Position Summary
Informal Educators facilitate opportunities of discovery and understanding about the world around us. This position acts as the bridge to connect guests with animals through meaningful, inspiring experiences. This position MUST have a passion for hospitality, be energetic, self-motivated, and have excellent public speaking skills. Informal Educators lead groups of all sizes through a variety of programming, provide presentations on microphone, and manage crowd control. Qualified candidates are eager to learn, and enthusiastic about teaching guests of all ages and diverse backgrounds. This position must be comfortable working in outdoor conditions including extreme heat, rain, and wind as well as work weekends and holidays. Informal educators will work closely with other members of the Guest Experience & Education team and provide support for all areas of Mississippi Aquarium.
Responsibilities
- Engage guests and monitor stations on campus during operating hours, while teaching them about the animals, conservation, and mission of the Aquarium.
- Perform professional, knowledgeable, and engaging presentations via microphone.
- Facilitate and lead tours, encounters, sleepovers, and other programming.
- Respond to guests, and answer questions in a positive and courteous manner. Be proactive in resolving matters that arise.
- Deliver superior customer service and hospitable experiences that exceed MSAQ’s standard of excellence.
- Help maintain aquarium grounds and exhibits, identify any areas that need attention.
- Follow and enforce guest policies and safety protocols.
- Attend all relevant meetings and trainings.
- Assist managers with guest-related items and utilize excellent customer service and innovation to address challenges.
- Work in a collaborative team environment, cross-train and support all other Guest Experience areas with projects, planning, and training.
- Train for and handle ambassador animals for educational experiences.
- Work weekends, evenings, holidays, and overnights when necessary.
Qualifications
- Minimum Associate’s degree in education, science, or related field.
- Strong verbal and writing skills.
- Knowledge of current practices in conservation, scientific research, and environmental education practices.
- Able to work in adverse weather conditions including extreme heat, wind, and rain.
- Strong public speaking skills and comfortable around small and large groups of different ages.
- Strong desire to work with people.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Products.
Other Personal Attributes Include
- Consistently looking forward, focused, ready to listen.
- A heart for service, always willing to provide support to fellow team members.
- Must be able to communicate needs and issues effectively.
- Highly organized self-starter maintaining high standards.
- Have an awareness and interest in the conservation of aquatic environments and their inhabitants.
- Innovative, creative thinker; not afraid to propose something new and inspire others to do the same.
- Proactive in finding solutions, productive, and efficient.
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.
- 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 employee 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 employee 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 employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
