Admissions Manager

Position Title: Admissions Manager 

Department: Guest Experience 

Reports To: Director of Guest Experience 

Location: Audubon Aquarium  

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Position Type: Regular, Full-time  

Who We Are  

Audubon Nature Institute comprises Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Insectarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, and Audubon Wilderness Park 

At Audubon Nature Institute, we are more than a collection of parks, museums, and conservation centers—we are a dedicated team with a shared mission to celebrate, protect, and connect people to the wonders of nature. Our work is guided by our culture code, which is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in Activating Impact by integrating tangible, real-world outcomes into all our initiatives, fostering a culture where every action contributes to a positive environmental impact. We are committed to Empowering Optimism, using positivity to inspire others to act and believe in their capacity to create meaningful change. We strive to Create Connection by engaging with people from all walks of life, knowing that the collective strength of a diverse community can address the most pressing challenges facing our natural world. At Audubon, we embody the spirit of Le Bon Temps, infusing the joy and vibrant culture of Louisiana into our everyday work, celebrating our unique heritage while advancing our mission. As Leaders of the Pack, we constantly seek smarter, innovative solutions, challenging conventions to drive the change we want to see in the world. 

What You’ll Do  

The Admissions Manager leads the daily operation and continued improvement of admissions, attractions, and guest flow at Audubon Aquarium. This position oversees key elements of the guest experience, including ticket sales and scanning, attraction operations, guest rentals, wayfinding, queue and line management, group and school arrival/entry, and other frontline functions that help guests navigate and enjoy their visit. 

The Manager is responsible for providing guests with an outstanding experience, team leadership, staffing and training, service quality, safety, and operational readiness.  The Manager will monitor attendance, sales, and operational performance to identify opportunities for improvement and revenue growth. Working under the direction of the Director of Guest Experience, the Manager works collaboratively with leaders across Guest Experience and the broader Aquarium team to support seamless daily operations, special events, facility priorities, and a consistently high-quality guest experience. 

Day to Day Responsibilities  

Lead daily admissions, ticketing and scanning, attraction, guest rentals, guest arrival, wayfinding, and group entry operations. 

Supervise, coach, develop, and evaluate Admissions Supervisors and frontline staff. 

Oversee staffing and scheduling to ensure effective coverage based on attendance, operating needs, special events, and anticipated guest volume. 

Lead recruitment, onboarding, training, and ongoing development of Admissions staff. 

Monitor attendance, sales, attraction performance, guest flow, staffing, and other operational data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. 

Identify and implement opportunities to improve revenue, operational efficiency, and the guest experience. 

Maintain effective procedures and controls for admissions transactions, ticketing systems, guest rentals, equipment, payroll, and other administrative needs. 

Respond to complex guest concerns, fulfill service recovery needs, and identify and address recurring operational or service issues. 

Collaborate with Group Sales, Marketing, Membership, Guest Experience leadership, and other Aquarium teams to coordinate group and school arrivals, promotions and membership initiatives, special events, facility changes, and other activities impacting guests. 

Maintain operational readiness and provide hands-on leadership support during high-volume periods, special events, Manager-on-Duty coverage, and other Aquarium operational needs as required. 

Additional/Overall Skills: 

Maintain a positive attitude and a strong sense of accountability, fostering a collaborative team environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute. 

Thrive in a team environment, using your organizational and technical skills to ensure the smooth execution of creative projects that resonate with our audience. 

Celebrate the successes of your team and bring enthusiasm to your work, reflecting the joyful culture that is at the heart of Audubon’s mission. 

Stay adaptable and open to learning new skills, embracing change and innovation as opportunities to lead and grow. 

The above listed duties are general statements of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. They do not exclude other duties as assigned. 

What We’re Looking For 

Must Haves:  

High school diploma or equivalent. 

Minimum five (5) years of relevant guest service, admissions, attractions, hospitality, retail, tourism, or similar experience, including at least two (2) years in a supervisory or management role. 

Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, scheduling, and developing frontline teams. 

Strong guest service, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills. 

Experience with point-of-sale, ticketing, or similar operational systems and ability to use sales, attendance, and operational data to inform decisions. 

Ability to work collaboratively and maintain a flexible schedule including weekends, evenings, holidays, and special events as needed. 

Nice-to-Haves:  

Associate or bachelor's degree in hospitality, business, tourism, management, or related field. 

Experience in a zoo, aquarium, museum, attraction, or similar high-volume guest environment. 

Experience managing admissions, ticketing, attractions, guest flow, or large-scale events. 

Experience with revenue goals, budgeting, payroll, cash controls, or other financial responsibilities. 

Physical Demands:  

Frequent standing and walking throughout the facility, with occasional bending, kneeling, reaching, and climbing stairs. 

Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds, including equipment, supplies, and materials associated with operational and event needs. 

Ability to operate computers, point-of-sale systems, radios, and other standard operational equipment. 

Visual and auditory ability to communicate with guests and staff and safely monitor guest-facing operations. 

Environmental Conditions:  

Primarily indoor work with occasional outdoor work and exposure to varying temperatures and weather conditions. 

Regular work in active, high-volume public spaces with varying noise levels and guest traffic. 

Occasional exposure to other environmental conditions associated with Aquarium operations, special events, and guest-facing activities.