The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium offers school groups, families and visitors a unique view into the ocean world just outside its doors and is home to hundreds of organisms native to the Santa Monica Bay.  The Aquarium is the public learning center of Heal the Bay and inspires visitors to learn about and advocate for our environment with a focus on the ocean. The interactive displays, touch tanks filled with tide pool animals, shark tank, Kids’ Corner, and microscope lab are some of the exciting features of the Aquarium.  Our educational field study programs, birthday parties, kids’ summer camps, public education programs and volunteer opportunities draw locals and tourists alike into the Aquarium experience.

The Aquarium serves people of all backgrounds. Entrance is free for children, and more than 70% of our field study program comprises Title 1 schools receiving free buses to attend. Heal the Bay is building bilingual programming to cater to our diverse audience, and aligning Aquarium programming with Heal the Bay advocacy and campaigns. Environmental civics is an important part of the Aquarium learning experience and gives visitors the tools to take action on issues that inspire them.

The Aquarium Director is responsible for overseeing the management of and fundraising for the facility and the staff.  Staff includes aquarists, educators, public outreach and administrative personnel, augmented by 120 active volunteers.  The position is part of Heal the Bay’s management team.

The Aquarium is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Some evening and weekend work is also required.  This position reports to the President of Heal the Bay.

Responsibilities

• Inspire, support and maintain the highest quality and standards for staff, incorporating Heal the Bay’s mission in all efforts
• Secure funding for programs, operations and staff through both earned revenue and donations
• Manage annual operating budgets and oversee grant management, cash flow and other accounting procedures
• Provide strategic vision and leadership with the Aquarium’s staff/volunteers
• Provide strategic vision and leadership with the City of Santa Monica, representing the interests of the Aquarium and Heal the Bay as the City develops a master plan for the Pier upgrade and moves forward with land use and infrastructure projects in the surrounding area
• Develop new fundraising relationships and maintain existing relationships to secure funding for programs, operations and staff, including capital campaigns
• Increase Heal the Bay’s profile in the community, and with corporate sponsors and the local tourism industry
• Collaborate with staff to execute strategic plans, budgets, project planning and human resource issues
• Develop strategic marketing and advertising opportunities and partnerships throughout the region
• Collaborate with staff to develop experiential learning through exhibit design, educational field studies and regional partnerships
• Create and maintain interdepartmental projects of Heal the Bay’s mission and priorities
• Provide leadership as a member of the management team of Heal the Bay, including the Aquarium Advisory Board and Heal the Bay’s Board of Directors
• Serve as the Educational Programming Curator for the Santa Monica Pier, curating large-scale educational events on the Santa Monica Pier
• Additional responsibilities and projects as required

Qualifications, Experience & Skills:

• Experience managing a public aquarium, museum, or education facility
• Proven leadership skills and ability to maintain a creative and supportive work culture
• Proven background in fundraising, budgeting and grant management,
• Ability to promote an organizational culture of equity and inclusion
• Experience managing and communicating with multiple departments with creative, enthusiastic and dynamic staff from a variety of disciplines/backgrounds
• Able to work in a shared space in close quarters
• Organized, multi-tasker with strong decision-making skills
• Strong writing and public speaking skills
• Passion for Heal the Bay’s mission, the ocean and the environment
• An enthusiastic willingness to work over-time and on weekends from time to time

Preferred:

• Background in environmental studies or education
• Existing relationships with local and state decision-makers, foundations, partner agencies, museum or science facilities
• Previous experience in leading a capital campaign

Application Information

Salary Range: $80,000 Full time including some evenings and weekends required

Benefits: Heal the Bay offers full benefits

Heal the Bay is an equal opportunity employer and actively recruits to promote diversity in our workforce.

Submit your resume and cover letter to Meredith McCarthy, Heal the Bay’s Interim Operations Director.

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The Advancement Department at Heal the Bay is responsible for developing and maintaining financial support of the organization and its programs via direct mail, special fundraising events, grant-writing, major gifts and corporate philanthropy activities.

The Development intern will currently focus on supporting the annual fundraising event, with emphasis on Salesforce entry. Additional projects will include:

• Researching corporate giving programs
• Researching public and private foundations
• Contacting potential supporters regarding donor opportunities
• Assisting with contracts and document creation
• Assisting with mailings
• Filing, organizing, labeling

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is interested in fundraising and relationship-building via donor and corporate communications and special event planning.

Qualifications:

• Experience with Salesforce highly desirable
• Attention to detail and good multi-tasking skills
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Excellent speaking and writing skills
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Computer literacy, including MS Word and Excel
• Interest in Heal the Bay mission

Compensation: Un-paid

This is at a non-profit organization.
School credit available at participating schools/colleges

Please submit resume and cover letter via email.       

