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Position: Marine Naturalist & Interpreter
Organization: Tidepools Aquarium
Location: Tidepools Aquarium, Gibsons (Sunshine Coast), BC (in-person)
Start Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2026 (or earliest availability)
About Us
Tidepools Aquarium is a unique collect-and-release aquarium, with over 90 local species of marine organisms collected from the waters of Átl'ka7tsem | Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast. We specialize in providing a fun, interactive, educational experience for visitors that inspires a connection to and love for the ocean, and encourages them to become stewards of the health of our ocean.
We are located in Gibsons, BC, inside Gibsons Public Market and operate year-round. Tidepools Aquarium is operated by BlueAct Marine Society, a charitable non-profit. In addition to operating the aquarium, BlueAct leads conservation projects and delivers K-12 education programs and kids camps throughout the year.
Individuals who work with us must value environmental stewardship and the marine world. If you have the following qualifications and a willingness to learn, are enthusiastic, positive, motivated and team-oriented, we are looking for you to join our team!
About The Role
Position Type: Permanent, Full-time (37.5 hours/week)
Regular Hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
(may change from time to time, depending on organizational needs)
Reports to: Manager, Business & Operations
Supervised by: Senior Aquarist & Aquarium Supervisor
Wage: $20- $25 per hour, commensurate with experience
Benefits: 2 weeks vacation time, 4% vacation pay, $100/month health and wellness supplement.
Description
Tidepools Aquarium is seeking an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and engaging Marine Naturalist to inspire curiosity and foster meaningful connections between people and the marine ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest. This role combines environmental education, public interpretation, and animal care support, creating memorable experiences for visitors while helping maintain the highest standards of aquarium operations.
As one of the public faces of the aquarium, you will interpret the incredible biodiversity of the Salish Sea through engaging conversations, educational programming, interactive exhibits, and guided experiences. Behind the scenes, you will also assist with aquarist tasks, daily animal care, and aquarium operations to ensure exceptional care for our living collection.
If you are equally comfortable speaking to small groups, gently handling marine animals, and enthusiastically answering a five-year-old's endless questions, we'd love to hear from you.
What You'll Do
Visitor Engagement & Interpretation
- Welcome visitors and create an inclusive, engaging, and memorable guest experience.
- Interpret the ecology, biodiversity, and conservation of the Salish Sea and Pacific Northwest marine environments.
- Lead educational talks, touch tank experiences, feeding demonstrations, and interpretive activities.
- Adapt communication styles to audiences of all ages, abilities, cultures, and knowledge levels.
- Encourage curiosity through inquiry-based learning and meaningful conversations.
- Share accurate scientific information in an approachable and engaging way.
- Support environmental stewardship and responsible recreation through positive visitor interactions.
- Represent Tidepools Aquarium with professionalism and enthusiasm.
- Assist with daily animal husbandry routines under established protocols.
- Help prepare food and participate in animal feeding.
- Assist with cleaning exhibits, life support equipment, and aquarium facilities.
- Monitor animal health and behaviour, reporting concerns promptly.
- Assist with animal collection, transport, and exhibit preparation, as required.
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness, organization, and biosecurity.
Who You Are
You are naturally curious about the ocean and genuinely excited to share that curiosity with others. You believe that every visitor—whether they're a marine biologist or seeing a sea star for the first time—deserves an experience that sparks wonder and deepens their connection to the natural world. You're someone who:
- Has an infectious enthusiasm for the natural world, the ocean, and Pacific Northwest ecosystems.
- Loves talking with people and can make scientific information easy to understand.
- Is warm, approachable, and genuinely enjoys creating positive experiences for others.
- Is observant, patient, and attentive to both people and animals.
- Enjoys learning and is always looking to expand your knowledge.
- Thrives in a collaborative, supportive team environment.
- Is dependable, adaptable, and comfortable shifting between public engagement and behind-the-scenes responsibilities.
- Maintains a calm, professional attitude during busy days and unexpected situations.
- Appreciates that caring for living animals requires consistency, attention to detail, and compassion.
- Isn't afraid to get wet, dirty, or spend time outdoors in all weather.
- Values conservation and wants to inspire others to care for our oceans.
Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in environmental interpretation, outdoor education, aquariums, museums, science centres, or ecotourism.
- Experience in front-facing customer service roles.
- Knowledge of Pacific Northwest and Salish Sea marine ecosystems.
- Excellent public speaking and interpersonal communication skills.
- Comfortable working independently and in a team.
- Degree or diploma in Marine Biology, Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology, Education, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience (asset).
- Experience working with marine invertebrates, fishes, or aquarium systems (asset).
- An interest and skills in social media, story creation, and photography (asset).
- SCUBA diving certifications (asset).
- Standard First Aid/CPR certification (asset).
- Valid Class 5 Driver's Licence (asset).
- Ability to stand, walk, and be on your feet for the whole day.
- Ability to work in a fluctuating environment throughout the day where it can be very busy with multiple groups of people at once or quieter.
- Ability to lift to approx 25 kg (55 lbs) and perform physically active work.
- Ability to work weekends and occasional holidays and evenings.
- Ability to live on the Sunshine Coast.
At Tidepools Aquarium, we value curiosity, kindness, scientific integrity, inclusivity, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. We believe meaningful experiences with marine life inspire lifelong conservation, and every member of our team plays an important role in making those experiences possible. If you're passionate about the Pacific Northwest coast and want to help people fall in love with the ocean while contributing to exceptional animal care, we'd love to meet you.
How To Apply
Email your resume and cover letter to: [email protected]
- Please confirm in the email that you either live on the Sunshine Coast or can relocate.
- Please confirm in the email that you are comfortable with the working conditions and are available to work the regularly scheduled hours described above, which include both Saturday and Sunday.
- Please confirm your earliest availability to start the position if hired.
Application Deadline: Sunday, August 2, 2026
