Event Support Representative

JOB POSTING

Event Support Representative

Posted:                   Open to internal and external applicants   

Reports to:             Event Manager and Partner Liaison 

Status:                   Full-time, salaried, benefitted position

Hours of work:       This position works a variety of shifts, days, or evenings. Some events may last until late night, or into the morning hours. Need for weekend or after-hours work as related to events and other projects.

Date needed:         July 2023

Posting expires:    Open until filled.

Position description:  

The Seattle Aquarium, a leading marine conservation organization, is looking for an Event Support Representative to join their team. As an Event Support Representative, you will play a crucial role in contributing to the Seattle Aquarium’s mission of inspiring conservation of our marine environment. Overseeing various evening rental and event functions, managing partnerships with our Aquarium partners, and collaborating with other departments. 

This position involves primarily on-site work for events, with the possibility of remote completion of some administrative duties.

As an Event Support Representative, you will coordinate essential personnel and event functions while representing and protecting the Aquarium’s interests for all evening internal and third-party rentals/events in the Aquarium facility. All events are catered with the Aquarium in-house event service partner. You will also coordinate all internal stakeholders as needed to ensure appropriate support for events. As an Event Support Representative, you will provide the highest level of customer service, coordination, and organization, with internal and external clients. 

Key functions: 

• Act as the primary liaison between the Aquarium, Aquarium Partners, and vendors to ensure that event needs are met. 
• Coordinate services for events such as underwater flag requests, stage, evening experiences, conference booking, facility requests, personalized underwater sign during the day. 
• Arrange the availability of audio-visual equipment, displays, and other event needs. 
• Manage and oversee events as one of the lead event representatives. 
• Monitor guest behavior to ensure a safe event and protection of animals and habitats. 
• Oversee appropriate event staffing during an event including event staff, maintenance, visitor engagement, guest services as needed. 
• Collaborate with team members to communicate event details and needs to all internal and external stakeholders as necessary.
• Provide and receive updates throughout the event. 
• Schedule staff for the event, ensuring appropriate coverage and adequate staffing levels.
• Monitor event activities to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and laws, Aquarium policies, satisfaction of participants, and resolution of any problem that arises. 
• Act as a first responder for any emergency issues that may arise during an event. 
• Correspond with customers to answer questions or resolve complaints. 
• Complete post-event evaluations and address any issues or problems in a timely manner; report any outstanding issues or problems. 
• All Aquarium staff and volunteers are expected to participate in advancing and integrating into their work Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Regenerative practices in alignment with our S.A.L.I.S.H. Values. 
• Other duties as assigned.  

Required skills and experience: 
 We will consider various combinations of relevant experience and education to meet minimum requirements.

• Minimum two years’ experience working with events, preferably in a cultural or tourist attractions such as an aquarium, zoo or museum. 
• Hospitality degree or certification helpful but not required with related event experience.
• Ability to work a rotating schedule, including nights, weekends, or holidays.
• CPR, first aid and AED certifications, or ability to participate in Aquarium sponsored training when available.
• Microsoft Office program experience highly desirable. 
• Ability to learn and adapt to new programs, software, and practices quickly. 
• English verbal and written proficiency is required for this job but preference will be given to native and fluid speakers of a second language.

Working conditions:

• This is a physical position involving moving throughout the facility or remaining in one place for extended periods.
• Lift, push, pull and move objects up to 30 pounds. 
• Work with culturally diverse populations.  
• Flexibility and willingness to work long, irregular hours including evenings until 2am, weekends and holidays as needed. 
• Work in environments with moderate to loud noise levels. 
• Occasional extended exposure to outside weather conditions. 

Salary and benefits: $22.00 to $24.00 an hour, Dependent on experience. Evening and overnight hours are eligible for shift differential. Please include salary expectations in your materials. Full-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium’s comprehensive benefits package to include medical, vision, dental, an employer-funded health reimbursement account, medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, 403b retirement fund with employer match, access to a subsidized ORCA pass, a Seattle Aquarium Family Plus membership and generous paid time off.

How to apply: The Seattle Aquarium is committed to expanding a diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation movement. We are invested in building an Aquarium with a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, languages, cultural ways of knowing, and life experiences. We know research shows that society has conditioned communities of color, trans and gender non-conforming people, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other marginalized candidates to more frequently not apply to a job because they don’t feel that they meet all of the qualifications listed even if they are qualified. If you meet some of the requirements and you are passionate about our mission and our ocean, we encourage you to apply and look forward to learning more about you.

Interested candidates should upload a résumé to our online application to be considered. Application review will begin immediately.  

SeattleAquarium.org/careers 

Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at jobs@seattleaquarium.org.  

Note: If offered the position, candidates must pass a background check. Conviction record is not an automatic disqualifier; we are a second chance employer.  

About the Seattle Aquarium: 

The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world’s one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment by providing an inspiring visitor experience, engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, high-impact marketing and communications, and more.  

Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.  

Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, we’re among the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 850,000 people each year. Guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we’re working to substantially increase our conservation impact by expanding our campus with a new building, the Ocean Pavilion. Learn more at SeattleAquarium.org. 

Timeline:

We anticipate the following recruiting schedule for those candidates who are selected for consideration. The following dates are preliminary and subject to change. We will work with candidates to set interview dates. If hired, relocation assistance is not available. 

• Priority given to applications received within the first two weeks of posting.
• Interviews completed by mid-June
• Start date: July 2023