Guest Engagement Educator

Tennessee-Aquarium; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 18,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, TN is seeking a Guest Engagement Educator. This part-time, hourly role focuses on connecting visitors with nature through conservation education, storytelling, and interactive programs.

You will learn to deliver gallery storytelling, interpretation, and animal encounters, work evenings/weekends, and maintain certifications while building cross-department collaborations.

Qualifications

• Passion for environment, nature, and communication.
• Strong public speaking and guest engagement skills.
• Ability to handle ambassador animals safely.
• Innovative, curious, growth mindset, and team player.

Responsibilities

• Learn and facilitate educational programming for all ages.
• Implement and assess guest engagement techniques.
• Adapt program delivery for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
• Follow animal handling protocols and obtain/maintain certifications.
• Log information on educational programs and schedules.
• Collaborate across departments to create engaging experiences.
• Participate in Education Department meetings and projects.
• Assist with any Education Department programming needs.

Skills

Environment passion

Public speaking

Guest engagement

Team player

Education

Storytelling/interpretation experience

Animal handling experience

Environmental sciences / biology education

Theatre or public speaking experience

Job description

Tennessee Aquarium
Chattanooga, TN 37402, USA

Description

The Guest Engagement Educator position supports the mission of the Tennessee Aquarium to connect people with nature and empower them to make informed decisions about water and wildlife. The Education Department is passionate about lifelong learning, respect for conservation, and recognizing the abilities of all people and their experiences. We use and contribute to research about informal education, and maintain a collaborative, respectful, learning-based work environment.

This position will engage Aquarium guests during their visit by utilizing best practices in conservation education messaging.

Key Responsibilities

• Learn and facilitate educational programming for all ages. Programming takes many forms and will include gallery storytelling/interpretation, curiosity carts, animal encounters, programs using a microphone, and tours.
• Learn to implement and assess appropriate techniques for guest engagement, including inquiry-based learning, storytelling/ interpretation, and interactive experiences.
• Make impromptu changes to program delivery to accommodate audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and needs.
• Follow protocols related to ambassador animal handling along with obtaining and maintaining animal program certifications.
• Track and log information on educational programs and daily schedules.
• Establish strong cross-departmental relationships to collaboratively facilitate engaging educational experiences.
• Actively participate in Education Department meetings, professional learning experiences, events, and special projects, when applicable.
• Ability and willingness to assist with any programming needs of the Education Department

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Passion for the environment, nature, and communication.
• Communication and public speaking skills
• Comfort with learning to handle a variety of Ambassador and exhibit animals, including invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, small birds, and small mammals
• Innovative, curious, growth mindset, and team player

Educational/Experience Preferences

• Storytelling/Interpretation experience preferred
• Animal handling experience preferred
• Experience or coursework in Environmental Sciences, Biology, Education or a related field preferred
• Theatre or public speaking experience preferred

License or Certification

• First Aid/CPR Certification preferred

Working Conditions

• Indoor environment that may be warm or cool, and occasionally wet
• Crowded, dimly lit, and loud environments
• Occasional outdoor environment
• Evenings, weekends, weekdays, and some holidays are required
• Consistent weekly schedule (Sun-Wed, Wed-Sat, or Wed, Sat, & Sun)
• Maximum of 20 hours a week, typically during Aquarium hours

Physical Demands

• Frequent movement around the Aquarium’s campus, stooping and lifting
• Extended stationary periods
• Moving/transporting program materials weighing up to 50 pounds
• Occasional use of step stools
• Communicating and engaging with guests for extended periods

Part-time, hourly ($16/hour);

Consistent weekly schedule (Sun-Wed, Wed-Sat, or Wed, Sat, & Sun)

Evenings, weekends, weekdays, and some holidays are required

Maximum of 20 hours a week, typically during Aquarium hours

All submissions must be received by September 23, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.