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The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium offers school groups, families and visitors a unique view into the ocean world right outside our doors. It is home to more than one hundred organisms native to the Santa Monica Bay. Interactive displays, touch tanks filled with tide pool animals, a shark tank exhibit, and a microscope lab are some of the main features of the Aquarium. As Heal the Bay’s marine education facility, the Aquarium also strives to teach visitors about the importance of environmental stewardship and marine conservation.

Aquarist Department Interns will assist with exhibit maintenance, animal feeding and care, occasional collecting, and perform other duties related to the Aquarist Department.

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is looking for responsible, dedicated, assertive interns to work with our Senior Aquarist, other staff and volunteers. Interns are required to attend the six-evening volunteer/intern training course.

This internship is an excellent opportunity to learn more about marine science, marine life support systems, and aquatic animal care and to gain experience working for an environmental group.

Responsibilities include:

• General care & maintenance of aquarium exhibits and life support systems
• Food preparation and feeding of organisms
• Water quality analysis
• Aid in the development of marine biology & environmental education signage
• Special project(s)

Qualifications:

• Understanding of environmental, marine science, and education issues
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work with many people in diverse settings
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team
• Ability to operate hand and power tool
• Ability to commit to an internship for at least 6 months
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

This is an unpaid internship that requires a time commitment of at least 8 hours per week for a period of at least 6 months. Ask your instructors about course credit!

Please submit resume and cover letter via email to:           

Jenna Segal, Public Programs Manager @ Heal the Bay jsegal@healthebay.org
Halina Do-Linh, Volunteer Programs Manager @ Heal the Bay hdolinh@healthebay.org
 

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Heal the Bay is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters, including the Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean for people and marine life.  We achieve our goals through a variety of research, education, public outreach, advocacy and policy-oriented programs.  Used by almost everyone in Southern California, our beaches and coastal waters are one of the region’s most important natural resources.

Internship Description:

Heal the Bay is looking for 3 to 5 well-organized and responsible individuals capable of learning in a fast-paced environment to support coordination efforts for the 32^nd Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, to be held on Saturday, September 15, 2018.  Every year Heal the Bay organizes thousands of volunteers to come out and clean more than sixty beach and inland sites.  The Coastal Cleanup Day Interns will be working closely with the Coastal Cleanup Day Coordinator and Programs, Communications and Development departments to help coordinate a successful event. There are three project categories for the Coastal Cleanup Day Internships: Neighborhood Council Internship, Gift Sponsorship Internship, and Salesforce Internship. Our summer internships (minimum 12 hours/week) are an excellent opportunity to gain experience and exposure in the environmental field.  They will begin on June 18, 2018 through September 15, 2018.  Attendance at some weekend and evening events will be necessary. In your cover letter, please specify which internship project you are interested in.

Responsibilities Include

• Work with the Coastal Cleanup Day Coordinator and other department staff to plan and promote Coastal Cleanup Day.
• Recruit schools, businesses and community groups to participate.
• Coordinate and train speakers, volunteers, and staff to assist on the day of the event.
• Assist in making presentations to community leaders and groups about Coastal Cleanup Day and ocean pollution.
• Manage the Coastal Cleanup Day volunteer and contact database.
• Create brochures, flyers, and other print materials in Publisher and Quark.
• Solicit support of Latino print, radio and television coverage of the event for greater inland exposure.
• Answer questions about logistics by phone, in person, or email.
• Public speaking.

Neighborhood Council Project

• Reach out to Neighborhood Councils to see if they will do neighborhood cleanups
• Educate the councils about what a neighborhood cleanup entails on Coastal Cleanup Day
• Provide Neighborhood Councils with support, i.e. port-a-pottys, and other supplies as necessary.

Gift Sponsorship Project

• Public Relations skill development
• Reach out to local businesses and groups to find prizes to give away for finding the golden sea star (a contest for participants in Coastal Cleanup Day)
• Support Heal the Bay staff in executing Coastal Cleanup Day

Data Management Project

• Manage Coastal Cleanup Day Campaign on Salesforce
• Manage data regarding participants in Coastal Cleanup Day effort

Qualifications

• Strong communication and writing skills.
• Well organized and careful attention to detail.
• Ability to lead and coordinate large groups of volunteers.
• Ability to work well both independently and as a team.
• Ability to network within community groups and with government offices.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly in Excel, Word, and Publisher is a plus
• California driver’s license required; a car for driving to speeches and meetings is a plus
• Written and oral fluency in Spanish is a plus
• Passion for the environment
• Available June through September, start and end dates are flexible

Please submit resume and cover letter via email to:           

Isabel Cardenas, Coastal Cleanup Day Manager @ Heal the Bay

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Heal the Bay is looking for an organized and responsible person (bilingual preferred) capable of working in a fast-paced environment to support the Programs Department. Interns will be working closely with the Programs Department staff to coordinate successful events, educate the public about marine conservation and water quality issues, and provide support in the office.

