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

Director of marketing and communications

This role is an opportunity of a lifetime for the next director of marketing and communications, as they will contribute to the ultimate effort of restoring our ocean to health. We need you to help us tell our story of becoming a marine conservation institution to diverse audiences both locally and worldwide. The director will lead the prioritization and implementation of a comprehensive marketing, communications and branding strategy supporting the organization’s mission, to include: leading the branding strategy; expressing our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in all materials; offering strategic thought leadership at the executive leadership level; embracing, enhancing and championing the organization’s diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racism efforts; working with the board on all communication matters; and supporting and collaborating effectively with other leaders and departments within the Aquarium. The position reports to Brad Rutherford, the chief operating officer, and works with the below leadership team.

The director of marketing and communications is a member of our executive team. The role oversees all “institution-wide” integrated marketing and communications strategies and plans, as well as brand presentations and communications. The role supervises marketing and communications staff functions, including digital media (web, social and email), graphic design, print, copy and production. This position also co-staffs the board advancement committee to engage the board in marketing and fundraising efforts in support of our mission.

The director of marketing and communications has a strong customer focus, developing and deploying a variety of strategies/materials/communications to integrate all Aquarium audiences and drive earned gate revenue. This includes visitation to the Aquarium itself, as well as its website, blog and social media presences. The role is responsible for developing, communicating, budgeting, executing and evaluating strategic marketing and communications programs and campaigns (integrated marketing/communications planning) to promote visitation and awareness, and to communicate the Aquarium’s key messages to target audiences, while managing resources to produce results consistent with Aquarium plans, goals and mission.

The director of marketing and communications collaborates across the organization to ensure consistent messaging and branding for all areas of the institution.

To read a comprehensive list of essential functions, skills, abilities and other requirements, please see the director of marketing and communications invitation to apply.

Posting expires: Open until filled.

Aquarist

Seattle Aquarium seeks an aquarist to join our Fish and Invertebrate team. The aquarist furthers our mission through the management and care of the animals that make their homes at the Aquarium. They are responsible for assigned husbandry duties in the Aquarium’s Fish and Invertebrate department.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of one year’s experience involving the care and husbandry of animals in a zoo, aquarium or related environment (AZA facility preferred), a clear understanding of fish and invertebrate biology, and technical knowledge of marine biology, water quality analysis, aquatic life support systems and marine animal health.

To read a comprehensive list of essential functions, skills, abilities and other requirements, see the full Aquarist job description.

Date needed: ASAP.

Posting expires: Friday, August 6, 2021, 9pm PST

Marine science performer/puppeteer – part time

The Seattle Aquarium is looking for two part-time marine science performers/puppeteers to join the Volunteer Engagement team. The marine science performer is responsible for teaching, inspiring and entertaining Aquarium visitors through performances in live, puppet-based, theatrical shows and programs. These live puppet shows, typically three or four of the same show per day, require acting, audience interaction, puppetry, singing and humor. These staff will apply their talent and enthusiasm to provide the highest level of performance and customer service for visitors, community and professional peers while supporting the Aquarium’s mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment.

Performances will primarily take place on Aquarium grounds and may also include travel to nearby off-site locations. Audiences will consist of general visitors, school groups, camps and community partner organizations. This position is grant funded for 24 months, at which point continuation will be contingent on funding. The performers will work with the volunteer coordinator to provide the highest educational quality. We view this work through an equity lens to remove barriers where they exist for community members to meaningfully engage with the Aquarium; foster authentic, mutual relationships between the Aquarium and the community; and bring diverse audiences together to achieve our mission. This work supports our goal of fostering empathy for 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, see the full marine science performer/puppeteer job description.

Date needed: September 2021.

Posting expires: August 6, 2021.

Systems and network administrator

The Seattle Aquarium is looking for a systems and network administrator to join the Information Technology department. This role will provide support to the Seattle Aquarium staff and volunteers, including hardware/software support, server maintenance, network troubleshooting and IT projects as assigned by the director of information technology. The systems and network administrator is responsible for systems and network monitoring, support, analysis, and administration; responding to outages; and performing maintenance on our computing infrastructure. Additional responsibilities include checking and responding to incoming IT requests from employees and diagnosing and resolving technical hardware and software issues, as well as desktop support as needed.

To read a comprehensive list of essential functions, skills, abilities and other requirements, see the full systems and network administrator job description.

Date needed: ASAP.

Posting expires: Tuesday, August 10; preference given to applications received by August 4, 2021.

Engineering/operations technician

The Seattle Aquarium is looking for an engineering/operations technician to join the team. This position provides essential services, support and technical expertise for a variety of maintenance/repair activities and coordinates work with skilled crafts and with other departmental work units under the supervision of the Aquarium engineer. Responsibilities include being dependable and accountable across all assigned tasks, effectively communicating across departments, collaborating in team settings, coping with change, operating at times in environments of uncertainty, utilizing sound analysis, good judgment and experience when solving complex problems, and demonstrating a willingness to learn new methods and approaches to challenges. The engineering/operations technician is expected to respond to emergencies on an as-needed basis.

To read a comprehensive list of essential functions, skills, abilities and other requirements, see the full engineering/operations technician job description.

Date needed: Mid-August 2021.

Posting expires: Open until filled; priority given to applications received by July 16.

 

Executive Chef

Please note: The executive chef position is with the Seattle Aquarium's partner Sodexo Leisure

Sodexo Leisure has an exciting Executive Chef 2 opportunity available at the Seattle Aquarium in Seattle, WA.

Sodexo is seeking an Executive Chef to inspire our culinary operations through committed leadership and passion for incorporating conservation and sustainability practices into the food and beverage experiences at the Aquarium. Our Café features a full range of breakfast, lunch, and snack items while our thriving catering business can service events from 20 to 3000 people.

Please visit Sodexo's website for more information and to apply.

Position expires: Open until filled.

Seattle Aquarium employee performing enrichment activities with harbor seal
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