Join Our Team

Department:  Education     
Full-time/Part-time: Seasonal with the possibility of Part Time after the season    
Exempt/Non-Exempt:  Non-exempt
Reports to:   Director of Education
Staff reporting to this position:  N/A
Location:   National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is an outgrowth of the Dubuque County Historical Society, which also operates the Mathias Ham Historic Site, is home to the National Rivers Hall of Fame, and supports a national outreach program called RiverWorks Discovery. Its mission is to inspire stewardship through educational experiences where history and rivers come alive.

Educators are primarily responsible for the presentation of engaging and inclusive educational programs. On-site and off-site programs highlight connections to the Mississippi River through history, conservation, and STEM topics, utilizing dynamic resources of the NMRMA campus to forge meaningful connections with all audiences. Some of these programs involve the use of live ambassador animals, requiring a degree of comfort around animals. In addition to regular interpretation on the floor, staff will assist with tours, youth camps, overnights, special events, birthday parties, school groups, outreach, and other areas. The specific assignments for each Educator on any given day will vary and are scheduled in advance whenever possible.

The Dubuque County Historical Society and its properties, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and Mathias Ham Historic Site, are committed to embracing diversity, practicing equity, and ensuring accessibility and inclusion. We continually strive to achieve a welcoming environment in all our spaces, where our staff and community feel reflected and valued for their unique perspectives and backgrounds. DEAI values guide and impact all the decisions the museum makes, both internal and external.

Primary duties

• Present and create exceptional and dynamic guest experiences in formal and informal settings.
  • Develop and implement education programs, events, and activities for diverse audiences of all ages, including classes, camps, overnights, volunteer programs, tours, etc.
  • Incorporate small and medium sized live animals, biological specimens, and/or historical artifacts and replicas whenever possible.
  • Perform educational programs that include options such as: arts and crafts, live animals, games, activities, artifacts, props, etc.
• Perform variable daily roles as assigned, including, but not limited to: MakerSpace, Rivers of Innovation, Delta, Tidepool, W.M. Black dredge boat, camps, overnights, outreach, and tours

Additional duties

• Follow all protocols, procedures, and uphold the Education Department Code of Conduct
• Remain comfortable, competent, and invested in history, conservation, and STEM topics to ensure redundancy and cross-training are in place
• Attend mandatory, prescheduled training sessions
• Maintain written records in accordance with established practice and policy
• Keep all education areas clean, organized and hazard free, report maintenance needs, and perform minor maintenance tasks
• Engage in continued learning about machinery, animals, plants, and artifacts in institutional collection

Qualifications 

• Relevant college course work, a Bachelor’s degree, or relevant experience with an emphasis on STEM fields including but not limited to engineering, computer science, graphic design, mathematics, biology, environmental science, ecology, history, anthropology, education, or a related field is encouraged but not required
• Prior exposure to informal learning processes, preferably in an aquarium, zoo, nature center, historic site, or museum setting is beneficial
• A personal email account and phone number are required for information exchange
• Must be comfortable around the water, and indoors and outdoors in any weather
• Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language
• Must be able to perform any physical demands of job duties, either with or without reasonable accommodation
• Final candidates will be subject to a reference and background check

How to apply
To learn more, visit www.rivermuseum.org/join-our-team.  Apply by emailing your resume, cover letter, and references to apply@rivermuseum.org or by delivering them in person to 350 E. 3rd St., Dubuque, IA 52001.

Research suggests that women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that any applicant is able to meet all of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if you are drawn to this position and feel your strengths would be an asset to the organization, we highly encourage you to apply.
 

Blacksmith volunteers work in either the boat shop or the blacksmith shop to help with electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, building, and repair projects for the Museum & Aquarium. Volunteer blacksmiths also conduct demonstrations for guests during certain special events throughout the year. Those interested in this position do not need to have previous blacksmithing experience, but must be interested in learning skill work to demonstrate for visitors.

Equipment and basic training is provided upon starting in this position.

Conservation volunteers work alongside our Curator of Conservation Programs on daily, weekly, and monthly projects in the community, including habitat restoration, campus habitat care, greenhouse tending, mussel survey work, prairie, forest, and woodland restoration days, river cleanups, seed harvesting, and more. Those interested will be scheduled and contacted about opportunities as they arise. 

Volunteers will assist Development staff with matching pre-scanned documents to donation records in our database, Altru. The scanned document would then be attached to the file associated to that record. Training is provided and once understood the volunteer can work independently.

Applicants should possess:

• A comfortability in working with computers
• Attention to detail

Note: An NDA must be signed by Development volunteers as files and documents may contain sensitive donor information

The volunteer greeter is one of the first individuals that the guests of the Museum & Aquarium interact with. Greeters welcome each visitor to our campus, provide them with a map, and direct them to the various features and exhibits of the Museum & Aquarium. This includes explaining the different buildings and areas, highlighting certain animals, and going over the daily activities being offered.