This part-time, non-commissioned (unpaid, but ask your school about giving you credit for this!) intern position (minimum of 9 hr/week; but very flexible) is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in the environmental field. This internship would begin as soon as possible and would last for a minimum amount of 2 months time. Attendance at some weekend and evening events might be necessary.

This is an excellent leadership opportunity that will be useful for gaining community outreach experience, resume building, and obtaining references.

Responsibilities include:

• Work with the Programs Department staff to plan, promote, and work at/attend a variety of special events that go on throughout the year. i.e. beach and/or creek cleanups, trainings, “tablings”, dinners, Coastal Cleanup Day, and more. • Recruit schools, businesses, and community groups to participate in Heal the Bay events.
• Assist in coordinating and training speakers, volunteers, and staff on the day of events.
• Make presentations to community and help educate the public about ocean pollution and the Heal the Bay mission. • Manage a variety of databases that grow continuously and exponentially at Heal the Bay.

Qualifications:

• Very well organized and careful attention to detail.
• Must be available to work partial days on occasional weekends (Saturdays especially).
• Strong communication and writing skills.
• Ability to lead and coordinate large groups of volunteers.
• Ability to work well both independently and as a team.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• California driver’s license required; a car for driving to meetings is a plus.
• Spanish speaker preferred.
• Passion for environmental justice issues is a plus.
• All Applicants must be at least 17 years of age; students of college level studies are preferred.

Ask your instructor about college credit! We will fill out whatever form your school provides us with to document your participation in this internship.

Please submit your cover letter and resume via email to:

Nancy Shrodes, Associate Director Policy and Outreach @ Heal the Bay

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Heal the Bay’s Programs Department is looking for an organized and highly self- motivated individual to work closely with the Internship Manager on our MPA Watch program. Candidates would ideally be interested in marine protected areas (MPAs), coastal conservation, fieldwork, have a science background, and be willing to commit to at least 20 hours/week for the summer, and 10 hours/week during the school year. Responsibilities would include but not limited to: performing beach surveys for our MPA Watch program, organizing MPA Watch program data, and assisting with development of program materials.

Heal the Bay’s citizen science program, MPA Watch, involves conducting beach surveys of ocean uses. This program is a great way to combine your love of the beach and ocean while collecting valuable scientific data. Interns and volunteers are trained to observe and collect unbiased data on coastal and marine resource use, which will provide important information to understand how people are using the newly established marine protected areas (MPAs), and to help inform MPA management.

This internship is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable science and work experience in the non-profit environmental field.

Responsibilities include:

• Collection and organization of MPA Watch field data
• Organizing and managing informational databases
• Assisting with Development of program materials

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate or graduate student, with major in Environmental Studies, Marine Science, Geography, Biology or related field
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Professional and enthusiastic
• Be able to spend 4-5 hours daily outdoors with some moderate hiking in occasional adverse weather conditions (wind, rain, heat, cold)
• Detail-oriented; ability to complete projects promptly and completely
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team
• Ability to commit to an internship for at least 10 weeks
• Access to reliable transportation to get to field sites in Malibu and Palos Verdes
• Passion for the ocean

This is an unpaid internship that requires a time commitment of at least 10-20 daytime hours a week, flexible scheduling. Ask your instructors about course credit!

Please submit resume and cover letter via email to:           

Jenna Segal, Public Programs Manager @ Heal the Bay

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Education Department Interns will have exposure to the process of organizing, planning, and teaching the Aquarium education programs. They will assist staff with classroom and beach activities and instruction.  In so doing, they will be helping children from all over the greater Los Angeles area to gain a greater awareness of the importance of keeping the ocean clean, safe, and healthy for animals and people.

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is looking for motivated, dedicated, and responsible interns who wish to acquire the skills to effectively communicate with an audience of diverse ages and backgrounds.  If you love to spend time on the beach, work with animals, and interact with children, this is the internship for you!  Interns are needed to assist in the multifaceted processes of organizing and facilitating our education school field trip programs

Education internships require availability during our program times of 8:45am-2:30pm Monday through Friday. Internships run for a minimum of 10 weeks @ a minimum of 6hrs per week.

This internship is an excellent opportunity to learn more about marine science & environmental education and to gain experience working for an environmental group.

 Responsibilities include:

• Assist the Education Specialists and other staff members with daily operations of the school programs
• Help organize materials for the school programs
• Help with the supervision of students in the classroom and on the beach
• Research curriculum activities, and aid in the development of marine biology & environmental education curriculum
• Lead field trip program lessons
• Special project(s)

Qualifications:

• College age or above
• Experience working with children
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Good computer skills – including MS Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Ability to commit to an internship for at least 10 weeks @ min of 6hrs a week
• Education and/or Marine Biology background preferred
• Ability to pass a criminal background check

Apply here.

Apply For This Internship