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Description
JOB POSTING
Summer Camp Operations Lead
Posted: Open to internal and external applicants
Reports to: Public Programs Coordinator
Status: Full-time, hourly, seasonal position from June 10 - September 6
Hours of work: Standard Monday-Friday workweek, 8am-5pm. Occasional need for after-hours work as related to events and other projects.
Date needed: June 10, 2024
Posting expires: Open until filled
Position description:
Seattle Aquarium's Marine Summer Camp is looking for Camp Operations Lead (Admin) to help carry out the daily procedures of camp while occasionally supporting camp staff with delivering activities and behavior management. The Camp Admin bridges the gap of communication between camp staff and other relevant entities including members of the School and Public Program staff, other departments in the Seattle Aquarium and even camper adults. The Admin will, if needed, will also act as a substitute Camp Lead or Camp Counsellor and work directly with all ages of campers while leading groups of up to 10 at a time.
Please see the attachment with our job posting on our website to learn more about Marine Science Summer Camp and the Camp Timeline for the Admin position.
The skills and abilities listed below may be demonstrated through a combination of relevant cultural and community programs, jobs, internships, volunteer experience, and/or formal or informal education. 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.
Key functions:
- Oversee daily program logistics, schedule-keeping, and problem-solving for the Marine Summer Camp program alongside other members of the camp administration team, which also includes the Public Programs Coordinator and the Senior Marine Science Educator for Public Programs. Responsible for daily program logistics, staff, camper, and family support including:
- Camp emergencies, such as injury.
- Assistance with camper behavioral issues.
- Helping with camper bathroom breaks and meal times.
- Supporting work breaks of camp staff and volunteers.
- Coordinate special experiences such as behind the scenes and field trips alongside other members of camp admin team, as well as other Aquarium staff instrumental to these experiences.
- Facilitating communication with camper parents and guardians in collaboration with the Public Programs Coordinator.
- Ensure the safety of all campers, as well as teen volunteers and other camp staff.
- Foster an inclusive, safe and productive learning environment and interact professionally with campers, their families, volunteers, and camp staff.
- Promote behavior conducive to a safe and fun camp environment among all participants and serve as a role model. When appropriate, encourage all campers to participate, observe, discover, and appreciate the marine environment while being respectful of their surroundings on and off site.
- Lead small groups of campers of up to 12 individuals, (ages vary from 4 to 14 years old) each week in activities such as marine science lessons; games; and exhibit and behind-the-scenes tours, short field trips along the Seattle Waterfront and day long trip to local beaches or other locations.
- Help greet families every day, sign in/out campers, make sure children are prepared for the day with all proper paperwork, lunch etc., and connect parents and guardians to the appropriate staff and program when applicable.
- Keep constant lines of communication open and active between the camp admin team, camp leads, camp counsellors and volunteers. Will need to be responsible for answering time-sensitive calls and messages from camp staff and determining how to respond. Familiarity with Seattle Aquarium Marine Summer Camp policies and protocols after a period of training will be required.
- Support the Camp Lead Counselors in behavioral, medical, and other issues that arise during camp in alignment with Seattle Aquarium marine Summer Camp protocols and procedures. This may be on both an ongoing and emergency basis to ensure the safety of campers and staff and the success of the camp program.
- Develops a successful plan for these issues and communicates them out to the relevant staff. Plan will be expected to be put in writing in order to make steps actionable and open to peer feedback.
- 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 S.A.L.I.S.H. Values.
Required skills and experience:
We will consider various combinations of relevant experience and education to meet minimum requirements.
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Minimum of one years of experience working with youth in a formal or informal education setting. Experience with the logistics of education programs, such as other camps, is a plus.
- A combination of education, work experience and lived experience that demonstrates an understanding of environmental education, wildlife conservation, marine sciences, recreation, educational pedagogy, learning psychology, and/or child development (similar to what could be acquired through a completed or ongoing degree or certification in education, biology, environmental science, or related fields).
Skills and abilities:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Preference for second language spoken/written proficiency.
- Commitment to teamwork and collaboration. Ability to work effectively both independently and as a team player.
- Leadership and organizational skills.
- Ability to make decisions in the moment in alignment with organizational policy.
- Previous experience working with audiences and peers of diverse backgrounds, as well as familiarity with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles. Models active and personal commitment to DEI education; solid understanding and proven literacy around DEI topics. Demonstrates an understanding of the Aquarium's Mission and Values, including Regenerative and Equity work.
- Keen interest in and ability to work with people of all ages, especially youth, and handle a variety of situations, including those that may be complicated or challenging, with grace, empathy, and tact.
- Some knowledge of and/or interest in marine science and conservation.
- Training in adult, child, and infant first aid and CPR/AED. Anaphylaxis and epinephrine auto-injector training. The Aquarium will be providing First Aid and CPR/AED training during camp training weeks. If not taking this training, Certification proof is required by the first day of camp. Red Cross online courses are not accepted.
- Familiarity with MS Office programs: Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, and other basic computer skills.
Working conditions:
- Heavy to moderate vocal demands to project talks and announcements and to direct an audience in loud areas.
- A high-paced, dynamic education environment.
- Attentiveness to children in a setting with varying noise levels.
- Frequent interruptions; walking, standing, sitting for extended periods of time while interacting with youth.
- Long periods of times indoors/outdoors during all kinds of conditions (rain or shine). Outdoor work may include uneven surfaces, being around bodies of water, and walking more than 100 meters at a time.
- Set hours/dates of work.
Salary and benefits:
$22.50 per hour. Seasonal staff are not eligible for benefits but accrue paid sick time and are paid an additional $0.75/hour to assist with transportation costs.
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 resume to our online application to be considered. Application review will begin immediately.
Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at .
Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer.
About the Seattle Aquarium:
The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world's one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing an inspiring visitor experience, engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more.
Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.
Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, we're among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 850,000 people each year. Guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we're working to substantially increase our conservation impact by expanding our campus with a new building, the Ocean Pavilion. Learn more at
Timeline:
We anticipate the following recruiting schedulefor those candidates who are selected for following dates are preliminary and subject to will work with candidates to set interview hired, relocation assistance is not available.
- Application deadline: Open until filled.
- Interviewscompleted by early May.
- Start date: June 10.
