Science Center Guide

Science Center Guide  

SSSC Status:               Seasonal, full-time (35-40 hours/week) 

Job Duration:               Late April through early October  

Supervised by:               Visitor Experience Manager   

Compensation: $18/hour, subsidized housing available   

Place of Work:               834 Lincoln St., Sitka, Alaska   

About the Sitka Sound Science Center:  

The Sitka Sound Science Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to scientific research and science education. Based in Southeast Alaska, SSSC is focused on research topics and education programs that are relevant to our region and state. SSSC is made up of a team of people who enjoy collaborating across disciplines, thinking big and following through, and finding new ways to connect our community with the world around us. 

Inclusion and equity are core values of the Sitka Sound Science Center. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for students, researchers, and staff. We believe every member of our staff and visitor to our facility enriches our diversity by sharing a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and discover solutions. We encourage you to pursue your interests, develop your potential, and bring your full self to work. 

SSSC considers equivalent combinations of experience and education for certain jobs. All candidates who believe they possess equivalent experience and education are encouraged to apply. 

About the Guide Position:  

The Science Center Guides are the public face of the Sitka Sound Science Center. The position involves daily interaction with diverse groups of locals, tourists, and visitors to Sitka. Guides play an integral role in the success of the Science Center’s mission by developing and leading tours of the hatchery and other sites, welcoming guests to the aquarium, greeting guests of all ages and backgrounds, and fielding questions about Sitka, marine life, hatcheries, and more. Science Center Guides will collaborate to create an environment in which our visitors have a positive, fun, and memorable experience as they explore and learn about Alaska hatcheries, fisheries, history, local marine life, and exciting research.  

Science Center Guides will also play a key role in creating team culture both within and outside the workplace. For six months of the year, Guides constitute a significant proportion of our staff and help shape goals and projects during that time. Guides will have a subsidized shared housing option and will cooperate to create a positive communal living environment with their colleagues. 

Science Center Guides can expect to gain exposure to both the inner workings of this unique nonprofit and the richness of Sitka’s environment and community. Activities along these lines will include visits to other relevant sites around Sitka, the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in our hatchery and summer education programming such as summer camps, and connection with research and field programs and staff. 

Responsibilities:    

• Welcome visitors to our facility and provide front-of-house services (including handling money and operating a point-of-sale system)
• Develop tours and programs for the hatchery and aquarium
• Guide visitors in the aquarium and on hatchery tours
• Answer questions and share information about marine life, Sitka, hatcheries, research, and more
• Collaborate with other Science Center staff to identify and implement new outreach or education opportunities
• Assist with facility upkeep (general cleaning, restrooms, aquariums, public spaces, etc.)

Skills & Qualifications: 

• You enjoy helping others explore and connect with the world around us.
• You’re excited about interacting with a diverse group of travelers.
• You’re interested in interdisciplinary learning and communication.
• You thrive in a team setting and enjoy collaborating with others.
• Community is important to you.
• You enjoy speaking to both large and small groups of people in formal and informal settings.
• You find wonder in science and the natural world.

Benefits for Seasonal Staff:  

• Subsidized housing
• Exposure to hatchery work, research projects, education programming (e.g. summer camps), and other Science Center projects and programs
• Opportunities to explore personal interests relating to visitor experience and the Science Center mission
• Access to outdoor gear and equipment