Job Openings >> Presentation Specialist - Team Lead
Presentation Specialist - Team Lead
Summary
Title:Presentation Specialist - Team Lead
ID:1201
Department:Planning & Design
Description

Seeking creative individuals with strong leadership skills for the Presentation Specialist Team Lead position at Shedd Aquarium. The Live Programs Team is responsible for delivering participatory, audience centered engagements that help to achieve Shedd’s mission of sparking compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world. The Presentation Specialist Team Lead is charged with working alongside the rest of the team to help deliver high quality engagements including the large scale aquatic presentation. In addition, the Team Lead helps to facilitate fun exercises to help build and maintain presentation skills, manage day of logistics, represent the team when leaders are not available, and maintain effective communication to team, leaders, and partner departments. Qualified individuals will have experience in improv, theatre and or informal education settings as well as 1-2 years of leadership experience. This is a great opportunity to marry a love of the natural world with a strong desire to engage guests in dynamic ways.


The Presentation Specialist Team Lead is a Full Time member of the Live Programs team. Each member of the team is expected to exemplify the team member attributes and the Shedd Way charter. Among other duties, the Presentation Specialist provides expert interpretation of Shedd’s exhibits and collection; they do so through a variety of programs and impromptu guest interactions within assigned zones.  Presentation Specialists also are uniquely connected with Shedd’s Aquatic Presentations.  The scope of the role varies based on the needs of the presentation, and is performance in nature, putting this individual in front of an audience as large as 1,000 guests at a time.  This position requires memorization of multiple scripts and thematic outlines as well as improvisation and dynamic audience engagement. Their expanded knowledge of Shedd’s collection and mission are applied throughout the building.  This position must have the ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.

Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday, 8:30am - 6:30pm

Team Member Attributes:

As a member of the Live Programs team each individual should possess the following qualities which will enable the team to achieve Shedd’s mission to spark compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world.

  • Positive attitude
  • Supportive of other team members
  • Proactive in bringing forward solutions to challenges
  • Maintain positive working relationships
  • Guest focus in all activities
  • Valuing diverse perspectives
  • Creativity
Shedd Way Charter:

As ONE SHEDD the Live Programs team is expected to deliver an exceptional experience for other team members, staff, volunteers and internal and external guests. Each team member should demonstrate the qualities listed in the attached Shedd WAY charter including but not limited to:

  • Professional appearance
  • Positive body language
  • Seeking out guest contact
  • Listening and responding to others needs
  • Taking pride in Shedd
  • Delight in the animals in our care
  • Learning about and respecting those you work with
Duties & Responisbilities:
  • Demonstrate commitment to Shedd’s vision, mission and values. 
  • Memorize and perform multiple scripts and thematic outlines featuring Shedd’s collection.
  • Represent the live programs team as the team leader when Director and Assistant Director are not available.
  • Completes schedules, rotations, and manages call offs.
  • Lead morning meetings.
  • Lead games and exercises to build team skills.
  • Raises team performance and personnel issues to Assistant Director & Director of Dept.
  • Assists in implementing reward and recognition plans per direction.
  • Reviews programs and completes team documentations.
  • Learn script revisions, blocking adjustments, and ongoing program content updates.
  • Interact with the public and husbandry staff.
  • Dynamically engaging guests about the collection.
  • Work in close proximity to animals, strictly adhering to all established protocols.
  • Serve as a role model to other staff and volunteers for guest interaction and knowledge.
  • Attend training workshops as scheduled. 
  • Demonstrate continued growth in content knowledge and increased aptitude in program delivery.
  • Understand and take part in the operation throughout the building, including but not limited to:
    • Aquatic Show Host
    • Interpretation Posts
    • Participatory Engagements
  • Cooperate closely with management to set personal goals, hone skills, and receive feedback to foster growth.
  • Assist in training new hires by modeling best practices.
  • Apply improvisational strategies in programs
  • Integrate feedback, ongoing coaching and direction in presentations and programs
  • Serve on interdepartmental teams
  • Implement other duties as needed or assigned.

Qualifications:

Education:

  • High School diploma required.  Some college preferred.         


Experience:

  • Minimum of one-year experience in public speaking required.
  • One year leadership experience
  • Two years’ experience in education, theatre and or improvisation preferred.
  • Experience delivering programs to a variety of audiences in a museum, zoo or aquarium setting preferred.
  • Experience in aquatic science and/or biology preferred.
This opening is closed and is no longer accepting applications
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