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Group Sales and Experiences Manager
Seattle Aquarium
Sales & Business Development
Seattle, WA, USA
USD 80k-84k / year
Posted on Feb 21, 2026
Job Posting
Group Sales and Experiences Manager
Department: Marketing, Communications & Experience
Reports to: Director of Guest Experience
Status: Full-time, hourly/non-exempt, benefited position
Hours of Work: Standard Monday–Friday workweek, 8am–5pm. Occasional need for weekend or after- hours work as related to funder needs, deadlines, events, and other projects.
Position Overview
The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for a Group Sales and Experiences Manager to build and lead a new program focused on growing daytime group visitation and launching new bookable experiences. In this role, you will develop and execute sales strategy, cultivate partnerships across Seattle’s tourism and travel trade, and strengthen the end-to-end group visit experience from initial inquiry through post-visit engagement.
You will also help bring new premium experiences to market, including behind-the-scenes and animal-related offerings, in close partnership with Animal Care, Conservation Engagement and Learning, and internal operations teams. This role is well suited for someone who is equal parts relationship builder, sales leader, and process owner, and who is energized by building something new. If you are a dynamic leader with a passion for sales, a talent for building relationships, and a commitment to creating meaningful guest experiences, we invite you to join the Seattle Aquarium in advancing our mission to Inspire Conservation of Our Marine Environment.
Purpose of Position
The Group Sales & Experiences Manager establishes the Seattle Aquarium’s group sales and bookable experiences program, with a focus on increasing visitation, growing net revenue, and delivering a high-quality group arrival and visit experience. This role owns the group sales pipeline and account development across core group segments (tour and travel, hotels/concierge, corporate and social groups, community and nonprofit organizations, and government and civic groups), while coordinating internally to ensure group visits and experiences are operationally smooth and aligned with Aquarium standards, values, guest experience goals, and safety, animal welfare, and operational requirements.
Essential Functions
Strategy and Revenue Growth
- Build and execute a group sales program that increases daytime visitation and revenue, supported by clear goals, sales strategies, and reporting.
- Develop group offerings beyond admission discounts, including, but not limited to, custom tours, group dining options, and daytime convening and celebration packages.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to launch bookable experiences such as behind-the-scenes tours and other premium offerings, ensuring animal welfare, biosecurity, safety, and regulatory considerations are central to development.
- Build and maintain relationships with Seattle tourism partners, including hotels and concierge teams, tour operators, travel agents, and travel trade organizations.
- Collaborate with Marketing and Communications on group sales collateral and outreach campaigns (sell sheets, emails, direct mail, and partner toolkits) to drive leads and bookings.
- Represent the Aquarium at relevant tourism events, sales missions, and trade shows, and translate market insights into sales actions and new offerings.
- Establish and manage a sales pipeline and client portfolio, including lead tracking, follow-up cadence, and retention strategy.
- Own high-value group relationships, including site visits and planning walkthroughs.
Financial and Operational Ownership
- Manage the group sales budget, including expense tracking, invoice processing, and coordination with Finance for reconciliation and troubleshooting.
- Maintain recurring reports and analysis on sales performance, including revenue, volume, conversion rates, and mix of business.
- Ensure accurate pricing, payment terms, and documentation for group orders.
- Collaborate with the Group Experience Coordinator to oversee the day-of group arrival experience by continuously improving standards for arrival timing, entry process, wayfinding, and staff coordination.
- Partner closely with Guest Services, Events, Facilities, Security, Animal Care, and Conservation Engagement and Learning to ensure a consistent and guest-ready experience.
Leadership and Team Management
- Lead the Group Experience team, setting high standards for service and work quality while mentoring and motivating team members to excel authentically.
- Foster a culture of recognition and appreciation by celebrating team contributions and aligning efforts with organizational values.
- Build and maintain respectful, communicative relationships across diverse teams and disciplines.
- Identify staffing and training needs, addressing skill gaps through development strategies and leading equity-centered hiring processes in collaboration with People & Culture.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and training initiatives to build a diverse, skilled team that embodies Aquarium values.
Mission Alignment and Continuous Learning
- Regularly update knowledge of exhibits, animals, and any pertinent information to support guest experiences and maintain accurate event information.
- Seek opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and bring unique and culturally diverse perspectives to improve systems and practices with the team.
- Actively participate in advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Regenerative practices aligned with our S.A.L.I.S.H. Values, ensuring these principles are woven into all interactions and event activities.
- Perform other duties as assigned, consistent with the position’s level and responsibilities.
- 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 S.A.L.I.S.H. Values.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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.
- Minimum of three years of experience in group sales, hospitality sales, attraction sales, events sales, tourism sales, or a related revenue role.
- Minimum three years of experience in a lead or supervisory role, showcasing proficiency in team management, scheduling, task delegation, and strong leadership skills.
- Demonstrated ability to build a sales pipeline, manage accounts, and close business with strong service instincts.
- Proven experience building partnerships and working across departments to deliver operationally complex experiences.
- Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to build repeatable processes and templates from scratch.
- Personal and professional experience in conflict resolution and de-escalation, with a focus on promoting the well-being of impacted individuals in a respectful and empathetic manner.
- Experience with budgeting, forecasting/reporting, and contract terms.
- Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (formerly Office) apps: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.
- Proficiency with ticketing, or event management platforms, such as ACME and Momentus, with a focus on optimizing operational efficiency.
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills, including verbal, written, and report-writing abilities. Multilingual and multicultural communication skills and experience are preferred.
Working Conditions:
- Most work is performed in a typical office setting with occasional to frequent interruptions.
- Frequently operate a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator and telephone.
- Move about the Aquarium campus, occasionally working in outdoor weather conditions, while seldom remaining stationary for long periods.
- Convey information both in constant one-on-one interactions and when presenting to diverse groups, including co-workers, the public, and individuals from various cultural backgrounds, ensuring consistency and effectiveness across all communication channels.
- Occasional early morning, evening, and weekend hours may be required for key group visits execution, experience launches, and occasional travel.
- We recognize that individuals may meet these requirements in different ways, and reasonable accommodations may be provided to support candidates in performing essential job functions.
Salary and benefits: $80,000 - $84,000/year Dependent on experience. Please include salary expectations in your application 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 team increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing excellent care and wellbeing for over 5,000 animals to create an inspiring visitor experience, offer 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 1 million people each year guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. Learn more at SeattleAquarium.org.