Careers

The Seattle Aquarium is much, much more than the exhibits, animals, activities and experiences that bring hundreds of thousands of people to our facility each year—our passionate staff members are a key element of what sets us apart. We're firmly committed to hiring highly skilled, talented and motivated people who genuinely want to contribute to our shared success. We seek out employees who lead by example, acting with truth, sincerity and fairness in all decisions. We have a positive, visionary view of our organization and its future, and hope you will join in our commitment to our mission, service and quality.

The Seattle Aquarium is a progressive, equal-opportunity employer that values a diverse workforce. As we move forward, we are committed to making the Aquarium a diverse, inclusive and welcoming space for our staff, partners, audiences and community as a whole.

 

Current openings

Our S.A.L.I.S.H. Values

Sustainable

Adopting and promoting, internally and externally, practices that improve ocean health.

Awe inspiring

Creating captivating experience for all audiences.

Learning & improving

Fostering, evaluating and applying knowledge and discovery.

Inclusive community

Recognizing that diversity is critical to achieve our mission.

Scientific Integrity

Ensuring our credibility with evidence-based practices.

Honoring place

Using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.

What Sets Us Apart

Seattle Aquarium volunteers
Culture

The Seattle Aquarium works to ensure that we are inclusive and welcoming to all segments of the community. We strive to have our audience reflect the diversity of our region, including underserved populations and groups, and have developed inclusive outreach and community engagement/action programs to help us toward that goal.

 

Historic photo of Pier 59
History

The Seattle Aquarium is the ninth largest aquarium in the U.S. by attendance and among the top five paid visitor attractions in the Puget Sound region. Since our opening, we’ve hosted over 22 million visitors and provided marine conservation education to over 1.6 million school children. We’re proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Seattle Aquarium employees preparing to dive
Conservation

The Seattle Aquarium aims to be a leader in conservation and education, defining the role of a great Aquarium in the 21st century as a catalyst for public engagement. Our focus is on making an impact: through our programs, partnerships, outreach efforts and more—helping people learn to love Puget Sound and Earth’s one big ocean, while galvanizing them to take action to protect these precious resources.

Seattle Aquarium volunteers

Great Benefits

We are invested in providing high-quality, comprehensive benefits and understand their importance for you and your family. Full-time staff enjoy the following benefits:

  • Medical*, vision* and dental coverage
  • An employer-funded health reimbursement account*
  • Access to medical- and dependent-care flexible spending accounts*
  • Basic life insurance
  • Short- and long-term disability
  • Access to voluntary life insurance
  • 403b retirement plan with employer matching funds*
  • Subsidized ORCA pass*
  • Family Plus membership*
  • Participation in annual variable pay program*
  • Generous paid time off

*Part-time staff are eligible for these benefits.

Current Openings

School and public programs manager

The Seattle Aquarium is looking for a school and public programs (SPP) manager to join the Conservation Engagement & Learning team. The SPP manager defines and implements the vision and goals for the Seattle Aquarium’s instructor-led nonformal education programming targeted at school, family and public audiences. Current programming includes preschool programs, summer camps, school programming and some professional development for educators. Programs are conducted on site, at schools, in the field and virtually. The manager will lead the strategic exploration of new program areas, including Aquarium self-guided school programming, integrating empathy into socio-emotional learning standards, virtual engagement and a more robust teacher professional development program.

The position works closely with the director of Conservation Engagement & Learning, other managers within the Aquarium’s Conservation Engagement & Learning department, and colleagues throughout the Seattle Aquarium to ensure that the needs of our school, family and public audiences are met and that Aquarium programming and culture is equitable and inclusive.

To read a comprehensive list of essential functions, skills, abilities and other requirements, and to apply, please see the full school and public programs manager job posting.

Application deadline: Open until filled. Priority given to applications received by December 7.

Date needed: ASAP

Annual Fund Officer

The annual fund officer contributes to the success of the Seattle Aquarium by helping to build and ensure a successful, data-driven and donor-centric annual fund program. This position will expand and build upon the annual fund segment of a comprehensive fundraising program that engages with donors where they are, moves them through the donor pipeline and meets annual financial goals. A successful candidate will be able to shape and execute a data-driven annual fund program, recommend and test new approaches, collaborate with Aquarium colleagues across departments, and track and assess results to improve outcomes.

This position reports to the associate director, individual giving, and works closely with the donor relations officer, data and reporting analyst, major gifts officers and membership staff.

To read a comprehensive list of essential functions, skills, abilities and other requirements, and to apply, please see the full annual fund officer job posting.

Recruiting timeline:  

  • Application deadline: December 9. Priority given to applications received by November 29.
  • Interviews: complete by December 19.
  • Start date: January 2022 (ideally).
Senior marine science educator

The Seattle Aquarium is looking for a senior marine science educator to join the school and public programs (SPP) team. This position will primarily be an implementer, schedule planner and curriculum-development support for all programs offered for the kindergarten through high school audiences within the SPP team, with priority given to outreach programming. The senior educator will work with the school outreach coordinator to lead and support staff while instructing programs in local schools and at local field sites, ensure the ongoing excellence of SPP programs, assist with the development of new programming, and assist with the scheduling of staff and resources as needed. We view this work through an equity lens, with the goal of removing barriers where they exist for members of the community to meaningfully engage with the Aquarium; to foster authentic, mutual relationships between the Aquarium and the community; and to bring diverse audiences together to achieve our mission. This work supports our strategic plan goal of inspiring conservation and making the Aquarium and its programs accessible and welcoming to all.

To read a comprehensive list of essential functions, skills, abilities and other requirements, and to apply, please see the full senior marine science educator job posting.

Recruiting timeline:

  • Application deadline: open until filled.
  • Resume review: early November.
  • Interviews: November and December.
  • Position start date: January 2022.
RETAIL SALES ASSOCIATE—AQUARIUM GIFT SHOP

Note:  The retail sales associate position is through the Seattle Aquarium's gift shop partner, Event Network.

Join our friendly and enthusiastic team as a part-time, seasonal sales associate to help create fun and surprises as you interact with Aquarium visitors to deliver a fantastic experience. We’re looking for someone who naturally enjoys interacting with people of all ages; is welcoming, positive, engaging and friendly toward our customers, team members and venue staff; is able to proactively intercept, engage and demonstrate product to customers and can effectively communicate product features; and is able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and evenings. Previous retail, cash-handling, merchandising skills and customer service experience are a plus. 

To learn more and apply, see the full retail sales associate job posting.

Date needed: ASAP

Seattle Aquarium employee performing enrichment activities with harbor seal
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