Lab Steward

Who We Are:

NatureBridge provides best-in-class environmental science education experiences for more than 30,000 students and their teachers every year in the world’s best classrooms: our National Parks. Our mission is to connect young people to the science and wonder of the natural world, igniting self-discovery and inspiring stewardship of the planet. Through our programs, students explore the outdoors, connect with their peers, discover themselves and develop a lasting relationship with science and the environment around them.

What You Will Do:

As the Lab Steward, you will oversee the maintenance and operation of NatureBridge Golden Gate’s education lab spaces including the Intertidal, Climate Solutions, Skins and Skulls, Microscope, and Watershed labs, as well as the Point Bonita Garden and Discovery Room. A primary focus of this role is the management of a 700-gallon saltwater touch tank system and the husbandry of its intertidal inhabitants. 

This position takes place at our campus in the Marin Headlands (Sausalito, CA) and cannot be performed remotely.

Your primary job will be to:

General Lab Management

• Manage the lab spaces and perform curatorial duties with focus on the Intertidal Lab
• Maintain, repair, and troubleshoot lab equipment and marine life support systems (excluding structural building infrastructure)
• Support budget tracking including the procurement of equipment and supplies
• Ongoing development and maintenance of lab equipment and maintenance protocols
• Develop and maintain educational resources to support lab spaces

Specialized Lab Oversight

• Intertidal Lab: Manage life support systems, monitor water quality, and provide animal husbandry. Diagnose and treat marine organism diseases or coordinate with external experts.
• Climate Solutions Lab: Maintain the “Build a Climate Solution” exhibit and manage teaching inventories.
• Skins & Skulls / Discovery Room: Catalog, clean, and organize taxidermy and articulated specimens.
• Watershed Room: Maintain the stream table and complete monthly cleanings.
• Microscope Lab: Oversee the inventory and maintenance of microscopes, binoculars, and water quality monitoring equipment.
• Point Bonita Garden: Lead seasonal upkeep (seeding, weeding, composting) and coordinate large-scale infrastructure projects (irrigation, fencing) with the Facilities Team.

Permits and Compliance

• Maintain and update scientific collection permits and submit associated paperwork including renewals, amendments, and reports
• National Park Service Ecological Collection Permit: collection of macroinvertebrates, plankton, soil and water samples
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife M1-M3 Species Scientific Collection Permit: collection of marine species for the Inertial Lab
• US Department of the Interior Migratory Bird Permit: taxidermy bird collection
• Organize and lead professional field collection trips for staff under CDFW permit guidelines.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Communicate updates, best practices, and scientific knowledge to the Education Team through meetings, demonstrations, and annual trainings
• Collaborate to set agenda for education program meetings and morning meetings
• Lead weekly meetings with Evening Managers and train Operations staff on lab maintenance
• Collaborate on departmental and cross campus functional working groups and initiatives
• Work in partnership with the education/interpretation leaders from both NPS and Park Partner organizations in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to leverage and strengthen the NatureBridge-NPS partnership

Other:

• Supporting donor engagement events, program support tasks, providing feedback on special projects, participating in campus beautification or attending conferences
• Manage additional updates and projects as needed

Compensation:

• $23-25/hourly
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Option for a 403b retirement plan with employer match after 1000 hours of work
• Generous paid vacation, training days and sick leave
• Other benefits include Employee Assistance Plan (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and more

Who You Are:

We are looking for candidates who have:

• Understanding of aquarium systems & experience working with life support systems, water quality management and marine animal husbandry, and/or interest and ability to learn
• Perform precise water quality tests on a reliable basis and interpret results
• Comfort in handling living and dead organisms and communicating about specimen mortality with staff as needed
• Familiarity with scientific and technological aspects of science labs and equipment, and ability to independently expand or acquire that knowledge
• Experience curating taxidermy and articulated specimen collections and/or interest and ability to learn
• Ability to use a variety of hand tools and power tools or willingness to learn
• Experience working with and maintaining microscopes and/or interest and ability to learn
• Minimum of 1 year experience teaching students in formal and/or informal settings
• Strong organizational, problem solving, communication, and presentation skills
• Able to work successfully, both alone and as part of a team, and in both office and field settings
• Ability to inspire others about inquiry, hands-on science education, and its impact on environmental stewardship
• Valid Driver’s License

If you are interested in the role and do not meet every requirement listed, please still apply! We are interested in applicants with unique lived experience and skill sets.

*All NatureBridge Employees are required to complete a background check in order to be eligible for employment.

Why should you join the NatureBridge team?

• We are a mission-driven organization that values your contributions and supports you in making a positive impact on young people and the environment
• You will get to work in a beautiful natural setting with other dedicated staff who are passionate about the environment
• We are invested in supporting our staff through professional development & mentorship.

NatureBridge is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate based on any protected category, including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, gender, gender expression (including transgender expression or pregnancy), political affiliation, age, immigration status or disability. We encourage qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. Please let us know if you require any accommodation.