Lead Habitat Interpreter

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Lead Habitat Interpreter
Department: Marine Mammals and Birds
Reports to: Supervisor, Habitat Interpretation
Classification: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Job Overview: The Lead Habitat Interpreter serves as a senior frontline interpreter and shift-level peer leader within Mystic Aquarium's habitat interpretation team. Reporting to the Supervisor, Habitat Interpretation, this role models interpretive excellence across all habitat areas while mentoring fellow interpreters, supporting onboarding, and serving as an in-the-moment quality coach.

The Lead Habitat Interpreter is expected to have working mastery across the Aquarium's full habitat footprint and acts as a key point of escalation during operating hours, helping ensure consistent, high-quality guest experiences that advance Mystic Aquarium's education and conservation mission.

Interpretive Excellence and Cross-Area Mastery

• Deliver high-quality, thematic interpretive programming across all interpretive areas including marine mammal, bird, fish, and invertebrate habitats to consistently exceed institutional standards.
• Maintain mastery-level knowledge of habitats, animal collection, programs, and institutional messaging across the full Aquarium footprint.
• Apply audience-centered facilitation techniques and adapt programs in real time to suit audience composition, attention, and operational conditions.
• Model best practices in thematic interpretation, connecting tangible resources to intangible meanings to inspire conservation action.

Peer Mentorship and Quality Coaching

• Provide informal coaching, real-time feedback, and side-by-side mentorship to Habitat Interpreters, seasonal staff, and volunteers, reinforcing interpretive technique, content accuracy, and guest engagement standards.
• Support onboarding of new staff and volunteers by demonstrating workflows, modeling guest interactions, and answering operational questions in real time.
• Identify staff development needs and elevate them to the Supervisor for inclusion in formal coaching, training, or performance discussions.
• Serve as a peer role model for professional conduct, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Foster a positive, inclusive team culture that supports interpretive growth and high performance.

Shift Coordination and Operations

• Serve as the day-of point person for assigned shifts, coordinating staff coverage across habitats and adjusting deployment in response to weather, guest volume, or operational needs.
• Use radios with proper etiquette to coordinate interpretive, husbandry, and operations activity across campus.
• Provide a first point of escalation for guest issues, animal welfare concerns, and habitat-level operational challenges, escalating to the Supervisor as needed.
• Support the Supervisor in monitoring program quality, identifying coverage gaps, and recommending schedule or staffing adjustments; the Supervisor retains final scheduling authority.
• Maintain cleanliness, presentation, and safety standards across interpretive areas during operating shifts.

Animal Welfare, Safety, and Emergency Response

• Monitor habitats and visitor behavior to enforce safety guidelines and animal welfare protocols consistently across all interpretive areas.
• Respond as a senior responder to emergency situations involving guests, animals, or facilities, following institutional procedures and supporting peer responders.
• Support animal care staff with husbandry tasks, training sessions, behavioral observations, and enrichment across all habitat areas, as assigned.
• Assist with diet preparation, habitat maintenance, and basic animal care tasks in accordance with federal, state, and institutional husbandry guidelines.
• Maintain accurate records, behavioral data, and operational documentation as required.

Program Support…