Basic training is provided prior to starting in this position.

At the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, the MakerSpace volunteer will assist the educator in overseeing the space.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Welcome guests to the space.
• Assist with describing what activities are available to the guests and helping them with the activity, as needed.
• Clean up areas, as needed.
• Good communication skills. Comfortable approaching guests and initiating conversation.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Living Collections volunteers will help to provide daily care of various animals at the Museum &  Aquarium. This may include daily feedings and enclosure cleaning, making and documenting observations related to animal health and well-being, maintaining written and electronic records, testing water quality, and following other Living Collections procedures.

A typical Living Collections volunteer will possess a high school diploma, a background or experience relating to animal husbandry, and be able to commit to a minimum of 8 hours a week with the team.

Extensive training is provided upon starting this position.

The volunteer receptionist is stationed in the administration office of the Mississippi River Center. Receptionists answer all incoming calls during normal business hours and direct them accordingly. They will also greet, welcome, and direct all in-person guests who arrive for meetings and other business. Various mailings and other administrative and office-related tasks also fall under this position.

Basic training is provided upon starting this position.

The Rivers of Innovation (ROI) Assistant helps to provide a positive experience for visitors to the Rivers of Innovation area focusing on the topographic map and water table area.
Volunteers will perform the following tasks:

• Welcome and interact with visitors in the exhibit
• Mopping up any water on the floor from the water table
• Sweep up topographic map pieces
• Interpreting the various elements of the ROI exhibit from the Machine Shop to the Boat Shop
• Direct guests to locations around campus as needed such as the bathroom, comfort room, and the second salt water building.

Special events volunteers assist with the Museum & Aquarium's events throughout the year, ranging from small to large scale. Typical tasks may include set up and tear down, helping facilitate crafts, games, and experiments, food preparation, ticketing, historical demonstrations, dressing up in character, and more. Those interested will be contacted about opportunities as they arise. 

Down in the Delta volunteers work alongside a museum educator to interpret and inform guests who visit the Delta touch tank about the various rays and skates on exhibit. Volunteers are also responsible for helping to maintain the safety of both the animals and guests, such as instructing guests to rinse their hands before touching the animals, explaining the proper technique to touch and feed the animals, and providing basic facts about the rays and skates to enrich guests’ experience.

Basic training is provided prior to starting in this position.

Our special traveling exhibits are on the 2nd floor of the Mississippi River Center. The volunteer will direct guests to areas of the exhibit and assist when needed.

Volunteers will perform the following tasks:

• Welcome and answer questions about the exhibit
• Direct visitors on how to use certain interactive parts 
• Assist the mini rock wall and zip line
• Notify staff if there are broken parts that need repaired
• Wipe down areas that get used frequently throughout the exhibit
• Other related duties as assigned
   

The William M. Black dredge boat volunteer provides a positive experience for visitors that come aboard the 1934 vessel. The dredge boat is open seasonally and weather dependent. The volunteer will assist the William M. Black Educator by welcoming them and directing them to tour specific areas of the boat. 

Volunteers will perform the following tasks:

• Welcome and interact with visitors as they board the vessel
• Hand out brochures with facts about the William M. Black 
• Mopping up any water on the deck
• Sweep or dust visible areas near the entry of the boat 
• Interpreting the various elements of the William M. Black including the history and the function of different portions of the dredge boat.
• Direct guests to locations around campus as needed such as the bathroom, comfort room, café and the second building.

The Banquet intern will assist the Sales & Guest Services Department with the booking, planning, coordination, preparation, and post-event needs of all after-hours banquet operations for events at NMRMA. This may include weddings, receptions, corporate events, and other similar gatherings.

Primary Duties

• Participate in organizing and executing events
• Attend client meetings or participate in client phone calls
• Set tables, chairs, and other equipment to the specification of the client
• Collaborate with Banquet service and Banquet bartenders as to achieve the overall success of the event
• Break down and store tables, chairs and other equipment at the conclusion of an event
• Clean and maintain all event space to the standards of the organization

Application
Please send application, resume, and cover letter materials to Kristen Leffler at kleffler@rivermuseum.org. Details and information can be found on www.rivermuseum.org/join-our-team.

Are you interested in getting hands-on, outside of the classroom experience in the environmental field and becoming a member of the next generation of conservation heroes?  The Conservation Programs internship allows for the opportunity to understand the role of action-oriented conservation campaigns and participate in networking opportunities with and learn from conservation professionals.

Primary Duties

• Facilitate in-situ community-based conservation action programming with area conservation partners targeting family audiences. Programming may include but is no limited to:
  • Freshwater Mussel Propagation for Restoration
  • Invasive Species Removal
  • Trash Clean-ups
  • Bottomland Forest Restoration
  • Wildlife Surveys
  • Water Quality Monitoring
• Assist in the facilitation of Teen Stewardship Team work sessions and in-situ conservation action programming 
• Explore the elements that go into an aquarium-based conservation organization including:
  • Conservation Education
  • Development and Funding
  • Marketing
  • Graphics
  • Public Relations
• Enhance teamwork, leadership and communication skills.
• Work with others towards the goal of saving wildlife and stewarding rivers

Application
Please send application, resume, and cover letter materials to Kristen Leffler at kleffler@rivermuseum.org. Details and information can be found on www.rivermuseum.org/join-our-team.

