JOB POSTING

Principal evaluator

 

Posted: Open to internal and external applicants

Reports to: Director of conservation engagement and learning

Status: Full-time, salaried, benefitted position

Hours of work: Standard Monday–Friday workweek, 8am–5pm. Occasional need for domestic (sometimes international) travel, weekend or after-hours work as related to events and other projects.

Date needed: ASAP

Posting expires: Open until filled

 

About the organization:

The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world’s one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment through a variety of channels including: a compelling exhibit experience and engaging daytime and evening events; conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds; community outreach to underserved populations; research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild; advocacy and policy work; an award-winning volunteer program; strong and consistent marketing efforts; and more.

 

We’re noted for our collaborative, communicative and team-oriented working environment. Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices; creating awe-inspiring experiences; constantly learning and improving; fostering an inclusive community; maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices; and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.

 

Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, we’re the eighth-largest aquarium in the U.S. by attendance and we welcome over 850,000 people through our front doors each year. Guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we’ve developed a master plan to substantially increase in size and impact by opening a new exhibit building, the Ocean Pavilion. Our current annual budget is $18 million.

 

Position description: 

The Seattle Aquarium is looking for a principal evaluator (PE) to join the conservation engagement and learning team. The PE will work with the director of conservation engagement and learning to create and foster an evaluation culture at the Aquarium, where staff regularly use evaluation as a tool to improve programs and use evaluative thinking every day to make better decisions. The PE will work with the director and department managers to create and coordinate opportunities for evaluation capacity-building within conservation engagement and learning department staff with an eye toward developing evaluative thinking skills. The PE will plan and conduct internal evaluation projects for new and existing programs, including developing evaluation plans, coordinating data collection and interpretation, and report writing. The PE will also serve as a primary point of contact for external evaluators working with conservation engagement and learning department programs. Finally, the PE will work with the director to develop and implement the Aquarium’s social science research agenda and serve as the primary point of contact and coordination for external research projects that have requested the Seattle Aquarium’s participation.

 

The ideal candidate will have experience working on evaluation projects in education settings in addition to experience participating in or coordinating social science research projects and developing and delivering informal science programming, preferably in an AZA-accredited facility. We seek a strong public speaker and independent worker with a broad, cross-functional view who understands how organizations work together through internal systems and processes.

 

Essential functions:

  • In collaboration with the director, develop new and modify existing metrics and measures to identify opportunities for program improvement.
  • Design, coordinate and implement internal evaluation projects to address the effectiveness of new and existing conservation engagement and learning department programming in pursuit of the Aquarium’s stated mission and outcomes. Work will include establishing evaluation needs, creating evaluation plans, constructing logic models, developing instruments, and both collecting and interpreting data.
  • Consult with conservation engagement and learning and other Aquarium staff on evaluation strategies and projects.
  • Work with director to identify and coordinate opportunities to build evaluation capacity within department and Aquarium staff with an emphasis on evaluative thinking skills.
  • Coordinate and facilitate the activities of external evaluators working on conservation engagement and learning department projects.
  • Develop and maintain expertise on the topic of the role of empathy in conservation education and behavior change.
  • Work with director to develop and implement the Aquarium’s draft social science research agenda.
  • Coordinate and facilitate the activities of external social science researchers working on conservation engagement and learning department projects.
  • Synthesize the products of evaluation and communicate results, recommendations and trends to department management and staff.
  • Perform other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned.

 

Additional responsibilities:

  • Keep familiar with current research, technology and procedural trends in evaluation for informal/nonformal learning environments. Continuously evaluate all research and evaluation practices with an empathy lens.
  • Oversee students and/or interns working with the Aquarium in evaluation or social science research capacities.
  • Contribute to the professional development of the field by sharing Aquarium activities at local, regional and national meetings as requested by the director.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to professional and personal growth by initiating dialogue with colleagues, engaging in self-directed learning and focusing on professional development.
  • Contribute through professional conduct to a working environment that is inclusive, energetic, innovative and collaborative.

 

Required skills/abilities: 

  • Interest and expertise in marine science and conservation.
  • Interest and experience in equity, inclusion and diversity practices.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Proficiency in office software application, particularly spreadsheets (e.g., Excel).
  • Understanding of trends and research in informal/nonformal science education and evaluation.
  • Familiarity with state and national educational standards, Ocean Literacy Principles.
  • Facilitation skills desired.

 

Experience, education and certifications: We will consider various combinations of relevant experience and education in order to meet minimum requirements.

Required: 

  • One to two years of experience developing and delivering informal science programming (preferably in an AZA-accredited facility).
  • Three to five years working on evaluation projects in education settings (informal/nonformal preferred).
  • One to two years participating in or coordinating social science research projects.
  • Master’s degree in education, science or related field.
  • Washington driver’s license (or eligibility to obtain one upon arrival).

 

Preferred:

  • Doctorate in education, science or related field.

Working conditions:

  • Work will be a mix of desk work, meetings and occasional education work (teaching, interpreting).
  • Semi-private work area. Also requires duties to be carried out in exhibit areas, possible outdoor field excursions and off-site training and travel.
  • Requires flexibility for evening or weekend visits, activities and events throughout the year in support of projects and programs.

 

Salary and benefits: $58,500–$68,800/year starting salary, D.O.E. Please include salary expectations in your materials. Full-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium’s comprehensive benefits package to include medical, vision, dental, health reimbursement account, medical and dental flexible spending accounts, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, access to a subsidized ORCA pass, an Aquarium Family Plus membership and generous paid time off.

 

How to apply: The Seattle Aquarium is a progressive, equal opportunity employer that values a diverse workforce. All candidates are encouraged to apply by uploading a résumé and one-page letter detailing interest and relevant experience in our online application.

Application can be found here: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=98930ce8-632f-495a-bf7b-12cd372446bd&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=299153&source=CC3&lang=en_US

Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job.

 

Note: Must pass a background check, upon job offer, to be eligible for this position.