Lead Marine Science Interpretive Diver

Posted:                     Open to internal and external applicants   

Reports to:               Visitor Engagement Manager

Status:                      Full-time, hourly, benefitted position

Hours of work:       Standard Tuesday–Saturday workweek, 8am–5pm. Occasional need for after-hours work as related to events and other projects.   This position works onsite four days per week and may work one day from home.  

Date needed:         ASAP

Posting expires:    Open until filled.

Key Functions: 

• Anticipate needs of visitors and volunteers, addressing barriers to participation for BIPOC, LGBTQ and disability communities in an effort to create an inclusive community.  Maintain an awareness of self, co-workers, volunteers, and guests in order to help and enhance our guests’ experience.  
• Supervise interpretive volunteers, including creating engaging daily updates, new volunteer training and co-facilitating continued education opportunities. 
• Prepare and deliver formal interpretive talks, dive presentations and hands-on activities to visitors and school/tour groups; adapt communication style to meet guests’ varying needs and interests.   This includes interacting with guests at interpretation carts.  
• As part of the VE team, coordinate and communicate openly with coworkers from all Aquarium departments, contribute to maintenance and organization of supplies, props, and exhibits, and participate in regular meetings & program focus groups as needed.
• 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 SALISH Values. 
• Maintain flexibility and ability to cover shifts and assignments for others when they are out unexpectedly. 

Diving Responsibilities and Requirements:  

Scientific Diver - This scientific diving classification allows for participation in surface-supplied and open-circuit diving as a diver or dive tender within Seattle Aquarium exhibits and in the field.

To qualify for evaluation as a Seattle Aquarium diver, candidates must meet the following general criteria:

• Possess a scuba certification to the level of rescue diver (or equivalent) from a nationally recognized certification agency.
• Possess a recent (less than 12 months) approval for recreational scuba diving signed by a physician (MD or DO).
• Successfully pass an AAUS watermanship requirements swim test.
• Pass a Seattle Aquarium scuba skills evaluation dive.

In addition, the new staff diver candidate must complete and pass the following aquarium diver physical exam, training classes and deadlines:

• Pass a Seattle Aquarium occupational diving physical exam.
• Complete emergency oxygen provider training within six months of hire.
• Complete staff exhibit diver training and evaluation within six months of hire.
• Attain scientific diver level of diver training and evaluation within one year of hire.

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.  

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 by early October 2023.
• Start date: Within three weeks of offer, ideally.