programs are evaluated using community-centered feedback loops that help shape more equitable and impactful engagement with the public. Use this data to inform future programming decisions and improvements.
- In collaboration with the Philanthropy team and the Grants and Admin Specialist, write grant proposals, keep grant activities on track, monitor grant budgets, and submit reports to funders per grant guidelines.
- Promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Regenerative Practices across all levels of engagement. Work alongside staff and volunteers to integrate these values into every aspect of waterfront engagement, ensuring that the Aquarium is a space where all feel welcome and respected.
- Responsibly manage a program budget, including overseeing purchases through the use of Aquarium funds and accounts. Work with team members to acquire materials necessary for programming.
- Contribute to a working environment that is authentic, innovative, and collaborative.
- Keep familiar with current research, best practices, and inclusive techniques for the improvement of Aquarium programming and work culture.
- Collaborate with internal teams to support culturally relevant engagement events like Dream Night, Salmon Homecoming, and Community Days, ensuring equitable access and meaningful community engagement.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required skills and experience:
The skills and abilities listed below may be demonstrated through a combination of relevant cultural and community programs, jobs, internships, volunteer experience, and/or formal or informal education. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.
- Requires a combination of education and work experience that demonstrates an understanding of community engagement, social advocacy, environmental education, wildlife conservation, marine sciences, learning psychology, and/or child development (this can come from formal and informal education, related field work, or from equivalent work experience).
- Experience working with community organizations, non-profits, tribal entities, governmental agencies, and/or zoos, aquariums, or museums, with at least 2 years in a professional role.
- A combination of education and work experience that demonstrates an ability to develop and refine education programs using an equity lens to ensure accessibility and inclusion for diverse audiences.
- Work experience hiring, training, evaluating, coaching/mentoring, and managing performance while creating a culture of accountability and excellence for staff and self, such as the equivalent of 2 years’ experience in a role directly supporting staff or volunteers.
- A strong interest and experience—whether educational, professional, or lived—in marine science, environmental science, conservation, environmental justice, or related fields.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the Aquarium’s Mission and Values, including Regenerative and Equity work. Models active and personal commitment to DEI education; solid understanding and proven literacy around DEI topics.
- Preference for candidates with experience working with historically marginalized community groups, either professionally or through lived experience.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Preference for Multilingual and English speakers with comfort and practice communicating across cultural and language barriers.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office software applications, including Outlook and Teams.
- Comfort presenting in front a variety of audiences (i.e. professional peers, school groups, donors, community leaders, etc.).
- Build positive, supportive relationships with volunteers and guests of all ages, modeling inclusivity, patience, and empathy. Be prepared to teach, mentor, and handle challenging situations with grace and a sense of humor, fostering a welcoming and respectful environment for all.
- First aid and CPR certifications required (can be certified after date of hire through Aquarium-supported training).
Working conditions:
- Heavy to moderate vocal demands to project talks and announcements and to direct an audience in loud areas. Personal electronic speakers are available to help to amplify voices, as needed.
- Frequent interruptions; moving, standing, sitting for extended periods of time.
- Requires duties to be carried out in offices, exhibits, classrooms, outdoor field sites and local travel.
- Job requires working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and terrain, especially along the Seattle Waterfront.
- There is some ability to work on a hybrid basis, with some work being done at home on admin days. However, this role is expected to be at the Aquarium for programming and staff support, as determined by their supervisor.
- Flexible schedule and ability to work evenings, holidays and weekends.
Salary and benefits: $29 - $33 per hour, dependent on experience. Please include salary 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 dependent care flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, 403b retirement fund with employer match, access to a subsidized ORCA pass, a Seattle Aquarium Family Plus membership and generous paid time off.
How to apply: The Seattle Aquarium is committed to expanding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We are invested in building an Aquarium with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, languages, cultural ways of knowing, and life experiences. We know research shows that society has conditioned communities of color, trans and gender non-conforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized candidates to more frequently not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed even if they are qualified. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.
Interested candidates should upload a résumé to our online application to be considered. Application review will begin immediately.
Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at jobs@seattleaquarium.org.
Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer.
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.
Timeline:
We anticipate the following recruiting schedule for those candidates who are selected for consideration. The following dates are preliminary and subject to change. We will work with candidates to set interview dates. If hired, relocation assistance is not available.
- Application deadline: Late November 2024
- Priority given to applications received by October 28
- Interviews completed by early December 2024.
- Start date: January 2025.