Sr. Public Engagement Facilitator

Shedd Aquarium•Chicago, IL

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Engagement Team is responsible for delivering participatory, audience-driven experiences to achieve Shedd’s mission of sparking compassion, curiosity, and conservation for the aquatic animal world. The Senior Public Engagement Facilitator joins in with the rest of the team in delivering high-quality guest engagements. In addition, the Senior Facilitator models best practices in interpretation, participatory experiences, and conversation-based methods. They are called upon to help with and learn new programs first and help train other team members. The Senior Facilitator regularly observes programs to ensure they are meeting standards of engagement and intended outcomes. They support daily logistics such as program scheduling and are an effective communicator and decision maker. The Senior Facilitator communicates with the team, leaders, and partner departments. In addition, the Senior Facilitator helps identify and lead team initiatives, projects, and exercises to build and maintain interpretive skills and helps create facilitated programs, assisting the Public Engagement Specialist. Qualified individuals will have experience in improv, theatre, and/or informal education settings, as well as demonstrated leadership experience.

Requirements

High School diploma, GED, or equivalent recommended.
1+ years of experience in public speaking.
1+ years of leadership experience.
Ability to improvise due to variable animal activities and guest needs
Knowledge of educational messages and content
Experience in public engagement preferred
2+ years of experience in education, theatre, and or improvisation preferred.
Experience delivering programs to a variety of audiences in a museum, zoo, or aquarium setting preferred.
Experience in aquatic science and/or biology preferred.
Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred.

Nice To Haves

Some college preferred.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate commitment to Shedd’s vision, mission, and values
Learn and facilitate multiple scripts and outlines featuring a variety of Shedd’s 32,000 animals, tailoring content to a variety of audiences
Represent the team as a team leader, serve as team coach
Complete schedules and manage daily schedule changes when the Coordinator is not in
Lead various team meetings, including operational and creative meetings
Lead exercises to build team skills including facilitation, improvisational, and leadership skills
Assist team in developing and evolving new guest engagement strategies
Analyze and raise team performance and personnel issues to leaders
Assist in creating and implementing reward and recognition programs and efforts
Review programs and complete identified team documentation
Assist with and learn the script and outline revisions, blocking adjustments, and ongoing program content updates
Proactively interact with guests, animal care team members, donors, etc.
Dynamically engage guests about the aquatic world throughout the aquarium
Work near animals, adhering to established protocols
Serve as a leader to other staff and volunteers for guest interaction and knowledge
Regularly observe programs and provide coaching to staff and volunteers, discuss patterns and needs with department Managers
Attend training workshops as scheduled, lead training elements and workshops
Assist with and lead onboarding and training with new team members and for new programs
Demonstrate continued growth in content knowledge and increased aptitude in program delivery/facilitation
Collaborate closely with leaders to set goals, develop skills, and receive and integrate feedback for professional growth
Model all best practices in serving as both a team member and coach
Serve on interdepartmental teams
Other duties as needed or assigned