Seasonal Lake Superior Estuarium Assistant

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Employment Type:

Job Profile:

Job Summary:

The Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve in Superior WI seeks a Seasonal Lake Superior Estuarium Assistantto assist with community-learning opportunities about and with the St. Louis River and communities along its shores.

Work seasonally on the Reserve Education team as the hub of drop in visitor experience-- host community events and listen to educate and communicate with people of all ages and life experiences in a public interpretive exhibit hall setting. TheEstuarium Assistantworks full time for 13.5 weeks from June 1 through September 5 as the lead staff in theLake Superior Estuariuma public exhibit hall with free admission that tells stories of the St. Louis River Estuary & Lake Superior. This position will oversee the daily operation of the Lake Superior Estuarium coordinate and train docent and staff volunteers greet and engage visitors assist with Reserve education efforts like teaching educational programs for young children or visiting groups do light upkeep of the exhibit spaces communicate about projects at the Lake Superior Reserve and upcoming events promote the Estuarium update and maintain exhibit hall curriculum and coordinate or co-host community outreach events. TheEstuarium Assistantjoins an education team of 2-3 people and collaborates with the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve staff as well as Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve to support volunteer recruitment and appreciation. On the job training is provided.

All Reserve staff aim to engage respectfully and responsibly with people with varied identities and experiences and to create or adapt programming and communications to be relevant and meaningful. TheEstuarium Assistantmay occasionallysupport other Reserve programsengaged in water quality monitoring stewardship research and other duties.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Assists with scheduling logistics and securing resources for vendor services

• Assists with the creation of promotional materials and resources for events

Support program integration at the Reserve through collaboration with the monitoring stewardship coastal training and research programs with Reserve partners and within the National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) system

• Greets customers/guests assists with registration answers questions and provides routine information referring more complicates issues to appropriate entities

• Gathers enters and maintains accurate event data and records

• Performs on-site event set-up and clean up and may perform basic custodial duties

Teaches culturally relevant educational programs to adults and youth using learner-centered activities and lessons

Implements initiatives and events that serve the target audience

• Guides and trains student workers

Department

Compensation

Well-qualified candidates can anticipate earning between $17 - $19.50 per hour. Actual pay within this range will depend on experience and qualifications.

Additional pay components are available for any night or weekend work.

Night Differential

• Employees who are FLSA non-exempt shall receive night differential of $0.80 per hour for all hours worked between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
  

Weekend Differential

• Employees who are FLSA non-exempt shall receive weekend differential of $0.80 per hour for all weekend hours worked (i.e. work hours between 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and 12:00 midnight on Sunday).
  

Required Qualifications:

• Successful respectful communication ability with volunteers visitors youth and members of the local or visiting public;

• Knowledgeable and able to work with Microsoft Office software (primarily Word Excel Publisher and Outlook email) and Google Suite;

• Reliable work ethic and ability to problem solve independently;

• Attention to administrative details and ability to independently and collaboratively plan promote and manage programs and/or event logistics.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively work with people from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.

• Ability to work with youth (minors) in an informal setting.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Interpretive or teaching experience in a public natural history setting

• Knowledge of the Superior WI region which may include cultural and natural history and scientific and ecological processes especially related to watersheds water quality and the St. Louis River.

• Experience planning promoting and instructing engaging education programs with youth and adult members of the general public including risk management.

Education:
High school diploma or equivalent

How to Apply:

We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. To begin the application process click the apply now button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:

• Resume

• Letter of Qualifications (cover letter)
  

Please note when applying there will beonlyoneattachment field. You must uploadall your documents in the attachment field. Please submit a cover letter referring to your work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background as it relates to this position. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews.

For additional guidance and resources on how to tailor your application materials to the job posting please click note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States a lawful permanent resident a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

The application deadline is Thursday March 5 2026 at 11:55PM (CST).

Contact Information:

Luciana Ranelli

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength creativity and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity culture background experience status abilities and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching research outreach and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students faculty and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to including but not limited to race color religion sex sexual orientation national origin age pregnancy disability or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g. application interview pre-employment testing etc.) please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

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