Sea Otter Care Intern (Jan-July 2027 & Jul-Dec 2027)
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Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey, CA, US
Summary
Interns are responsible for the daily care, feeding, and medical administration of sea otters, as well as maintaining animal enclosures and performing data entry. They may also assist with live-stranded otter rescues and participate in ongoing research projects.
Job Description
At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates and values diversity. We firmly believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together increases our capacity to serve our visitors and fulfill our mission. We welcome people from all walks of life into our team and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.
Join Our team
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Internship Program is a rich learning resource for interns and externs, enabling them to partner with the Aquarium in pursuit of our shared DEI objectives and take our mission to the next level. Targeting underrepresented communities of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), the Internship Program will provide eligible college, undergraduate and graduate students with meaningful work experience under the direction of an Aquarium mentor. The Internship Program is outcomes-based, requiring a project report at the conclusion of the program, further documenting the participants’ growth along their developmental pathway.
Core Responsibilities:
Project responsibilities include, but are not limited to, daily care and feeding of ill, injured, and orphaned sea otters, maintenance and cleaning of animal tanks and enclosures, computer data entry. Interns may also assist with rescues of live-stranded otters, tracking of released otters, administration of medication to sick otters, and managing otters in research projects. Qualified applicants must be able to work in a team environment as well as independently without direct supervision and must have good communication skills.
Skills / Knowledge / Ability / Experience or Education
Absolutely Required
- Animal handling experience in a professional environment (must include experience with mammals)
- At least 18 years of age
- Six-month commitment of 24 hours each week
- Proof of current tetanus vaccination
- Valid driver’s license
- Project task assignments may include weekends and holidays as assigned
- A project-based report will be required at the end of the internship
Desired Skills / Knowledge / Ability / Experience or Education
- Strong Interest in and awareness of animal husbandry and marine science/ecology
- Experience with wildlife rehabilitation or handling potentially aggressive animals
- Willingness to get wet and dirty
- Attention to detail
- Able to lift up to 50 pounds
- Ability to multi-task
- Research, writing, academic literature and organizational skills
- Interpersonal skills and proven ability to work effectively with colleagues
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
- Proficiency with SharePoint a plus
This Internship Program is a paid STEM Internship opportunity. Pay rate of $18.00 USD per hour, Housing or STEM Internship may be applicable.
College credit may also be available. Please refer to your College/University's student services division.
Early submission of applications is encouraged.
Internship Application Requirements:
- Must be authorized to work in the United States, the Aquarium is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this internship.
- Must be a current student at an accredited college or university, or graduated during the term immediately preceding the internship
Required Materials:
- Resume/CV
- Cover Letter/Letter of Interest
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
A resume, letter of interest, and two letters of recommendation are required to be considered for this position. Any applications that lack required materials when the application period closes will not be considered.
Application Deadline: Friday, October 30th, 2026.
This internship opportunity has two time periods available: January - June, and July - December. You may choose to apply to one time period, or both, depending on your availability. Only apply to time periods you are able to commit to. Availability changes or requests for alternate time periods after the position has closed, whether during the interview period, or after selection, may result in rejection of your application.
The mission of the nonprofit Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the ocean.
Our diverse and dedicated team works in many ways to assure the future health of the ocean and the people who depend on a healthy ocean for their survival.
Our living exhibits and visit programs are considered among the best in the world. We offer free education programs for more than 100,000 schoolchildren and educators each year -- and our new Bechtel Family Center for Ocean Education and Leadership is taking that work to a new level.
Rigorous science underpins all of our work to advance policies that promote ocean health in the United States and internationally. Our respected Seafood Watch program is a global leader, giving businesses and consumers the tools to transform how fish are caught and farmed around the world.
Our award-winning exhibits feature the rich diversity of marine life along California’s central coast -- from sea otters and kelp forests to jellyfish and sharks. Our newest exhibition, "Into the Deep / En lo Profundo," features never-before-see animals from the deep ocean. We attract nearly 2 million visitors a year and engage 3 million followers through our social media channels.
Our education programs are shaping a new generation of science-literate ocean conservation leaders, and giving educators better tools for ecosystem-based learning.
We promote science-based action on behalf of key species like sea otters, sharks, and Pacific bluefin tuna. We've advocated successfully to create marine protected areas, eliminate ocean plastic pollution, and end to the shark fin trade, and we support policies to address climate change and ocean acidification, which threaten ocean health, and our own survival.
Founded
1984
Company size
501-1,000 employees
Industry
Aquarium and Marine Conservation
Org type
Nonprofit
Headquarters
Monterey, CA
The mission of the nonprofit Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the ocean.
Our diverse and dedicated team works in many ways to assure the future health of the ocean and the people who depend on a healthy ocean for their survival.
Our living exhibits and visit programs are considered among the best in the world. We offer free education programs for more than 100,000 schoolchildren and educators each year -- and our new Bechtel Family Center for Ocean Education and Leadership is taking that work to a new level.
Rigorous science underpins all of our work to advance policies that promote ocean health in the United States and internationally. Our respected Seafood Watch program is a global leader, giving businesses and consumers the tools to transform how fish are caught and farmed around the world.
Our award-winning exhibits feature the rich diversity of marine life along California’s central coast -- from sea otters and kelp forests to jellyfish and sharks. Our newest exhibition, "Into the Deep / En lo Profundo," features never-before-see animals from the deep ocean. We attract nearly 2 million visitors a year and engage 3 million followers through our social media channels.
Our education programs are shaping a new generation of science-literate ocean conservation leaders, and giving educators better tools for ecosystem-based learning.
We promote science-based action on behalf of key species like sea otters, sharks, and Pacific bluefin tuna. We've advocated successfully to create marine protected areas, eliminate ocean plastic pollution, and end to the shark fin trade, and we support policies to address climate change and ocean acidification, which threaten ocean health, and our own survival.
Founded
1984
Company size
501-1,000 employees
Industry
Aquarium and Marine Conservation
Org type
Nonprofit
Headquarters
Monterey, CA
