JOB POSTING

Volunteer Engagement Specialist

Posted: Open to internal and external applicants

Reports to : Volunteer engagement manager

Status: Full-time, hourly, benefitted position

Hours of work: Tuesday through Saturday schedule; 8 hour shifts. Occasional need for an additional weekend day or after-hours work related to events and other projects.

Date needed: April 2024

Posting expires: When filled

Position description:

The Seattle Aquarium is looking for a volunteer engagement specialist to join the volunteer engagement team. The specialist supports Seattle Aquarium volunteers by creating an inclusive and well-organized volunteer experience. The Specialist is vital to clear and consistent communication with volunteers, coordinating schedules, calls, emails, accommodations, databases, and managing the overall administrative functions of the volunteer engagement team.

The specialist will collaborate with a diverse and passionate Volunteer Engagement Team and staff throughout the Aquarium to ensure that the needs of volunteers and our various audiences are met. The successful candidate will be viewed as a trusted supporter and advocate for volunteer service in support of the Aquarium’s mission. In addition to leading administrative and communications functions, the specialist will support training and learning opportunities to improve the experience and impact of our volunteers.

Key functions:

Communication:

• Support a growing community of volunteers engaged in programmatic, administrative and husbandry tasks, striving for excellence in customer service in a manner consistent with the Aquarium’s S.A.L.I.S.H. values and policies, incorporating equitable practices in our volunteer program in collaboration with the Volunteer Engagement team.
• Serve as the initial point of contact for inquiries from the public about the volunteer program at the Seattle Aquarium.
• Communicate frequently with volunteers in person, by phone and email regarding their needs, volunteer opportunities and policy questions.
• Seek information on behalf of volunteers, navigating the Aquarium’s systems and policies. Build resources for improved inclusivity, accessibility and accommodations.
• Communicate daily in English via written and verbal communication. We have a preference for multilingual applicants or English speakers with comfort and practice communication across cultural and language barriers.

Administration and Logistics:

• Responsible for volunteer program administrative tasks including: data entry, parking and transportation reimbursement, volunteer evaluations, years/hours of service recognition, paperwork renewals, filing, background checks and more. Maintains the volunteer database and hard copy files in a confidential manner. Support the volunteer cycle for internal adult volunteers, including outreach, recruitment, orientation, interviewing, selection, placement, training and uniforms, scheduling, performance evaluation, recognition and off-boarding activities. Works closely with the volunteer engagement coordinator to communicate with prospective volunteers, and provide recordkeeping and scheduling coordination, among other tasks.
• Coordinates the shift-scheduling functions in the volunteer database (Better Impact) for volunteers roles, including sharing volunteer opportunities, supporting scheduling functions, and attendance tracking.
• Serve as an on-site resource, managing paperwork and communicating with volunteers before, during and after volunteer training.
• Organize, clean and restock volunteer resources spaces on a weekly basis, manage inventory of uniform items, access badges, nametags and additional resources utilized by volunteers and aquarium staff.

Engagement and Partnerships

• Represent the volunteer office at various Aquarium events, programs, special projects, etc., oversee and support for volunteers in these functions.
• Support outreach to prospective partners, including corporations, governments, tribes, nonprofits, and schools regarding volunteer opportunities.
• Perform other related duties of a comparable level/type assigned.

Required skills and experience:

We will consider various combinations of relevant experience and education to meet minimum requirements.

• Model an active and personal commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and solid understanding and proven literacy around DEI topics.
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and customer service skills.
• Consistently and proactively communicate, track and organize complex schedules and tasks.
• Database and file maintenance and organization
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to accomplish tasks
• Demonstrates an understanding of the Aquarium’s Mission and Values, including Regenerative and Equity work .
• Proficient in English written and verbal communication skills. A preference for multilingual or English speakers with comfort and practice communicating across cultural and language barriers.
• Proficiency in MS office software applications and experience utilizing databases for recordkeeping.
• Comfort using email and phone for frequent communication.

Working conditions:

• Majority of work is performed in a typical office setting, with some duties taking place in meeting rooms, classrooms and exhibit spaces.
• Must be able to speak in front of groups including guests.
• Must be able to work at a computer, typing for extended periods of time.
• Flexible schedule and ability to work evenings, holidays and weekends in support of volunteer training, events and projects.

Salary and benefits: $21.33 - $24.40 hourly Dependent on experience. Please include salary expectations in your materials. Full-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium’s comprehensive benefits package to include medical, vision, dental, an employer-funded health reimbursement account, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, 403b retirement fund with employer match, access to a subsidized ORCA pass, a Seattle Aquarium Family Plus membership and generous paid time off.

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 résumé 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. 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 SeattleAquarium.org .

Timeline:

We anticipate the following recruiting schedule for 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.

• Priority given to applications received the first 2 weeks after posting
• Start date: April 2024