JOB POSTING

Youth Engagement Mentor I (seasonal)

Posted: Open to internal and external applicants

Reports to: Youth Engagement Coordinator

Status: Part-time, hourly, seasonal position; this position will work through early September 2024. Position will average 30 hours per week.

Hours of work: Saturday and Sunday and one weekday. Hours fall between 8:30am-6pm. Some evenings will be required for training, projects and events.

Onsite 3-4 days per week, including typically being onsite Saturday and Sunday.

Date needed: June 15, 2024

Posting expires: Open until filled

Position description:

The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for two seasonal youth engagement mentors to join the conservation engagement and learning team. This position works with the youth engagement team to implement the Youth Ocean Advocates volunteer program for high-school-age youth in a manner that is both beneficial to the youth participating in the program and to the Aquarium's mission. Youth Engagement Mentors (YEM's) assist in stewarding a suite of service-based programs for high school and middle school aged youth including the Youth Ocean Advocates (YOA) volunteer program, Marine Science Club, Youth Ocean Conservation Summit (YOCS), and additional youth learning and service opportunities.

These programs value the diverse young people of our region, including members of the BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and disability community, as present and future partners and leaders in ocean conservation. The youth engagement mentor is responsible for the implementation of program activities, including supervising and supporting youth volunteers in their interpretation shifts, and assisting in offsite program activities including field conservation activities and field trips. This position is an active participant in our ongoing work to improve the program, particularly our focus on developing a program which is welcoming to all youth and respectful and appreciative of our community's diversity.

To read a full job description and to apply visit our website at www.seattleaquarium.org/careers.

Key functions:

1. Be an encouraging, supportive and motivating role model for youth as they serve in mutually beneficial volunteer roles supporting the Aquarium's mission. Recognize youth volunteers' interests, strengths and growth opportunities and support their exploration and development as they pursue their varied interests as they relate to the Aquarium's mission. This includes, but is not limited to, marine science, biology, sustainability,

conservation, environmental justice, science communication, community service, community engagement and more. Supervise youth volunteers as they complete their volunteer assignments. Mentor and coach youth to improve the quality of their work, interpretation and customer service.

1. Supervise youth volunteers as they complete their volunteer assignments. Mentor and coach youth to improve the quality of their work, interpretation and customer service.
2. Anticipate and respond to the needs of youth volunteers, addressing barriers to participation for the BIPOC, LGBTQ and disability communities and create an inclusive community. Help youth in their journey by serving as a trusted resource and encouraging youth to persue passions and interest while connecting them with resources.
3. Ensure the continuing education of youth volunteers by developing and implementing short (30-minute) lessons or "enrichments" on a variety of topics topics, including Aquarium species, ocean science, interpretation and conservation.
4. Implement and supervise field experiences for Youth Ocean Advocates, including beach cleanups, restoration work, citizen science, field trips, etc.
5. Chaperone youth volunteers participating in off-site field trips.
6. Work closely with the youth engagement team to improve existing programming, including removing barriers to program participation for individuals from underrepresented communities and building a positive, welcoming and inclusive culture that is respectful of our diverse community.
7. Communicate frequently with youth volunteers and other stakeholders via email, phone, social media, and in person
8. 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.
9. Complete special projects and other duties as assigned.
10. Interact positively with Aquarium visitors and provide excellent customer service to all stakeholders.
11. Opportunity to grow teaching skills if desired, including modifying and updating curriculum.

Skills, abilities and other requirements:

• Ability to mentor youth utilizing positive youth development principles and practices focusing on the strengths and opportunities associated with high-school-aged youth.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the Aquarium's Mission and Values, including Regenerative and Equity work.
• Experience delivering formal presentations and developing learning materials including powerpoint presentations, handouts, and digital media.
• Experience using software programs for communication and record keeping, including Zoom, Microsoft Office and Teams.
• Enthusiasm for and skills in networking, developing relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and building strong ties with the youth-serving community.
• Proven ability to work effectively with people from a wide array of cultures and communities.
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental justice and desire to serve communities that are disproportionally affected by environmental degradation.
• Ability to solve problems, be flexible and work successfully without close supervision.
• Ability to handle a variety of situations that may arise with grace, empathy, and a sense of humor.
• Preference for Multilingual or English speakers with comfort and practice communicating across cultural and language barriers.

Required experience:
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.

• Work or volunteer experience educating youth about the environment, conservation, or related topics.
• Knowledge of marine life, conservation, and related topics through any combination of volunteer, work, or school experience.
• Washington state driver's license (or eligibility to obtain one upon arrival). Comfort driving Aquarium vehicles, including a 15-passenger van.
• Adult, child, and baby first aid and CPR/AED training and certification required within 30 days of employment.

Working conditions:

• Able to move through the Aquarium for up to two hours at a time.
• Be able to lift 30 lbs, assisted or unassisted.
• Be comfortable using a computer for up to 4 hours
• Requires duties to be carried out in offices, exhibits, classrooms and outdoor field excursions
• Job requires occasionally working outdoors in all weather conditions and terrain.
• Flexible schedule and ability to work evenings, holidays and weekends

Salary and benefits:

$21.25 - $22.25 per hour.[RG1] Depending on experience. Temporary 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.

SeattleAquarium.org/careers

Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at jobs@seattleaquarium.org.

Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check and motor vehicle records check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer. Regarding driving records: Within the last three years, you must not have had more than two moving traffic violations or any major violation (DUI, reckless driving, negligent driving, etc.).

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 SeattleAquarium.org.

Timeline:

We anticipate the following recruiting schedulefor those candidates who are selected for consideration.The following dates are preliminary and subject to change.We will work with candidates to set interview dates.If hired, relocation assistance is not available.

• Application deadline: Open until filled.
• Interviewscompleted by in May 2024.
• Start date: Mid-June 2024.