Position Title: Marine Mammal Intern
Department: Animal
Care and Conservation
Classification: Volunteer, Unpaid
Reports To: Curator of Marine Mammals, Training
& Animal Interactive Programs
Internship Dates: August 31st, 2026 – December 20th, 2026
POSITION SUMMARY
This position requires a highly motivated individual who
will take direction from the Curator, Supervisor, and Marine Mammal Staff in
assisting with the animal care routine and maintenance for the Atlantic
bottlenose dolphin and north American river otter areas. As an intern, you can
expect to get experience in the daily care of our Atlantic bottlenose dolphins
and north American river otters and learn what it takes to be a marine mammal
trainer. Throughout the internship, interns will learn various tasks required
for the daily operation of a marine mammal facility; gain practical training
experience by working closely with staff during training and enrichment
sessions; and develop skills in time management, communication, public
speaking, and teamwork. The position will also be responsible for adhering to
all aquarium safety protocols and standard operating procedures. The goal is to
help interns succeed professionally in any chosen field.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assists marine mammal staff in the overall daily care of the
dolphins and otters
- Performs proper animal diet preparation
- Keeps support areas clean, organized, and safe
- Completes educational animal training lecture series
- Builds knowledge of operant conditioning and aids staff in
behavioral training of the dolphins and otters
- Designs, implements, and evaluates environmental enrichment
under guidance of staff
- Supports interactive programs and educational presentations
through formal and informal public speaking opportunities
- Ensures guest satisfaction by delivering exceptional
customer service
- Complies with all standard operating procedures (SOPs)
pertaining to daily operations and safety
- Promotes conservation, animal welfare, and good stewardship
in daily tasks
- Undertakes special projects as assigned by manager(s)
QUALIFICATIONS
- 18 years of age or older
- Enrolled in or recent graduate of a four-year college
program in psychology, biology, marine biology or another related field
- Previous animal care experience, such as volunteering at an
animal shelter or completing other internships is preferred
- Applicants should consider themselves hardworking,
dedicated, and reliable
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Ability to work full-time, 4 days per week, for 16 weeks
- Ability to perform physically demanding job duties daily
- Daily interaction with fellow team members and the public
- Excellent observation and communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills and ethics that sustain a
positive and professional environment
- A valid driver’s license and ability to travel to and from
work
- Ability to work weekends, holidays, and days closed due to
inclement weather
- Ability to find and secure housing for the duration of the
internship
- Valid CPR and first aid certification preferred
- Strong swimming skills preferred
- Public speaking experience preferred
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive
listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the
intern for this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change
at any time with or without notice.
TEAM REQUIREMENTS
- Safety & Security - All Team Members are required to
adhere to all Mississippi Aquarium safety and security standards.
- Attendance & Appearance - To maximize the guest’s
experience, all Team Members are required to adhere to Mississippi Aquarium
standard operating procedures regarding attendance and dress code policies as
it relates to individual job functionality. Tattoos and piercings must be
appropriate and in keeping with a professional image. Depending on the work
area, management reserves the right to determine that tattoos will need to be
covered during your shift.
- Sales & Guest Services - Our forward-thinking business
model requires listening to and understanding the needs of our guests both
internal and external. To that end, we must always be focused on the guest experience
which is the key driver for return guest visitation and increased sales.
- Team Partnership - All Team Members are focused on
supporting each other to complete the guest experience. Therefore, supporting,
facilitating, and participating in activities that promote team effectiveness
is vital to our organization.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands and work environment described here are
representative of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform
the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While
performing the duties of this job, the intern is occasionally required to
stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or
controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel,
crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The intern must occasionally
lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the
position include close vision, distance vision, color and peripheral vision,
depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties
of this position, the intern is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the
time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
