We're Hiring! Live Exhibits Associate

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

LIVE EXHIBITS ASSOCIATE

POSITION PURPOSE

The Live Exhibits Associate is responsible for supporting the care of animals and systems in a 2,000 square foot aquarium exhibit, From the Mountains to the Sea. This space features live aquatic exhibits showcasing different ecosystems found in Maine—inland freshwater rivers, tidal zones, and the Gulf of Maine ocean environment. Native Maine species such as pumpkinseed, eastern painted turtles, sea stars, lumpfish, and hermit crabs reside in the tanks for both viewing and hands-on interaction. The Live Exhibits Associate’s role is to lead and support the maintenance of this space, helping to ensure the exhibit is engaging to visitors and healthy for the animals in residence. Additionally, the Live Exhibit Associate will lead and support live animal and STEM programming. This position reports to the STEM & Live Exhibits Program Manager.

• Support species care: Ensure the health and safety of animals and plants, including:

  • Feeding according to strict dietary regimens

  • Offering appropriate enrichment

  • Immediate action taken to alert & remedy health risks

  • Observe species behavior and environment

  • Assist Live Exhibits Coordinator with troubleshooting health issues

  • Prep animal ambassadors such as turtles for outreach and floor programming

  • Accurate reading and recording of records and charts

  • Assist with garden bed planning, planting, and tending

• Support the ongoing care and maintenance of aquarium tanks:

  • Regular tank cleaning, assessment, and adjustments

  • Regular tank and water maintenance

  • Monitor water quality (oxygen levels, bacteria, ammonia, pH, etc.)

  • Monitor equipment and repair or replace as necessary

  • Regular change and cleaning of equipment

  • Communicate observations and aquarium needs to the Live Exhibits team

• Leading Programs in the Aquarium:

  • Lead and assist in the facilitation of interdisciplinary live animal and STEM programs and demonstrations for all ages, skills, experience, and physical ability levels

  • Support live animal and STEM program development

  • Utilize best practices in education and interactive museum experiences

• General:

  • Participate in various forms of professional development

  • Participate in annual reviews

  • Conduct floor checks, usher theatre shows, support facilities, support live exhibits, assist with programming, support welcome desk greeting, and cover other support roles as assigned.

  • Other duties identified by supervisor

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Coursework and/or fieldwork in aquarium science, biology, or a related field

• Experience in hands-on aquarium or live exhibits maintenance preferred

• Experience in fish, amphibian, and reptile care preferred

• Experience working with visitors ages 2-99 and leading interactive and engaging animal programs preferred

• Knowledge of Maine aquatic species and Maine watershed ecology

• Knowledge of native, indigenous, non-native, and invasive species, and the differences therein

• Knowledge of species hardiness under low levels of stress, educational programming, or potential physical public interaction

• Knowledge of which species are endangered/threatened and/or general history of species in Maine, including recent developments

• Possess a holistic knowledge and awareness of current watershed issues and research in Maine

• Ability to lift 55 lbs independently, and 75 lbs as part of a team lift

• Ability to use a ladder (8-12 ft)

• Ability to work near large magnets

• Position occasionally requires employee to enter deeper tanks (full body submersion, no diving gear required, wetsuit supplied), for short periods of time

• Working in cold water (50 degrees) regularly submerging arms & hands

• Vehicle required to support species collections and care

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Energized by the Museum & Theatre’s mission and values

• Team player with a strong capacity to work independently

• Flexibility and comfort alternating between strategic oversight and day-to-day tasks and projects

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Positive attitude, a customer-service orientation, and a demonstrated ability to thrive working in a nimble, fast-paced environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF WORKPLACE/ROLE

• Many tasks require prolonged periods of walking and standing while performing regular duties

• Regular repetitive motion tasks (such as scrubbing) required

• Reaching overhead is required frequently

• Lifting up to 75 lbs is required frequently

• Climbing 8' ladders is frequently required, and occasionally the job requires climbing ladders up to 12'

• Bending, crawling, kneeling and crouching when working is required regularly

• Navigating uneven terrain inside exhibits or in nature required regularly

• Manual dexterity and hand strength for pulling, lifting, moving required daily

• Occasional submersion in cold water tanks is required for care of animals and systems

• Working with animals and insects with varying levels of venom (bees, anemones, and more).

• Exposure to elements: occasional work outdoors in various weather conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

This job description is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Organization reserves the right to change this position description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Organization may deem appropriate.

SCHEDULE

24 hours per week (part-time hourly) in person: Monday 8:30-4:30, Tuesday 8:30am-4:30pm, Sunday 8:30am-4:30pm.

COMPENSATION

$20.88 hourly plus $6,000 annual benefit pay, which can be used toward a cafeteria plan of benefits including health insurance (2 options, HSA available), dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, short & long-term disability, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, 403b (retirement) plan contributions, and/or HSA contributions. Benefit pay may also be taken as pay in lieu of benefits.

Additional benefits include:

• annual free membership (for yourself or to give as gift)

• monthly free admission passes

• snacks, tea & coffee are available daily onsite

• staff events such as outings, parties, and lunches

CMTM has an equitable system of pay that offers a base rate based on position, longevity pay increases over time. This system is designed for equity and as such we do not have the ability to negotiate the compensation listed above.

HOW TO APPLY

Each applicant is required to email a resume, cover letter/letter of interest, and a Museum & Theatre employment application.

CMTM Employment Application can be found at https://www.kitetails.org/jobs

Applications accepted via email to hiring@kitetails.org

Application Deadline: Sunday, January 18, 2026 or until a candidate is found

CMTM encourages candidates to apply even if they do not meet every single requirement above. At CMTM, we enjoy helping individuals grow professionally. If this role excites you and your past experience has some alignment with these qualifications, we encourage you to submit an application.

ABOUT CMTM

At the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, we set the stage for every child to imagine and learn through play.

We value Belonging.

Everyone belongs at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine. We believe each person has value and worth; we celebrate what makes each of us unique and what binds us together as a strong community

We value Play.

We embrace the power of play to build resilience, spark creativity, and ignite a child’s imagination. Play inspires our work, our physical spaces, our storytelling, and our learning experiences.

We value Community.

We center community in all we do. We strive to be an inclusive partner and resource in order to build strong, lasting relationships.

We value Curiosity.

We believe curiosity inspires children to explore, build empathy, and connect with others. Learning fueled by curiosity leads to a deeper understanding of self and the world around us.

We value Trust.

We provide safe, inclusive experiences and spaces to ensure that the community’s trust is earned and upheld in all that we do.

The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity amongst our team and leadership. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, disability status, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

We are committed to making our facilities and programs accessible and safe for all members of our community, staff, and volunteers. We are actively working to increase accessibility and usability of our website, building, and educational activities. Supervisors work collaboratively with employees to make accommodations and modifications to accommodate the employee’s needs, including physical changes, assistive technologies, accessible communications, and policy enhancements. In doing so, we adhere to the available standards and guidelines and, in many cases, go beyond the guidelines to uphold our philosophy that our staff should have a safe and welcoming work environment where they can learn and grow. For a full description of our facility’s accessibility, please visit: www.kitetails.org/accessibility