Newport Aquarium Animal Handling & Programming Specialist - Full Time Year Round

Newport Aquarium • Newport, KY

20h • Onsite

About The Position

The Newport Aquarium Animal Handling & Programming Specialist is responsible for consistently demonstrating Herschend Family Entertainment Lead with Love Principles and the HEART model of guest service excellence. This role involves maintaining a positive and professional appearance, adhering to attendance requirements, and regularly delivering high-quality, accurate, and entertaining programming for Guests of various ages and group sizes in both formal and informal environments. Key duties include keeping all required logs and TRACKS records up to date, prioritizing safety, learning and demonstrating proper animal handling techniques, and maintaining socialization schedules. The specialist will use accurate and approved interpretive points, implement animal artifacts, science experiments, ambassador animals, and other interpretive tools into educational programs. Programs will be performed for both public and private groups during normal operating hours or after-hours events, requiring availability for a flexible schedule. The company, Newport Aquarium (owned by Herschend Enterprises), prides itself on creating memories worth repeating, guided by core values of exceeding guest expectations, serving others, creating emotional connections, and constantly improving. The work environment is described as highly innovative, low in politics, truthful, and filled with smart people, all focused on providing the best guest experience and helping to bring families closer together.

Requirements

• Must have strong public speaking skills.
• A completed degree or working towards some form of degree, preferably in education, biology or an animal science.
• Willingness to take direction and coaching from experienced team members to improve your skills and enhance the guest experience.
• Must read, write, and speak the English language.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team in a constantly changing environment as well as individually, with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, which will include weekends, holidays and evenings.
• Ability to perform in a fast-paced job and remain courteous, friendly and helpful to guests and fellow team members at all times.
• Successful completion of pre-employment background check.
• No history of allergy related to animals or plants, which might interfere with ability to work.
• Ability to remain on feet for long periods of time, climb stairs, bend and stoop.
• Physical strength, including the ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
• Immunocompetence (possible exposure to infections and parasitic disease).

Nice To Haves

• Prior informal education experience is a plus.
• Previous animal handling experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of other languages is encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Consistently demonstrate Herschend Family Entertainment Lead with Love Principles towards all Guests and Hosts.
• Follow the HEART model of guest service excellence at all times.
• Maintain a positive and professional appearance at all times.
• Maintain positive standing with all attendance requirements.
• Expected to regularly deliver high-quality, accurate, and entertaining programming for Guests of various ages and group size. Programming includes both formal and informal environments.
• Keep all required logs and/or TRACKS records up to date, ensuring animal handling activities and programs are accurately documented.
• Prioritize safety at all times.
• Learn and consistently demonstrate proper Newport Aquarium animal handling techniques; required to maintain socialization schedules.
• Only use accurate and approved interpretive points and within guidelines of presentation scripts.
• Successfully implement animal artifacts, science experiments, ambassador animals, and other interpretive tools into educational/entertaining programs as assigned.
• Perform programs for both public and private groups either during normal operating hours or after-hours events.
• Maintains availability for a variety of programming that is scheduled during normal daily operations and/or during events hosted after hours.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by Animal Handling and Programming Supervisor. Related duties can include, but are not limited to, set-up and clean-up of assigned programming.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vison insurances.
• 40 sick hours, 40 personal hours, 8 Holidays, 80 Vacation Hours annually.
• Profit Sharing and 401K Plan with company match.
• Free entrance for you and your dependents which extends to most Herschend Enterprises’ properties.
• Earn 1 General Admission complimentary ticket, that you can give to anyone, per pay period.
• Discounts at Sharky’s Café, Sweet Dreams Candy Company, and the gift shop.
• Discounted tickets and annual passes for friends and family.
• Training and development.
• Grow U program with hundreds of programs available from certifications to college prep to associates, bachelor's, and master’s degrees, most of which are fully funded.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees