Nya Visitor Engagement Associate

Title:     NYA Visitor Engagement Associate
Location:             New York Aquarium
Department:      Education
Reports to:         Manager of Live Interpretation
Type:                     Temporary/Seasonal
Pay rate:              $17-$20 per hour
Schedule:            Mid/late June - December 2024; Fluctuates by season; applicants must be able to commit to a schedule that includes both weekday and weekend shifts, with a minimum of 3-4 days a week in the summer; holiday availability is required. Weekday shifts for HS students available only during the summer.
POSITION SUMMARY
You will work part-time for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) as a valued team member of the Education Department at the New York Aquarium and report to the Manager of Volunteers & Visitor Engagement. You will reach thousands of visitors by leading experiences and talks in some of our indoor and outdoor exhibits, which include Ocean Wonders: Sharks (OWS), Sea Cliffs/Sea Change, and PlayQuarium at the New York Aquarium. You will also assist with messaging around special events and art installations onsite.
Within these exhibits, Visitor Engagement Associates will have the exciting opportunity to speak with guests (both in small and large groups) about science concepts, our animals, and WCS conservation programs. This role facilitates our indoor touch pool within the PlayQuarium exhibit. Your primary role will include the handling of marine invertebrates, helping our guests engage with living marine invertebrates, and sharing information about these animals with our guests. This role allows for some hands-on animal experience, and interaction with our Animal and Education Departments. This is a great opportunity for those interested in exciting the public about science and conservation, as well as those seeking hands-on experience in informal environmental education, live interpretation, public speaking and museum studies.
WHO WE ARE
WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve this, we harness the power of our Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations, in all the world's oceans, and our five wildlife parks in New York City - Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and New York Aquarium - visited by 4 million people annually. We combine our expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve our conservation mission.
The WCS Education Department works across our Zoos & Aquarium. We inspire a diverse and inclusive movement of conservation advocates by sparking connections with animals and nature, improving scientific literacy through hands-on investigation, and engaging constituents in stewardship and action to conserve wildlife and wild places.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
 

• Staff, manage guest experience and facilitate safe animal encounters at the touch pool inside the PlayQuarium exhibit.
• Provide a consistently high level of engagement throughout a guest's interactive experience.
• Handle marine invertebrates from the touch pool.
• Monitor touch pool animals and work with the animal keepers to ensure their care and safety.
• Track visitor interaction numbers and assist with maintaining accurate records.
• Use a microphone to energetically present public chats, narrations, and informal engagement with large crowds at a variety of aquarium exhibits.
• Work alongside fellow Visitor Engagement Associates, as well as other Education staff and volunteers,  to develop a respectful and welcoming work culture.
• Provide visitors with a memorable, positive, safe experience at the aquarium.

• Work closely with members of the New York Aquarium's Animal and Education teams to ensure that interpretive stations and locations are well stocked and maintained to create a safe environment for staff, visitors and animals.

• Implement best practices for mentoring, supporting and maintaining positive, cooperative, and effective working relations with other Education Department staff and volunteers.
• Support Admissions and Visitors Services teams to provide a high level of customer service in the park on any given day.
• Assist with data collection (e.g. conducting surveys and interviews) and data entry for visitor research and evaluation projects.
• Teach visitors to make connections between aquarium exhibits, wildlife conservation, & their daily lives.
• Participate in the upkeep of a safe, fun, and lively learning environment for all visitors and staff by providing and accepting feedback.
• Support station-based interpretive activities and other interpretive experiences provided onsite, as needed.

• Assist with special early morning and evening events, and other Education department programming as needed (this may include members events, classes, birthday parties, special programs, overnights, and summer camp).