Part-Time Public Engagement Facilitator

Title: (Part-Time) Public Engagement Facilitator

Department: Learning & Community:
Public Engagement

Reports To: Manager of Public Engagement

Status: Part-time Non-Exempt

Pay Rate: $20.00/hour

Location: Chicago, Onsite

All non-supervisory jobs in Learning & Community are included in the unit of employees represented by Shedd Workers United, AFSCME Council 31. The union was elected in November 2024, and, at this time, Shedd and the union do not yet have a ratified collective bargaining agreement in place.

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 Public Engagement Facilitator delivers high-quality guest engagements, interacting daily with Shedd guests, youth learners, donors, and other stakeholders. Facilitators deliver a wide variety of experiences, ranging from small-scale, unscripted conversations in the galleries to small-group tours behind-the-scenes to large-scale presentations on a microphone for 1,000-person audiences in the Oceanarium amphitheater. There is a strong performance element in this role. This position requires learning multiple program outlines, aquatic world content, and information related to taking action for animals.

The position requires a strong ability to apply improvisational techniques and dynamically engage audiences off-script. Tailoring content to various audiences and rapidly adapting and evolving to guest and aquarium needs are important skills, as is the ability to connect with diverse audiences with cultural competency.

Schedule/Time Commitment: Sunday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 6:30 pm (occasional late Tuesday Nights to 9:00 pm once every 4 or 5 weeks).

As a member of the Public Engagement team, each individual should possess the following qualities which will enable the team to achieve Shedd’s mission to spark compassion, curiosity, and conservation for the aquatic animal world.

• Positive attitude
• Inclusive and supportive of other team members
• Proactive in bringing forward solutions to challenges
• Maintain positive working relationships
• Guest focus in all activities, passion for people
• Ability to proactively engage guests
• Valuing diverse perspectives
• Creativity

As One Shedd, the Public Engagement team is expected to deliver an exceptional experience for other team members, staff, volunteers, and internal and external guests. Each team member should demonstrate the Shedd Way charter qualities, including but not limited to:

• Professional appearance
• Positive body language
• Seeking out guest contact
• Listening and responding to others' needs
• Taking pride in Shedd
• Delight in the animals in our care
• Learning about and respecting those you work with

Other duties may be assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd’s vision, mission, and values
• Proactively interact with guests and animal care team members
• Learn and facilitate multiple scripts and outlines featuring a variety of Shedd’s 32,000 animals, tailoring content to a variety of audiences
• Learn script and outline revisions, blocking adjustments, and ongoing program content updates
  
  Dynamically engage guests about the aquatic world throughout the aquarium
• Communicate ways to take action to protect animals and our planet
• Tailor content to various audiences, adapting key messages based on audience
• Demonstrate cultural competence through interactions and approach to engagement
• Improvise and facilitate content based on audience responses, interest, and knowledge
• Include the audience voice and participation elements in experiences
• Work near animals, strictly adhering to all established protocols
• Serve as a role model to staff and volunteers for guest interactions and knowledge
• Attend training workshops as scheduled
• Demonstrate continued growth in content knowledge and…