What are the responsibilities and job description for the Amazon Spheres - Interpretive Lead position at Northwest Center?
Work in a unique and relaxing environment surrounded by greenery and natural light. The Spheres are a lush, living ecosystem home to over 40,000 plants from the cloud forests of more than 30 countries. It’s a place where innovation and nature meet, where you can be part of creating a memorable experience for every visitor. Under the direction of the Interpretive Manager, the Interpretive Lead’s responsibility is to oversee day-to-day operational execution, make tactical decisions, and audit quality assurance. They will create schedules, coordinate and monitor projects, ensure and provide coverage, and provide operational guidance as a subject matter expert and mentor.
As the Interpretive Lead, you will play a central role in developing and delivering high-quality interpretive programs at The Spheres. You’ll coordinate a variety of experiences—including tours, educational carts, and other learning initiatives—ensuring they align with organizational goals and consistently meet high service standards. This role combines strategic planning with active public engagement, requiring you to be just as comfortable managing internal operations as you are interacting with guests. You'll work closely with both the administrative team and front-line staff, engaging with a wide range of audiences including the general public, VIPs, families, and students.
Success in this role requires exceptional attention to detail and a proven ability to design, oversee, and execute interpretive and operational programs in a high-profile, customer-service-focused environment. You are a results-driven leader who inspires trust and motivation in others, with a strong track record of coaching, developing, and empowering teams to deliver excellence. You lead by example, balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution, and you're skilled at managing multiple initiatives while maintaining focus on both team dynamics and guest experience.
Location: Seattle, WA
Schedule: Shifts scheduled between 7:30am-6:30pm Monday- Friday and on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 930am – 630pm. Schedules may vary due to operating hours.
Wage: Starting Wage: $31.08 per hour | Full Range $31.08 - $39.88 per hour
What we can offer:
- Competitive and affordable Medical (including hearing & hardware coverage!), Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
- 17 Accrued Paid Time Off Days Annually
- Additional 10 Annual Floating Holidays, Parental Leave, and Paid Compassion Leave
- Retirement 401(K) with a company match
- Company-Provided Orca Pass – Unlimited use
- Employment Assistance Program (EAP) via Spring Health
- Mental Wellness Program including six free therapy sessions per year
- Opportunity for career development with our NWC Mentorship Match program
- Physical Wellness Reimbursement Program - $25/month
- Student Loan Contribution Program - $50/month
- Pet Insurance Discount Program
Check out the entire list of benefits Northwest Center has to offer here: http://www.nwcbenefits.com/
Key Responsibilities
Interpretive Program Support
- Coordinate daily operations of The Spheres’ interpretive programs, including meetings for staff members, logistical program details, and any interpretive curricula or material needs
- Create and maintain interpretive materials, including props, documentation, and tools
- Write and revise interpretive curricula to enhance the customer experience
- Work alongside team members to facilitate interpretive programs (including tours, carts, stations, etc.) as needed while modeling interpretive best practices
- Assist with organization, inventory, and upkeep of programming supplies
- Process and track all programming data; create reports as requested
- Maintain Spheres scheduling calendars and programming schedules
- Assist with the set up and take down of exhibit and program materials as appropriate, ensuring they are properly stored and maintained
- Coordinate all daily operations of tour programming, including receiving and processing email and phone inquiries, inputting tour information onto inter-departmental calendars, reporting on metrics, and more
- Track appropriate metrics as directed by program management
- Coordinate with Spheres Events and Security departments to ensure that customer needs are anticipated and met
Team Support
- In collaboration with other Leads, ensure appropriate coverage for all necessary spaces through the creation and maintenance of monthly, weekly, daily, and lunch schedules
- Work alongside team members on the floor and desk as needed while modeling exceptional customer service standards and interpretive best practices
- Act as a subject matter expert and mentor, provide in-the-moment coaching for team members
- Assist staff in administrative and customer support expectations and procedures, both on the desk and on the floor across Spheres and Understory spaces
- Maintain current information on plants, exhibits, Amazon, campus history, events and customer service best practices in order to be a resource to assigned teams
- Contribute to a positive work environment; foster a spirit of teamwork and unity among team members
- Participate in interviews and hiring discussions
- Communicate with management to seek resolution to conflict and support overall team cohesion
Daily Operations
- Communicate with co-workers, supervisors, and managers using provided radios, instant messaging software and email
- Act as a flexible, supportive team player, with the ability to collaborate with staff at all levels
- Be organized and thorough in planning and execution; calm under pressure
- Communicate clearly and efficiently; support diverse work styles
- Assist with new tasks, processes, or projects as needed to support evolving team requirements, other NWC divisions, and asks from Amazon partners; embrace change and demonstrate adaptability as business needs develop and shift
- Ensure appropriate staffing levels within the Spheres and Understory; make sure staff are onsite and prepared for operations at scheduled start times; communicate employee call outs to other leadership members and provide coverage as needed
Customer Experience
- Contribute to a standard of excellent customer service across all forms of engagement
- Support high-profile and VIP individuals and events
- Lead programming, presentations, and public talks, with or without the use of supplemental material (i.e. notecards, pictures, physical prototypes)
- Adapt programming and schedule to support changing customer needs as appropriate
- Provide excellent customer service in all settings
- Solve problems creatively
Requirements
- Minimum 3 years of experience in customer service and/or education in a museum, conservatory, or high-profile venue
- Minimum 2-years of experience in program coordination
- Experience in leadership preferred
- Excellent customer service skills and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment while remaining professional and friendly
- Maintain good judgement in fast-paced environments and ambiguous/stressful situations; calm under pressure
- Excellent interpersonal skills; to effectively motivate others; lead change and innovation, to connect with employees and the community.
