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Guest Engagement Senior Interpreter

National Aquarium
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Job Title: Guest Engagement Senior Interpreter

Posting Date: September 8, 2025

Job Department: Guest Engagement

Schedule: Full Time

Job Type: On-site

Location: National Aquarium Pier 3 501 E Pratt St Baltimore, MD 21202

JOB SUMMARY:

The National Aquarium is seeking Guest Engagement Senior Interpreters to be content and program experts within the guest engagement department. They have a strong exhibit floor presence, ensuring that each guest has a world class experience while at the aquarium or on a paid tour. Daily duties include presenting animal encounters, giving microphone talks, leading tours, and running other interpretive programs including the Living Seashore touch pool. Senior Interpreters regularly create the daily guest engagement schedule and lead morning meetings, disseminating important updates to operational teams to allow all staff to provide positive, personalized experiences for guests.

As leaders among Guest Engagement floor staff, Senior Interpreters are experts for all guest engagement interpretive programs and provide training, support, and guidance to other interpreters on the team. They model excellent interpretive and guest service skills, and independently identify and fulfill programmatic needs in the daily schedule. They may regularly handle small animals for encounters as they provide various interpretive programs, including at the Living Seashore touch pool exhibit. All programs, whether paid or unpaid, are crafted to help tell the story of the National Aquarium, the animals that reside there, the people that work there, and to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet. This position regularly works a minimum of one weekend day and may work nights and special events several times per month

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

Essential responsibilities include:

  • Leads a variety of interpretive programs for aquarium guests, including:
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    • Discovery carts, interpretive props, and the animals within the Living Seashore.
    • Animal encounter presentations on or off microphone.
    • Formal interpretive presentations.
    • Informal interpretation.
    • Guided, paid tours.
  • Assists with the training of other Guest Engagement interpreters.
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    • Demonstrates programs and interpretive strategies for other guest engagement interpreters.
    • Observes and provides feedback to peers and communicates feedback to managers.
  • Ensures smooth day-to-day operations
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    • Creates daily schedules for Guest Engagement interpreters.
    • Communicates plan of the day, tours sales and updated animal information to all front-line staff and volunteers.
    • Provides updates of education content and tours availability for website and onsite digital screens as needed.
    • Fills in when needed, showing flexibility to needs of the floor and schedule, including call outs
  • Maintains resources for programs, including props, cart materials, krill pops, shoe covers, and buoy art.
  • Models and provides world-class guest service to all guests and represents the National Aquarium in a positive way.
  • Provides a courteous, professional and supportive approach to work with other departments, understanding we have a shared mission and vision at the National Aquarium.
  • Occasionally serves community beyond Aquarium to support community programs and public relations teams.
  • Develops, updates, and maintains programs and assists with evaluation studies
  • Independently identifies and fulfills daily programmatic needs personally or through scheduling of other interpreters
  • Daily contact with diverse and high volume of staff and guests
  • Assists the Guest Engagement Managers in working with other aquarium teams to promote guest engagement programs and the National Aquarium in general
  • Can communicate effectively with staff at all levels of the Aquarium
  • Accountable for coordinating guest education programs including formal and informal interpretation, preparation of written materials, and daily scheduling of staff
  • Support company mission.
  • Adhere to all organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
  • Other duties as assigned or required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • 1-2 years’ experience working in a non-formal education or tour/presentational setting preferred
  • Strong presentation and public speaking skills
  • Strong background in guest/customer service
  • Able to work consistently during peak visiting times (i.e. weekends, summer, holidays, etc.)
  • Background or degree in science, education, hospitality, theater, or related field preferred
  • Efficient in computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • N.A.I. (National Association for Interpretation) certification beneficial
  • Must be able to clearly and enthusiastically communicate with aquarium guests and staff
  • Must be comfortable and confident with public speaking in many different settings, including at the Living Seashore and on the microphone to large groups
  • Must have good decision-making skills and a desire towards interactions with guests for long periods at a time and be willing to work in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment with little supervision
  • Help create a positive work environment

TOTAL COMPENSATION:

Hourly range ($18.27-24.87) with hours worked over 40 in a week eligible for overtime, premium pay for National Aquarium recognized holidays, and shift differential for overnight shifts. National Aquarium provides an excellent benefits package including four weeks paid time off, six paid floating holidays, up to four weeks of paid family leave and conservation day leave. Employees are eligible for health care (single and family) after 30 days of full-time work and 401(k) plan participation with employer match available. Employees receive a family membership package and Aquarium tickets.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM

The National Aquarium is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet. Our compelling exhibits, science-based education programs and hands-on field initiatives engage more than 1.2 million people annually. One of the top three aquariums in the United States and the largest paid cultural attraction in Maryland, the Aquarium generates more than $430 million annually in economic impact to the state. The National Aquarium has hosted over 60 million guests since it opened in 1981.

Today, the National Aquarium builds on a history of local, regional and global conservation initiatives that provide real solutions for protecting marine life, ecosystems and aquatic communities. Its Animal Rescue team has rescued, rehabilitated and released hundreds of marine mammals and endangered sea turtles throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Its Animal Care and Welfare teams participate in important research efforts to confront pressing ocean conservation issues and advocate for smarter policies at local, state and federal levels. Through education, research, conservation action and advocacy, the National Aquarium is pursuing a vision to connect a global community of hopeful conservationists, united to restore our planet.

How to Apply

Interested and engaged applicants should apply through our website http://aqua.org/jobs. Requests for reasonable accommodation can be made by e-mailing HR@aqua.org or calling 410-576- 8532.