About Shedd
Manager of Great Lakes Public Outreach
To apply, please send resume and cover letter to:
Tiffany Johnson
Human Resources
John G. Shedd Aquarium
1200 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
jobs@sheddaquarium.org
Fax: 312-663-0971
Position status: full-time, regular
General Description:
Manages and leads Great Lakes public outreach and education. Strategizes, plans and executes Great Lakes public outreach and education using excellent communication skills and problem-solving techniques. Maintains key relationships. Develops and maintains expertise on Great Lakes issues and messaging, and works closely with entire Great Lakes team to coordinate efforts. Manages and supervises part-time outreach staff. Represents the Center for the Great Lakes to external and internal audiences.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Implements the public educational outreach campaign, which supports communications objectives of the Shedd Center for the Great Lakes. Personally engages key Great Lakes audiences through educational outreach programs such as festivals, expos, beach sweeps and other events. Manages logistics associated with the implementation of these programs. Supervises small team of part-time outreach staff. Trains and schedules staff, interns and volunteers necessary to assist in accomplishing program goals and objectives. Works with supervisor and internal media team to ensure paid and earned media work is smoothly coordinated with outreach events.
• Represents Shedd’s Center for the Great Lakes to external and internal audiences. Communicates about the Center for the Great Lakes through policy- and message-based conversations, public speaking engagements, written communications and media interviews as appropriate. Provides content and input to aquarium teams and meetings, projects and programs, and in local forums and professional associations.
• Develops and fosters strategic partnerships and relationships with colleagues in other Great Lakes organizations (governmental, NGO, etc.). Participates in strategic planning, and assists with other projects as required.
• Keeps active and up to date on Great Lakes issues and policy, and shares with Great Lakes team and others as needed.
• Assists with Great Lakes program fundraising, reporting and budget planning. Maintains all files, recordkeeping and evaluation related to the implementation of Great Lakes outreach.
Job Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree preferred, in environmental education, policy, biology, communications, or related field.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with emphasis on public speaking.
• Minimum of two years of planning, developing and teaching or presenting.
• Excellent leadership and motivation skills and qualities. Detail-oriented, self-starter with a positive attitude.
• Experience with project management (initiation through completion), budget management, team participation and strategic planning.
• Demonstrated interest in Great Lakes issues and awareness of current local, national and international conservation issues and topics and ability to effectively communicate them to various types of audiences.
• Ability to frequently work evenings and weekends, and to be outdoors.
• Ability to travel for off-site programs. Valid driver’s license, vehicle and insurance preferred.
• Ability to do moderate-to-heavy lifting to transport equipment and material to sites. Ability to stand for long periods.
Based on Shedd Aquarium’s commitment to the environment, electronic versions of resumes are preferred.