- An efficient, clear communicator capable of supporting diverse audiences
- Knowledgeable in the field of curricula development
- Knowledgeable in the field of scheduling, including understanding of Washington State labor law as it pertains to break and lunch requirements
- Comfortable presenting and speaking informally to large and small groups
- Ability to work various shifts during operating hours, including some nights and weekends
- Maintains regular and consistent attendance and punctuality
- Maintains an attitude of flexibility and respect in relationships with coworkers and leadership
- Organized and thorough in planning and execution
- Must be proficient with MS Windows, Excel, and Outlook e-mail
- Possesses strong conflict resolution, critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Ability to write concisely and communicate effectively, both verbally and electronically
- Ability to manage changing priorities, meet deadlines and adapt to a changing environment
- Regularly seeks new and improved methodologies for enhancing the effectiveness of organization; employs creativity in the application of duties and responsibilities.
- Detailed oriented & thorough, accurate, with ability to assess program holistically
- Effective project management skills, including planning & organization
- High School Diploma or GED
Working Conditions & Physical Demands
- Ability to work in an environment with varying temperatures averaging between 72-76° F and a relative humidity level of 60%
- Ability to navigate uneven terrain and stairs (with or without mobility aids)
- Ability to stand or walk for extended periods of time, up to the entire duration of the shift
- Ability to sit for extended periods of time, up to the entire duration of the shift
- Ability to independently walk/move consistently within a 1.5 mile radius
- Ability to see both distance and details at close range, within a few feet of the observer (with or without corrective lenses)
- Ability to identify and understand the speech of another person (with or without a personal auditory hearing device)
- Ability to read, write, speak and comprehend the English language
- Ability to speak to visitors, staff and colleagues for the duration of each shift.
- Ability to use electronic communication devices including radios and telephones
- Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions to support special events and projects
- Ability to work flexible hours including nights and weekends
- The Spheres is a plant-dense environment with over 800 plant species. Pollen and varied fragrances are present in the air year-round.
- Amazon's campus is a dog-friendly environment with over 1,000 dogs on campus. You are likely to encounter dogs and dog allergens while at work.
About Northwest Center
When People of all Abilities Learn and Work Together, Everyone Benefits. The purpose of Northwest Center is to change society so that people of all abilities engage with each other fully in classrooms, workplaces, and the community. Legally structured as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, Northwest Center is more broadly a "for-purpose" organization that uses and blends the best techniques of human services, business, and philanthropy in innovative ways.
As a social enterprise organization, Northwest Center proves to the world every day that employing people of all abilities can be a powerful competitive advantage. Northwest Center’s businesses generate over $5 million annually that Northwest Center reinvests into human services while covering 100% of the overhead expense of the organization and building cash reserves for future sustainability.
Northwest Center’s mission is to promote the growth, development, and independence of people with disabilities through programs of therapy, education, and work opportunity
Northwest Center is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us at jobs@nwcenter.org.
At Northwest Center, we do not just accept diversity and inclusion — we celebrate it, support it, live it, and flourish in it to benefit our employees, the community, and our clientele. We believe that our strength lies within our diversity and the forward motion towards a day when people of all abilities can learn and work together.
We believe that curiosity and critical thinking are essential to the dialogue and improving decision-making, planning, resource allocation, and how we treat others. Our goal is to create and implement more equitable practices, policies, and culture. To be equitable means to value and respect individuals from all cultural backgrounds, genders, races, identities, and abilities. Northwest Center is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, including disability and veterans’ status.
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Salary : $31 - $40
