Marine Mammal Intern

Job Description

SFDK Marine Mammal Apprentice | Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

The Tone:
This is a paid internship opportunity with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, a prominent entertainment company known for operating theme parks. This particular role is located at SFDK, which focuses on marine mammal care and guest experiences. As an SFDK Marine Mammal Apprentice, you will play a crucial part in the daily well-being and maintenance of various marine mammals, including dolphins and pinnipeds. Your contributions will directly support animal welfare, facility upkeep, and public education, ensuring a high-quality experience for both the animals and park visitors.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time, Intern
• Location: In-person, Vallejo, CA

• Mission: Responsible for the general care and maintenance of all marine mammals in assigned areas.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Manage food logistics and preparation for marine mammals: This involves the careful retrieval of food from freezers, precise preparation of individual diets for marine mammals, and diligent record-keeping of all feeding activities to ensure animal health and dietary adherence.
• Ensure pristine cleanliness of assigned marine mammal habitats: Regularly clean and maintain all designated animal areas, including aquatic environments and dry enclosures, to uphold the highest standards of hygiene and safety for the marine mammal inhabitants.
• Engage and educate park guests about marine life: Actively interact with park visitors, sharing information about marine mammals, conservation efforts, and the daily operations of the facility, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for marine ecosystems.
• Participate in shows by learning scripts and performing assigned roles: Dedicate time to learning various show scripts and choreography, then perform assigned parts during live shows, contributing to entertaining and educational presentations for park guests.
• Support animal care, feeding, and training sessions: Assist experienced staff with the daily care routines of marine mammals, including supervised feeding and participation in ongoing training sessions, which are essential for animal welfare and enrichment.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Candidates must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent, demonstrating a foundational educational background. While not strictly required, a background that includes a minimum of three months of prior experience in animal care and training, or completed college-level coursework in a related scientific field, is preferred and will be highly valued.
• Experience: This apprentice role does not have a specific minimum number of years required for application. However, previous involvement for at least three months in animal care and training environments, or the completion of relevant college-level science courses, is a strong preference that indicates prior exposure and foundational understanding in the field. Applicants should also hold a valid Driver’s License.
• Skills: Essential skills include strong swimming proficiency, which will be validated through a mandatory on-site swim test, and comfort with public speaking to large audiences for guest interaction and educational presentations. Candidates must demonstrate articulate communication abilities, clearly speaking, reading, and writing in English, and possess the discipline to follow both written and verbal instructions meticulously. Furthermore, the role requires significant physical capacities, including the ability to lift up to 50 lbs, and the stamina to work up to 40 hours per week in varied conditions, including cold saltwater environments, outdoors, indoors, and during weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Bonus: SCUBA certification is highly preferred, indicating an additional level of skill and safety preparedness for working in aquatic environments.