About the Organization

Heal the Bay is an environmental nonprofit dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds of greater L.A. safe, healthy, and clean. Heal the Bay mobilizes L.A.’s diverse communities to protect our coastline, revitalize our urban waterways, and speak out for smart water policies. For more than three decades, we’ve been the guardian of the Bay – protecting the health of beachgoers and animals alike.

California’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths. Heal the Bay is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment that respects all individuals regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, religion, or age. We are focused on recruiting and retaining a diverse team of employees, fostering a positive environment where inclusive behaviors are the norm, prioritizing our work through an equity and inclusivity lens, and embedding accountability for diversity throughout the organization. We are committed to creating an environment where all employees are included, are treated with dignity and respect, and are in a position to contribute to our success

Position Description

Under the supervision of the Aquarium’s Associate Director of Programs, the Public Programs Manager will fill the primary role of providing high quality customer service while creating public educational content and programming, as well as leading public program operations, special events, birthday parties, and retail operations. Leads a team of public programs associates, volunteers, and interns and prioritizes the organization’s strategic initiatives through collaborative communication internally and externally.

Essential Job Functions include:

• Manage public programs team including staff, interns, and volunteers by motivating, coaching, training and developing them towards optimum performance.
• Develop skills and oversee special projects of staff, volunteers, and interns related to strategic planning, revenue goals, and program growth.
• Oversee the daily operations of public programs during all business hours including admissions, retail, and visitor experience.
• Listen, understand, and address the needs of our visitors, employees, and volunteers while creating a welcoming environment that supports Heal the Bay’s mission of fostering inclusivity, dignity, and respect.
• Create content and exhibit enhancements as needed, as well as managing and leading themed weekends, special events, birthday parties, and general public programs.
• Support retail operations through inventory management, ordering, pricing merchandising, marketing, and advertising
• Work closely with the communications team to ensure marketing and communications efforts are integrated and optimized on event, program, and department levels.
• Help to increase awareness of Heal the Bay’s mission and visibility for the Aquarium, and be an advocate for our strategic initiatives.
• Assist in office management, including supply ordering and maintaining Green Business Certification and Associate of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) best practices.
• Oversee the development and use of effective standard operating procedures, implementation, and monitoring programs to ensure that all policies and procedures are appropriately and effectively followed.
• Contribute positively to the leadership team and foster a culture of great communication and collaboration organization wide.
• Contribute to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all people and creatures.

Preferred Experience/Skills

• Management experience and proven success working as part of a diverse team.
• Experience with, or interest in learning about, working with animals and educating about animals, including familiarity with Santa Monica Bay marine organisms and ecosystems.
• Excellent communication, customer service, and public speaking skills
• Conversational level knowledge of at least two languages (Spanish preferred)
• Knowledge of major social media platforms (e.g.,. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite
• Can work collaboratively and communicate well with a team.
• Can also work independently with minimal supervision and take initiative.
• Experience working with children and fostering positive learning experiences.

If you don’t meet all of the preferred skills above, you are still encouraged to apply and will be considered based on diverse and equivalent skills and experience.

Compensation

This is a non-exempt full-time position $22.50 – $25.50 per hour with appropriate state and federal taxes withheld.

Benefits

There are dental, medical, health insurance, and vacation benefits included as part of employment. In accordance with California Labor Law, employee will be eligible to receive up to 72 hours of paid sick leave per calendar year, after completing 90 days of employment. All Heal the Bay recognized holidays will be compensated in accordance to time worked.

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week. Must be available for weekends, evenings, and holidays.

To Apply

Please submit cover letter and/or brief introduction and resume/CV or list of qualifications online HERE.

Heal the Bay is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status and we strongly encourage applications from individuals that reflect the diversity of Los Angeles County.

Heal the Bay complies with AB 1008, the Fair Chance Act, during the hiring process. Once a conditional job offer has been made the candidate will be asked to complete a Live Scan criminal background check. A thorough assessment of conviction history will be considered including: the nature and gravity of the criminal history, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job the candidate is seeking.