Join Our Team

Department: Development                       
Full-time/Part-time: Full-time    
Reports to: VP of Development                       
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Non-Exempt        
Staff reporting to this position:    Membership Manager, Interns/Temporary Staff as assigned     
Location: National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

The Dubuque County Historical Society operates the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and the Mathias Ham Historic Site and is home to the National Rivers Hall of Fame. Its mission is to inspire stewardship by creating educational experiences where history and rivers come alive. 

Position Summary

The Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement leads the organization’s annual fundraising and donor engagement efforts, with primary focus on the annual fund, Captain’s Ball Gala, donor stewardship, and corporate membership and sponsorship programs. This role blends strategic leadership with hands-on execution and serves as a frontline fundraiser managing a portfolio of annual donors and corporate partners.

This position initially encompasses both strategy development and day-to-day implementation, with the opportunity to evolve as the development program grows. The Director plays a key role in strengthening donor relationships, growing annual revenue, and delivering a thoughtful, high-quality donor experience aligned with organizational priorities.

As a member of the organization’s leadership team, the Director collaborates with cross-departmental leaders and the Board of Directors to advance the museum’s mission and support its long-term sustainability as a cultural institution.

This is a full-time, permanent position. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Benefits include vacation time, sick time, paid holidays, medical, dental, flex plan, and 403b retirement plan.

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

Organizational Leadership

• Serve as a member of the organization’s leadership team responsible for strategic plan creation and execution
• Work closely with internal teams and external agencies to advance fundraising and engagement goals
• Act as a visible leader by attending organizational events and participating on committees

Annual Fund Strategy and Execution

• Develop and execute annual fund strategies to grow donor participation, revenue, and retention, with emphasis on gifts under $10,000
• Lead all annual appeals and campaigns across direct mail, digital, and personal solicitation channels
• Write and oversee donor communications from appeals and acknowledgements to newsletters and social media
• Track donor pipelines and monitor progress toward annual goals

Captain's Ball Gala

• Serve as lead staff for our signature annual fundraising gala
• Oversee event strategy, sponsorships, auction, vendors, and post-event stewardship
• Partner with leadership, board, and volunteers to maximize fundraising engagement

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 50 annual donors and prospects
• Plan and coordinate donor stewardship events (3+ annually)
• Oversee giving societies and donor recognition programs
• Represent the organization at events and programs to cultivate and steward supporters

Sponsorship and Corporate Giving

• Lead the corporate membership program in partnership with the Membership Manager
• Develop and solicit corporate sponsorships for events, exhibitions, and programs
• Create tailored giving opportunities for exhibits, programs, or other priorities
• Ensure timely delivery of sponsorship benefits and recognition
• Build and maintain corporate partnership pipelines

Collaboration, Planning, and Management

• Recruit, manage, and providing leadership of the Auxiliary Board
• Monitor fundraising trends and identify opportunities for growth and innovation
• Collaborate with the VP of Development, CEO, and board on fundraising strategy
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required.
• A minimum of 4 years of leadership experience (non-profit leadership preferred)
• 4–6 years of progressive fundraising experience, with success in annual giving, donor engagement, sponsorships, or event-based fundraising.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling donor messaging.
• Experience with donor databases or CRMs (Altru, Blackbaud, or similar) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong relationship-building skills and collaborative working style.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends for donor and fundraising events.
• 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, salary requirements and references to apply@rivermuseum.org or by delivering them in person to 350 E. 3rd St., Dubuque, IA 52001.

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.
 

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.

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.

Department: Guest Associate         
Full-time/Part-time: Part-time    
Exempt/Non-Exempt:  Non-exempt
Reports to: Sales & Guest Services Department Managers
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.

Make guests’ experience special by being a friendly face of the Museum & Aquarium team. Guest Associates are scheduled in the organization’s box offices, retail stores, and 3D/4D Theater. An ideal candidate is someone with exceptional service skills, feels comfortable interacting with guests, delivers accurate information to guests, works well on a team, and positively portrays the organization. This position offers a flexible work schedule and may require some weekend and holiday hours (no evenings after 5 p.m. required).

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

• Work at a variety of points-of-sale locations (including the box offices, stores, and theater) to assist guests in making purchases and answering questions
• Strive to create a positive guest experience for all visitors to the Museum & Aquarium
• Be familiar with Museum & Aquarium exhibits, experiences, and operations

Qualifications 

• Highly qualified candidates will have previous experience in customer service and/or cash handling.
• 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. These demands may include periods of standing, reaching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, carrying, lifting, or moving objects 25 lbs. or less.
• Final candidates will be subject to a reference and background check.

How to apply

To learn more, visit www.rivermuseum.com/apply.  Apply by emailing your application or resume, cover letter, and references to apply@rivermuseum.com or by delivering them in person to 350 E. 3rd St., Dubuque, IA.

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.
 

Department:  Education
Full-time/Part-time: Part-time, flexibility on weekends, holidays and evenings is required
                Variable hours depending on season, tourism flow, and scheduled events
Exempt/Non-Exempt: Non-exempt
Reports to:  Director of Education
Staff reporting to this position:  Educators, Interns, and Volunteers as assigned
Primary Location:  Mathias Ham Historic Site 
Secondary Location:  National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium [NMRMA] is an outgrowth of the Dubuque County Historical Society [DCHS], which also operates the Mathias Ham Historic Site [MHHS], and is home to the National Rivers Hall of Fame. Its mission is to inspire stewardship through educational experiences where history and rivers come alive.

