Position Title: Marine Mammal Intern, Spring 2025
Department: Animal Care and Conservation
Classification: Internship, Unpaid
Reports To: Curator of Marine Mammals
Internship Dates: January 6, 2025 - May 3, 2025
POSITION SUMMARY
- This position requires a highly motivated individual who will take direction from the Curator, Managers, and Marine Mammal Staff in assisting with the animal care routine and maintenance for the dolphin and otter areas. As an intern, you can expect to get hands-on 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, and teamwork. The position will also be responsible for adhering to all aquarium safety protocols, standard operating procedures, and Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA) and Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation standards. 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 marine mammal internships
- Applicants should consider themselves hardworking, dedicated, and reliable
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Ability to work full-time, 5 days per week, for 17 weeks
- Ability to perform physically demanding job duties on a daily basis
- 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 volunteer 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 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.
