Education Program Host (Full-Time, Permanent)

If you are an engaging and passionate educator who would love an exciting environmental career teaching about marine mammals, please apply for the Education Program Host position. Educators narrate live-action, ever-changing presentations with our dolphin, sea lion, tortoise, and bird family members. The Education Program Host position is a full-time position; weekend hours are required.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Greeting guests and answering questions
• Presenting and teaching workshops and/or seminars
• Narrating public dolphin and sea lion sessions
• Conducting activities and program orientation with guests of all ages
• Facilitating camp activities and student discussions
• Preparing Education programs paperwork, classroom activities and schedules
• Assisting with information requests and program supply inventory
• Assisting with Distance Learning presentations
• Transporting DolphinLab students in a 15-passenger van

Qualifications

• Successful candidates will be outgoing, have excellent communication/presentation/public speaking skills and be excited about DRC and our family of dolphins and sea lions.
• Must be passionate about sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge with our guests.
• Be flexible with their availability, as work schedules can change weekly (evening and weekend hours are required).
• Must have physical agility and good balance, be able to take steep steps while climbing on and off our floating docks, and be able to assist guests on and off our floating docks.
• Must also be able to squat and/or crouch to take photographs.
• Must be able to work long days in the Florida Keys heat and in all types of weather conditions.
• Must have the ability and desire to work with a variety of people, especially youth, on a regular basis.
• Successful applicants will be responsible, organized, motivated, and self-directed individuals who demonstrate excellent “team player” skills.
• Must have basic knowledge of computer programs.
• Must have a clean driving record.
• Must have or are actively pursuing an associate's degree (at minimum) for this position.

Benefits

DRC currently offers medical benefits, life and disability insurance plan, a 401(k) retirement plan, flexible spending accounts, employee assistance program, paid holidays, vacation, sick, and overtime, as well as personal growth and training opportunities. DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees, and the salary, combined with benefits, creates a competitive total package that is right for our environment. DRC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. To see if you qualify for student loan forgiveness, please visit http://studentloans.gov/mydirectloan/pslfflow.action. DRC is a dog-friendly workplace!

Facilities Maintenance Apprentice (Full-time, Permanent)

Dolphin Research Center (DRC) currently has a full-time opening for an Facilities Maintenance Apprentice.  DRC is a not-for-profit education and research facility dedicated to teaching, learning and caring about marine mammals and the environment we share.

Position Responsibilities:

Major duties of this position in our Animal Care and Habitat Department may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Maintenance of buildings, equipment, vehicles, and boats.
• Attend to plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and automotive needs.
• Assist with land and water construction projects.
• Cleaning, maintenance, and repair of floating docks and in water fencing.
• Maintain and repair filtration systems.
• Maintain records and systems.
• Maintenance and repair of netting and dive equipment.
• Assist with stocking fish within freezer.
• Participate on Manatee Rescue Team.
• Perform safe removal of sea life from lagoons.
• Support Medical and Animal Care and Training staff with care of dolphins, sea lion, exotic birds and other DRC animals, including but not limited to weighing animals, transferring to different lagoons/habitats, in-water medical check-ups, etc.

Qualifications:

• Successful candidate will be a flexible, responsible, organized, and motivated individual who demonstrates excellent “team player” skills.
• Must be physically fit, able to lift 75 pounds, and have a high comfort level in the water. Must be dedicated to the animals’ care, safety and well-being at all times.
• Will either be diver certified or be willing to become diver certified.
• Must possess general “handy-man” skills, knowledge of dive equipment maintenance is a plus.
• Must have a clean driving record.
• Must be able to work outdoors in the Florida heat and other extreme weather conditions.

Benefits:

DRC currently offers medical benefits, life and disability insurance plan, a 401(k) retirement plan, flexible spending accounts, employee assistance program, paid holidays, vacation, sick, and overtime, as well as personal growth and training opportunities. Pay is based on experience.  DRC seeks to provide for the well-being of its employees and our wage combined with our generous benefits creates a competitive total package that is right for our environment. DRC is a 501(c)(3) qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. To see if you qualify for student loan forgiveness, please visit https://studentloans.gov/mydirectloan/pslfflow.action.

To Apply:

If interested, please submit a resume and a DRC application to drc-hr@dolphins.org or mail to Human Resources, Dolphin Research Center, 58901 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, FL  33050.

Dolphin Research Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer

SALARY & BENEFITS

The cost of living in the Keys tends to be high and salaries, for the most part, are not competitive with the national average. This is particularly true at DRC, which is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. Starting salaries vary according to an applicant's educational background, experience, and particular job responsibilities. The starting annual salary for an entry-level employee at DRC averages $29,120. Many staff members find it necessary to supplement their income through other means.

DRC seeks to provide for the well being of its employees and our salary combined with our generous benefits creates a competitive total package that is right for our environment.

DRC offers an excellent benefits package including health insurance, a 401(k) plan, paid holidays, paid vacation, paid sick leave, gift shop discounts, work clothing, and complimentary Dolphin Encounters. However, the most important benefits are the extraordinary rewards employees encounter on a daily basis: feeling the elation when a dolphin demonstrates a new behavior for the first time, watching a child grin in excitement when she sees a dolphin burst out of the water into a flip, sitting quietly on a dock observing the fluid grace of dolphins, experiencing the sense of satisfaction when a student grasps a new concept, witnessing the magical moment when a learning-disabled child utters his first word. Moments such as these are the true rewards, the unique benefits of working at Dolphin Research Center.

Transparency in Coverage Rule Compliance

Under the Transparency in Coverage Rule, issued in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Department of Labor, and Department of the Treasury and enforced beginning 7/1/22, health insurance issuers must publish two separate machine readable files (MRFs) as follows:

• In Network: Negotiated rates for all covered items and services between the plan or issuer and in-network providers
• Out of Network: Allowed amount paid to, and billed charges from, out-of-network providers for all covered services within a 90-day period

These MRFs are available for you to read here.

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested, please send your resume and completed application by email to drc-hr@dolphins.org or fax them to the Human Resources Director at (305) 289-8902. You may also mail them to Dolphin Research Center, Human Resources Director, 58901 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, FL 33050 or stop by the center and complete an application in person.

Dolphin Research Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.