Job DescriptionJob Description
Position: Guest Services Explorer (Full-time/Part-time)
Reports To: Guest Services Manager
Compensation: $13.50 per hour
Why Utah?
Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away. Enjoy all four seasons without extremes—sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs, perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah’s communities are known for being engaged, supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.
About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds.
Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world, including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah’s freshwater ecosystems.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase of growth. With the opening of the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center, the Aquarium became the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact.
Position Summary:
Guest Services Explorers are primarily responsible for maintaining a clean, safe, organized, and show-ready environment throughout the Aquarium. The majority of each shift is spent cleaning, sanitizing, stocking, inspecting, organizing, and maintaining guest-facing and operational spaces to ensure they consistently meet Aquarium presentation, safety, and cleanliness standards.
This position supports a wide variety of public and operational areas, including galleries, restrooms, lobbies, vestibules, the Rio Tinto Kennecott Plaza, Welcome Center, parking lot, dock area, stage and play areas, and other assigned spaces. Guest Services Explorers respond to spills and sanitation concerns, maintain restroom and facility cleanliness, receive and organize deliveries, support emergency procedures, and help ensure all assigned areas remain clean, safe, organized, and ready for guests throughout the day. Guest interaction and operational support are important components of the role; however, facility cleanliness and show-readiness are the primary responsibilities.
Critical Skills/Competencies:
Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to interact professionally and positively with guests, coworkers, and volunteers in a fast-paced environmentAbility to maintain clean, safe, organized, and show-ready guest and operational spacesAbility to follow established cleaning procedures, safety protocols, checklists, documentation requirements, and radio communication standardsKnowledge of proper cleaning product use, chemical dilution, personal protective equipment (PPE), and sanitation proceduresAbility to respond quickly and appropriately to spills, sanitation concerns, guest needs, safety issues, deliveries, and changing operational prioritiesAbility to maintain productivity, accuracy, and attention to detail while working independently or as part of a teamProfessional appearance, behavior, and communication while representing the AquariumAbility to receive feedback, adapt to changing expectations, and continuously improve performanceComfortable working indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions and guest volume levelsCommitment to maintaining high standards of cleanliness, safety, organization, and guest serviceWillingness to complete ongoing training and maintain operational readiness
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Spends the majority of each shift cleaning, sanitizing, stocking, inspecting, organizing, and maintaining Aquarium facilities to ensure all assigned areas remain clean, safe, and show-ready for guests at all timesProvides exceptional internal and external guest service according to established guidelinesConducts routine cleanliness inspections and maintenance in restrooms, galleries, lobbies, vestibules, theatre areas, parking lots, Plaza, Welcome Center, dock area, play areas, and other public or assigned operational spacesKeeps the dock area clean, organized, accessible, and free of clutter or safety hazardsReceives and organizes incoming packages, notifies appropriate departments of arrivals, maintains orderly receiving areas, and reports delivery concerns, damaged packages, misplaced items, or pickup issues as neededPerforms hourly restroom inspections, restocking, sanitation, and documentation proceduresUses safe restroom closure procedures when deep cleaning is requiredResponds promptly to spills using approved cleanup procedures, proper equipment, and required safety signageUses approved cleaning products, dilution procedures, and personal protective equipment in accordance with Aquarium safety standardsReads and follows product labels, SDS guidance, chemical handling requirements, and surface-specific cleaning proceduresMaintains cleaning carts, supply closets, restroom inventories, and operational supplies needed to support cleanliness and guest readinessCollects, launders, and returns cleaning rags according to established schedulesEmpties interior and exterior trash and recycling receptacles before overflow and transports waste to designated disposal locations using approved equipmentPerforms Plaza and Welcome Center upkeep, including woodchip inspections, raking woodchips into safety zones, resetting furniture, sweeping debris, removing fingerprints, and maintaining guest-ready conditionsMaintains stage and play areas by sanitizing surfaces, cleaning bird droppings as needed, resetting furniture, and addressing debris or safety concernsAssists with Tuki's and exhibit window cleaning as assignedPerforms final cleaning, sanitation, and readiness inspections of guest seating areas and other assigned closing areasFollows Triple P procedures for bodily fluids and other sanitation-related incidentsAssists with Code Nemo/Marlin searches, evacuations, crowd management, and other guest safety or emergency procedures as assignedSupports evacuations by clearing restrooms, assisting guests, and helping direct traffic as neededMonitors assigned areas for safety, cleanliness, and security concerns and reports issues to supervisorsMay assist with guest admissions activities, including scanning or counting guests, when neededCommunicates clearly with supervisors and team members regarding area status, cleaning completion, supply needs, safety concerns, package deliveries, and guest issuesOther duties as assigned
Physical Demands of the Job:
Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, lift, push, pull, use stairs, and move throughout indoor and outdoor areas for most of the shiftAbility to safely lift and move items weighing up to 50 poundsAbility to push, pull, and transport supplies, trash, cleaning equipment, carts, wheelbarrows, wagons, and packages as neededAbility to perform repetitive cleaning and maintenance tasks, including sweeping, mopping, wiping, sanitizing, stocking, and organizingAbility to work in varying temperatures, weather conditions, and outdoor terrainAbility to perform routine exterior cleanup, including woodchips, dust, pollen, leaves, trash, and debrisAbility to communicate clearly and effectively using a two-way radio
Special Working Conditions
Works with guests, staff, and diverse populations in public-facing spacesWorks in noisy, crowded, indoor, outdoor, dock, and receiving areasHandles cleaning supplies, diluted chemicals, trash, recycling, restroom cleaning, exterior cleanup, bodily fluid procedures, and package receiving tasksMust use required PPE and follow safety procedures for chemicals, spills, restroom closures, sanitation concerns, dock organization, and package handlingMust follow restroom check schedules, Plaza woodchip schedules, cleaning documentation, package notification procedures, and all safety and operational standards
Scope of Position
Schedule includes weekends, evenings, holidays, and special event rotations, excluding Thanksgiving Day and Christmas DayThis position is primarily custodial and facility-readiness focused, with most scheduled hours dedicated to cleaning and maintaining show-ready conditions throughout the AquariumMay be required to work beyond scheduled hours based on guest attendance, special events, operational needs, weather conditions, deliveries, or staffing levelsMay assist with crowd management during peak attendance periods or special events
Benefits & Perks
Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees including:Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus optional FSA/HSA accountsPaid time off & 12 paid holidays per yearPaid bereavement leave and paid new child leave (birth, adoption, or placement) Employer-paid short-term disability; optional long-term disability coverageConvenient onsite childcare (employees pay approximately 20% of the cost)401(k) with match up to 4% - fully vested from day 1 of contributionEmployee Assistance Program (EAP)Free Aquarium membershipDiscounts on tickets, gift shop, and café purchasesFree and discounted animal encountersPet insurance and discountsFootwear discountsEntertainment, travel, and retail savings through Tickets at Work
While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.
The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or military status. The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process. Should you require accommodations, please contact accommodation@livingplanetaquarium.org.
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