I. Position Summary
The Manager of Education & Volunteer Programs is a supervisory position that is instrumental in the delivery of education and content for Mississippi Aquarium. This position plays a critical role in the oversight of all field trips, summer camps, outreach, and networking at a local, state, and national level. The Manager of Education must be self-motivated, results driven, and willing to work in a team environment. This position also oversees Mississippi Aquarium’s Volunteer Programs, which requires initiative, creativity, and strength in coordinating multi-faceted services throughout the entire organization. This position works closely with other members of the Guest Experience team and across all departments for MSAQ.
II. Responsibilities:
- Oversee the success of Mississippi Aquarium’s Education Department; areas include all education programming, content and exhibit graphics support, outreach, networking, and guest experience support
- Hire, train and manage a seasonal team of camp counselors, and a small but mighty permanent crew. Empower a love for learning for all team members and guests
- Consistently seek ways to drive sales and bring revenue success to the education department
- Manage the success of MSAQ’s Strategic Assessment Plan (SAP)
- Serve as a spokesperson for MSAQ
- Develop innovative field trip programs for all ages, include assessment strategies to evaluate student success and best practices
- Create and implement innovative hands-on camp programs
- Oversee the success of Mississippi Aquarium’s volunteer program; areas of volunteer service include adult (18+), family, higher education, docent, special needs, teens, and group opportunities.
- Provide excellent communication to all volunteers including Aquarium updates, training and learning opportunities, appreciation initiatives, recruitment needs for specific shifts, etc.
- Work closely with Animal Care to handle ambassador animals for programs; must follow strict protocols and guidelines
- Network and support the community.
- Utilize MSAQ’s volunteer management platform and database, Volgistics.
- Perfect the recruitment and onboarding process for new volunteers.
- Maintain accurate records for volunteers and provide appropriate reporting and evaluation for long-term strategic growth and planning.
- Consistently review, discuss and propose steps to increase recruitment.
- Fill in and help manage daily operational needs when necessary
- Work weekends, evenings, and overnights when necessary
- Work in a collaborative team environment, cross-train and support all other Guest Experience areas with projects, planning, and training
III. Qualifications:
- Minimum 3-5 years supervising a team in an informal education role
- Minimum 4-year bachelor’s degree in education or related field
- Strong background in developing and teaching STEAM-based curriculum
- Certification with the National Association for Interpretation is preferred
- Must have strong verbal and writing skills
- 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
- Make important and tough decisions with resilience and grace
- Communicate a strategy well, oversee execution, and celebrate results
- 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.
