Volunteer Learning & Development Specialist

Organization

Seattle Aquarium

Job Category

Job Type

Job Duration

Job Compensation Type

Remote

No

Contact Name

Seattle Aquarium People & Culture

Contact Email

jobs@seattleaquarium.org

Deadline to Apply

Location

Seattle, WA
United States

The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for a Volunteer Learning and Development Specialist to join the Conservation Engagement and Learning team. To support the Seattle Aquarium’s robust and rapidly growing volunteer program, the Volunteer Engagement department is leading the development of a new volunteer training and learning system. This position will be essential in designing and developing programmatic training content within this system and cultivating a culture of continued learning and growth among our volunteer community. Position is full-time, hourly $23.08 - $25.48 per hour ($48,000 - $53,000 annual equivalent) dependent on experience. Full-time benefits included.

Summary

Volunteer Learning & Development Specialist

 Posted:                   Open to internal and external applicants   

Reports to:             Volunteer Engagement Manager

Status:                   Full-time, hourly, benefitted position

Hours of work:       40 hours per week, with occasional overtime.   Schedule will require working at least one weekend day on a regular basis and an occasional second weekend day as training and other events require.  Occasional after-hours work as related to training and other events required.   This position works a hybrid schedule with 2-3 days onsite each week.  

Date needed:         ASAP

Posting expires:    Open until filled

 Position description:  

The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for a Volunteer Learning and Development Specialist to join the Conservation Engagement and Learning team.  To support the Seattle Aquarium’s robust and rapidly growing volunteer program, the Volunteer Engagement department is leading the development of a new volunteer training and learning system. This position will be essential in designing and developing programmatic training content within this system and cultivating a culture of continued learning and growth among our volunteer community.  

The Aquarium values the leadership of volunteers in ocean conservation at the Aquarium and in our communities, including communities of color, immigrants, LGBTQ2+, individuals with diverse abilities and other communities disproportionally impacted by environmental issues. We want our training and learning programs to value and reflect this respect and include diverse learning styles to better serve and engage all those who participate in it.

This position will work alongside the Volunteer Training Specialist and with departmental staff in co-developing training and learning opportunities to:

  • Serve a range of diverse learning styles and teaching approaches that reduce barriers in volunteer participation;
  • Retain underrepresented communities throughout our marine conservation programs;
  • Increase volunteer engagement and a sense of belonging with the organization;
  • Weave in multiculturally relevant education throughout the volunteers’ work. 

 Key functions: 

  • Co-design and develop training courses and associated content for online (and occasionally in-person) volunteer trainings in partnership with Aquarium staff to meet program outcomes.
  • Collaboratively create with volunteers and staff appropriate training aids and resources that meet the needs of volunteers in their roles. 
  • Co-create with Aquarium volunteer communities culturally relevant educational resources, anti-racist and anti-bias trainings, and other Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) related resources to improve the cultural environment and awareness of volunteers. 
  • Assist the Learning & Development Coordinator in evaluating the efficacy of trainings and learning opportunities to address areas of improvement.
  • Assist with day-to-day upkeep of training communications and volunteer participation records (e.g. tracking completions, annual recertifications) across multiple training projects.
  • Support ongoing communications and technical support with volunteers before, during and after trainings.
  • Proactively brainstorm and create new continued learning experiences for increased volunteer recruitment and retention.
  • Strive to understand the diversity of our volunteer audiences and implement strategies to prepare them to effectively and respectfully engage all the communities the Aquarium serves.  
  • 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.
  • Other duties as assigned.  

 Required skills and experience: 
We honor existing skills, knowledge, abilities and lived experience the candidates possess and incorporate those skills into the position.  The Volunteer engagement team will work with the successful candidate to support professional and career development.  

  • Some combination of a degree, certification and/or paid or unpaid experience working in informal and/or formal education settings, distance education, e-learning and/or adult education.
  • Demonstrated experience with training design, content development, and course implementation.
  • A strong interest in developing innovative and creative training and learning opportunities.
  • Demonstrated prioritization of diverse, inclusive and equitable practices to remove barriers for underrepresented communities interested in participating with volunteer programs. 
  • Proficiency in adjusting to shifting timelines in a fast-paced environment to successfully follow project timelines to completion.
  • Comfortable working both within small teams and individually on projects.
  • Effective written and oral communication skills and preference for Multilingual or English speakers with comfort and practice communicating across cultural and language barriers.  
  • Understands the multifaceted complexities of volunteerism within mission based nonprofit conservation organizations.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of the Aquarium’s Mission and Values, including Regenerative and Equity work.

 Working cCnditions:

  • Schedule will require working at least one weekend day on a regular basis, and an occasional second weekend day as training and other events require.   Occasional evening work is required for trainings and Aquarium events.  
  • Hybrid work environment, with a minimum of 2-3 days on site (more days on site may occasionally be required for trainings and events).  Onsite workdays will include one regular weekend day. 
  • Frequent time spent working at a computer, in an office environment. 
  • Able to move throughout the Aquarium to setup and lead trainings in exhibits and classrooms. 
  • Some exposure to elements as onsite employees are located in campus environment with multiple buildings, outdoor and semi covered areas. Staff move between Aquarium buildings and travel to external meetings in all types of weather. 

 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.  

 SeattleAquarium.org/careers 

 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: open until filled. 

  • Interviews completed in June 2023.
  • Start date: July 2023. 

Compensation Information

Salary and benefits: $23.08 - $25.48/hour ($48,000 - $53,000 annual equivalent) 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.