The Curatorial intern will provide support for the Curatorial Services (Historical Collections) department at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and Mathias Ham Historic Site. This includes the research and development of current and upcoming exhibits, and the organization, preservation, and interpretation of historical records and artifacts.

Primary duties

• Assist collections management staff with object handling, documentation, exhibit installation/deinstallation
• Help prepare for exhibit creation and curation
• Verify, update, and catalog information on collection items in the organization’s database
• Correlate items with the correct paper and database files
• Digitally photograph or scan each item and adds images to the database
• Research items in the collection
• Assist with proper storage and housing of collection items

Application

Please send application, resume, and cover letter to Kristen Leffler at kleffler@rivermuseum.com. Details and information can be found on www.rivermuseum.com/join-our-team.
 

The Development intern will assist the Development department with ongoing fundraising activities that meet our mission. The intern will work collaboratively with staff to update donor and member demographic information, research match gift organizations and opportunities, and work to update our digital donor gift history information as we move closer to our goal of being an even more sustainable/green organization while learning the processes and importance of non-profit development.

This is a distinct opportunity to advance the organization’s capability to fundraise and maintain a properly updated database and increase strong collaborative efforts with local organizations and prospective donors.

Primary Duties

• Gain and maintain working knowledge of our donor and member database system

• Maintain a working database of funders and deadlines

• Assist in prospect research and cultivation of current and new donors, major gifts, and matching gifts

• Research possible sponsors, which fits the organizations vision, mission and ongoing educational activities

• Track and report event sponsors in the community

• Assist in planning Museum & Aquarium upcoming events
  
  

Application

Please send application, resume, and cover letter materials to Kristen Leffler at kleffler@rivermuseum.org. Details and information can be found on www.rivermuseum.org/join-our-team.

The Living Collections internship provides a unique opportunity for students to gain hands on experience, develop transferable job skills, and learn about a variety of different topics related directly to the zoo and aquarium industry.  Interns will learn about a variety of aspects concerning animals in human care across multiple taxonomic groups such as freshwater fish, saltwater fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, invertebrates, and mammals.  Interns will work directly with the Living Collections team and, over the course of the internship, gain a working knowledge of various concepts in the subjects of animal husbandry, water quality, and life support systems.  Additionally, students will be given the opportunity to complete a project of their choice that aligns with their personal goals as well as the goals of the organization and present their outcomes to the team.

Preference will be given to highly motivated 3rd and 4th year college/university students majoring in biology, zoology, or a related field with career goals specifically related to this field of study.  

The minimum hours requirement for fall and spring is 12 hours weekly (1–8-hour day and 1 half day), and in the summer is 16 hours per week (2 full 8-hour days).  Interns are welcome to work more hours per their availability.

Primary duties

• Preparation of animal diets
• Enclosure cleaning and servicing
• Basic water quality testing
• Lead public feedings
• Provide excellent customer service to guests
• Other duties as assigned.

Application

Please send application, resume, and cover letter materials to Kristen Leffler at kleffler@rivermuseum.org. Details and information can be found on www.rivermuseum.org/join-our-team.

The Marketing & Communications team at the organization is responsible for public representation through branding, advertising, media relations, social media, sales, and public events. The Social Media and Communications intern will work closely with the Marketing & Communications Manager, Graphic Design Manager, and other departments to collect, develop, organize, and disseminate engaging content for social media, press releases, e-newsletters, promotional pieces, advertising, and the website.

Primary Duties

• Collaborate to serve as a primary “voice” of the River Museum’s social media channels, developing strategy, providing creativity, and producing engaging content while managing day-to-day social media responsibilities and amplifying our brand and mission
• Interact with our social media audience as necessary and assist in responding to inquiries and posts on our platforms
• Work closely with the Marketing & Communications Manager and others to develop strategy, content, placement, and success of digital media efforts and to keep the website updated and maintained
• Take quality photographs and videos for use on social media and the organization’s website as well as take photographs, as needed, of events, programs, and activities for use in marketing publications
• Produce short form video for social media platforms as well as in-depth and longer educational content for grant and programming purposes
• Maintain the organization’s website, including organizing and updating webpages
• Assist with content development as needed for website, social media, and digital creative
• Actively seek ideas and keep apprised of trends and best practices in social media, marketing, communications, design, and the industry
• Provide recommendations to strengthen and improve marketing and communications efforts

Application
Please send application, resume, and cover letter materials to Kristen Leffler at kleffler@rivermuseum.org. Details and information can be found on www.rivermuseum.org/join-our-team.