Interpretation Coordinator - Education

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Collaborate across the Interpretation Team to create, review, and maintain resources for interpretation programs, including training and staff support. 
• Collaborate on the development and maintenance of protocols, training procedures, and evaluation for education interpretation programs.  
• Receive, reflect upon, and apply feedback from colleagues, leading to improved interpretation and coaching performance.
• Commit to ongoing dialog on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and consider how department practices can grow and change to promote equitable and inclusive experiences for staff and guests.
• Provide effective training and coaching for interpretive staff.
• Establish and maintain positive, cooperative, and effective working relations with volunteers and employees. This includes facilitating communication and resolution between employees and volunteers.
• Support the Volunteer Supervisor in the recruitment and selection of education volunteer applicants.
• Support the maintenance of education volunteer records such as training, logging service hours, and volunteer status changes. 
• Collaborate and communicate internally and externally in a courteous and tactful manner to create a team atmosphere and set a leadership example, following Aquarium policies and procedures.
• Support daily staff scheduling in collaboration with the interpretation team.
• Participate in Education and Aquarium-wide staff meetings, training, and professional development to stay current on department goals, ocean science, trends in education, and Aquarium business.
• Additional responsibilities may be delegated due to the culture of the aquarium.
• Collaborate across the Interpretation Team to create, review, and maintain resources for interpretation programs, including training and staff support. 
• Collaborate on the development and maintenance of protocols, training procedures, and evaluation for education interpretation programs.  
• Receive, reflect upon, and apply feedback from colleagues, leading to improved interpretation and coaching performance.
• Commit to ongoing dialog on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and consider how department practices can grow and change to promote equitable and inclusive experiences for staff and guests.
• Provide effective training and coaching for interpretive staff.
• Establish and maintain positive, cooperative, and effective working relations with volunteers and employees. This includes facilitating communication and resolution between employees and volunteers.
• Support the Volunteer Supervisor in the recruitment and selection of education volunteer applicants.
• Support the maintenance of education volunteer records such as training, logging service hours, and volunteer status changes. 
• Collaborate and communicate internally and externally in a courteous and tactful manner to create a team atmosphere and set a leadership example, following Aquarium policies and procedures.
• Support daily staff scheduling in collaboration with the interpretation team.
• Participate in Education and Aquarium-wide staff meetings, training, and professional development to stay current on department goals, ocean science, trends in education, and Aquarium business.
• Additional responsibilities may be delegated due to the culture of the aquarium.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Must be able to effectively interact with a diverse and broad range of individuals.
• Experience leading teams, including training, coaching, and providing feedback.
• Experience communicating science in an informal and/or formal setting.
• Excellent internal and external customer service.
• Able to work well with others in a team atmosphere.
• Superior interpersonal, presentation, and writing skills. Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of staff both paid and volunteer.
• Experience with training and/or coaching is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to focus on projects in a shared workspace with frequent interruptions.
• Word processing, computer skills, and experience with database management.
• Experience teaching online using Zoom, Google Classroom, Canvas, or a related learning management system.
• Prior experience with a volunteer database is a plus

QUALIFICATIONS

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
• Minimum of two years of experience with interpretation or teaching in a formal and/or informal setting.
• Demonstrated ability to reflect on and improve upon job performance.
• Bachelor’s degree in biology or related field preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered.
• Valid California driver’s license or the eligibility to attain one.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for long periods of time.
• Ability to balance, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist. 
• Ability to lift and carry up to 0-50lbs.
• Ability to pull and push up to 0-50lbs. 
• Ability to work at a variety of heights.
• Full functional range of motion in all major body joints from reaching, twisting, bending, simple and power gripping, fine and gross motor skills.

MENTAL DEMANDS

The mental and emotional demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Excellent conflict resolution skills to address issues and maintain positive relationships.
• Resilience and ability to maintain composure and handle difficult situations with professionalism in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills to analyze issues and find effective solutions.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work efficiently under pressure.
• Flexibility and adaptability to handle changes in schedules or responsibilities.
• Critical thinking and decision-making abilities to handle complex situations.
• Empathy and emotional intelligence to understand and respond to the needs of colleagues or customers.
• Ability to cope with occasional illness, injury, or loss of animals. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Aquarium galleries, classrooms, theater, and informal learning environments
• Outside environments in varying weather conditions
• Offsite, at school and community events.
• Offsite, onboard a mid-sized ocean vessel in an open ocean environment.
• Exposure to various temperatures, humidity, and/or wetness.
• Wet, dirty, and uneven surfaces and walkways.
• Exposure to confined spaces.
• In occasional contact with animals, including birds, invertebrates, and sharks.