The Mathias Ham Historic Site Lead serves as the primary on-site leader for MHHS, overseeing daily operations, visitor experience, and site readiness. This role supports education programming, supervises staff and volunteers, assists with special events, and helps grow community awareness and attendance. The MHHS Site Lead works collaboratively across departments to ensure the historic site is safe, engaging, and professionally operated.

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 (Appx. 70%)

• Serve as the primary on-site lead for the Mathias Ham Historic Site, ensuring a welcoming, safe, and professional environment for visitors, staff, volunteers, and partners.
  • Support daily operations, including supervision of tour guides, gift store management and daily housekeeping.
  • Maintain accurate records, reports, and documentation related to attendance, operations, and site activity.
  • Coordinate with education staff to prepare the site for scheduled groups, programs, and events.
    Act as on-site host or contact for special events, rentals, and select programs, including signature events such as the Fourth of July Ice Cream Social celebration.
• Supervise and support interns, volunteers, and education staff assigned to the site.
  • Assign responsibilities, assist with daily tasks, and arrange coverage for team members as needed.
  • Ensure all staff and volunteers follow site procedures and uphold the Education Department Code of Conduct.
  • Serve as a site tour guide or facilitator as needed
  • Collaborate with the DCHS Curatorial team to monitor the condition and care of the site.

Secondary Duties (Appx. 30%)

• Support efforts to grow community awareness and engagement with the MHHS.
• Assist with advertising and promotion through the marketing team, social media platforms, and community events.
• Provide input on strategies to increase attendance and earned revenue, including school field trips, facility rentals, partnerships, and community programming.
• During the off season, focus on planning and promoting monthly events, recruiting group visits, and developing strategies to grow visitor traffic to the site.

Additional Duties

• Serve on at least one working group or committee as assigned.
• Maintain familiarity with history, conservation, and STEM-related topics to support cross-training and cohesion across the NMRMA and MHHS sites.
• Attend required training sessions and staff meetings.
• Participate in ongoing learning about the institutional collections, including artifacts, animals, and plants.
• Collaborate with Curatorial, other DCHS departments, and city staff as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Associates degree in a related field preferred, or equivalent experience (e.g. business, marketing, education, history, anthropology, etc.).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language.
• Strong customer service, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work successfully with diverse individuals, teams, and departments.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, visitor-focused environment.
• Familiarity with computers, point of sales systems, and the Microsoft Office suite of programs.
• Must possess or be able to acquire a valid Iowa, Wisconsin or Illinois driver’s license within 3 months of hire.
• Capable of holding certification in First Aid and CPR.
• Must be able to perform any physical demands of job duties, either with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must possess and maintain a high degree of scheduling flexibility and willing to work some holidays and weekends.
• 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. Apply in person at 350 E. Third St., Dubuque, IA 52001.

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.

Spring semester: Apply by November 1 for priority consideration
Summer semester: Apply by February 15 for priority consideration
Fall semester: Apply by June 15 for priority consideration

The Development Database Intern will assist the Development Department with ongoing fundraising activities that support our mission. This role provides hands-on experience in nonprofit development, including donor relations, database management, and fundraising research. The intern will collaborate with staff to update donor and member information, analyze data in Power BI, build and modify queries in Blackbaud Altru, research matching gift opportunities, and help transition donor gift records into a more sustainable digital system.

This is a unique opportunity to build valuable skills in nonprofit fundraising, strengthen our donor database, and contribute to meaningful community engagement with local organizations and prospective supporters.

Primary Duties

• Gain and maintain working knowledge of our donor and member database system (Blackbaud Altru)
• Build, modify, and utilize queries within Altru to support accurate reporting and donor segmentation
• Maintain a calendar/database of funders and grant deadlines
• Assist with prospect research and cultivation of current and potential donors, major gifts, and matching gift
• Research potential sponsors aligned with the Museum & Aquarium’s vision, mission, and educational activities
• Track and report community event sponsors
• Update and flag important identifying information within the donor database to ensure accurate records
• Assist with creating and interpreting data reports and dashboards in Power BI to support fundraising strategy
• Support planning and execution of upcoming Museum & Aquarium 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 Exhibits internship will give a well-rounded experience, and likely encompass the installation of new exhibits, deinstallation of retired exhibits, designing and building interactive pieces to enhance the visitor experience, and cleaning and maintaining museum displays. Interns will work alongside Exhibit staff as they interact with all other departments in the museum organization to create and maintain our campus.

Primary Duties

• Follow blueprints and other guides to install new traveling exhibits
• Collaborate with Curatorial and Marketing departments on new exhibit designs
• Build and paint walls, cases, and new displays
• Maintenance and cleaning of existing displays
• Restoration work on existing buildings and boats
• Production and installation of in-house signage
• Basic construction such as painting, sawing, measuring, etc.

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.com/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 Marketing & Communications intern will work closely with the Marketing & Communications Manager, Creative Services 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.