Senior Aquarist

Job Details

The National Aquarium is seeking a Senior Aquarist to join our team. This individual provides assigned specimens with excellent day-to-day care through approved husbandry practices; keep systems/enclosures, support equipment, and workspaces well maintained to NA standards; participate in the acquisition/disposition, transport, acclimation, and quarantine of animals; participate in the design, construction and maintenance of exhibits and reserve tanks, including life support material and equipment, as assigned. Will be responsible for providing coverage for other areas as assigned. Will be primary contact for assigned areas. Serves as an advisor and mentor to Aquarist staff on all aspects of husbandry procedures and protocols. Trains staff and supervises volunteers, interns and team projects and acts as a leader and role model for other staff members. Primarily functions as a jelly aquarist within the Jellies Invasion gallery and Culture Lab in the Blue Wonders department.

Essential responsibilities include:

Responsible for the care and feeding of the animal collection and systems within assigned area.

• Completes inspection rounds of specimens, exhibits and reserve tanks twice daily to check status and identify and report potential problems. Resolves problems independently where possible.
• Prepares food and feeds assigned animals/systems/enclosures, in accordance with dietary needs. Cleans and provides daily maintenance to food preparation areas, food preparation equipment and utensils.
• Prepares diets and diet supplements according to established protocols to ensure nutrition and vitamin content are maintained to keep animals at peak health.
• Follows established feeding schedules and feeds appropriate amounts to maintain animals at a healthy weight. Develops strategies to get in-appetent animals to feed. Monitors weights of animals.
• Utilizes various feeding techniques and develops new strategies to overcome the challenges of getting the correct diet to all animals in systems/enclosures housing multiple animals and species.
• Observes and recognizes medical conditions that may require attention and reports observations. Discusses best course of therapy with Animal Health and Curatorial staff.
• Administers medications and implements routine quarantine procedures as needed.
• Maintains detailed, daily husbandry records and reviews records regularly to identify important trends.
• Orders hardware, life-support supplies, aquarium supplies, and live animals as needed with Curatorial approval.
• Maintains current knowledge of all animal species under their care and their natural history (biology and environmental needs) and husbandry requirements through hands-on experience, upkeep with current literature, keeper exchange programs, and symposium participation (as approved).
• Researches species to determine established or new husbandry techniques.; Conducts literature review or hands on research.
• Assists with annual and routine physicals of animals.

Participates in the acquisition and transport of plants and animals.

• Arranges the acquisition of plants and animals from professional collectors, other institutions, and wholesalers.
• Participates in field collection trips using appropriate equipment. Lead and manage national collection trips, as assigned, including securing location, travel, and other logistics and developing budget and plan proposals.
• Executing collection trip while being fully accountable for finances and safety of staff participating. Ensures adequate animal holding facilities in accordance with biological requirements of the animals are available prior to collection of specimens.
• Maintains acquisition and disposition database.
• Prepares and maintains a manual with up-to-date information on all assigned systems/enclosures, reserve tanks, and their associated life-support systems and animals. Maintains weekly coverage notes for specific husbandry instructions.

Participates, taking a lead role, in the design and construction of new and renovated systems, maintenance, and appearance of existing exhibits and tanks, including life support materials and equipment.

• Maintains cleanliness and artistic quality of the displays through cleaning glass and decor, scrubbing algae and removing debris to meet established National Aquarium standards.
• Performs cleaning tasks, water changes, backwashing and other procedures necessary to care for pumps, filters, and maintain water quality standards, and determines appropriate schedules for maintenance and trouble-shooting guides.
• Cleans back-up areas including scrubbing, mopping, vacuuming water and pest control.
• Maintains current knowledge of all pumps, valves, filters, and chillers dealing with life support for the building.
• Participates in system design and fabrication in keeping with animal behavior and biological needs.

Serves as a representative of the Aquarium to the public and the media.

• Participates in and presents at workshops, seminars, lectures, member programs and tours.
• Produces specific applied research projects.
• Offers advice to other aquariums and zoos regarding aquarium techniques and advises home hobbyists on husbandry problems.

Trains and mentors new personnel including staff, volunteers, interns and visiting professionals in all aspects of husbandry.

Able to work well with supervisors and staff.

As Assigned serves as a volunteer or intern coordinator, conducts interviews and annual performance reviews

Responds to diver, life-support, and animal related emergencies, at times after hours.

• As scheduled, works cooperatively to execute response to mitigate alarms for planned incidents or drills, including after-hours when needed.
• May have responsibility for occasionally being on-call or responding to emergencies after-hours; responsibility may cross more than one department/section.

Provides back-up support to other departments as needed.

Possess keen observation skills and be highly detail-oriented and adept at problem solving.

Ability to oversee section, as assigned, in the absence of Curators and Assistant Curators.

Plans and implements special projects including minor exhibit renovations/ repairs.

Recommends species acquisitions that support exhibit themes and enhance visitor experience and learning.

Possess an affinity for animals, education orientation and conservation ethics.

Support organization mission

Adhere to all organizational and departmental policies and procedures.

Other duties as assigned or required.

Requirements

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Oceanography, or related major, or equivalent experience
• Minimum of three years’ experience in aquarium or zoological field with emphasis on closed aquatic systems
• Previous experience training and mentoring paid and/or unpaid staff within assigned section.
• Significant experience caring for and culturing a variety of jellyfish species
• Ability to be certified in the operation of a power lift truck and overhead crane
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule including weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid and current motor vehicle operator’s license, maintain an acceptable driving record, and ability to learn to operate a variety of vehicles

Preferred:

• Experience culturing live foods
• Open water scuba certification
• CPR/AED and basic First-Aid Certification
• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and an acceptable driving record with the ability to operate a variety of vehicles

Competencies:

• Expected to act as a role model within and beyond the division; must professionally demonstrate good judgment and communication skills through interpersonal effectiveness and fostering a learning culture.
• Promote teamwork and a positive and productive work environment.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional business relationships with co-workers, volunteer staff, interns, colleagues at other facilities and outside vendors.
• Intermediate computer skills and the ability to accurately utilize all NA software programs.
• Capacity to decide when to act independently and when to seek consultation of curatorial staff. 
• Willingness and ability to mentor new staff, volunteers, and interns while exhibiting the same or higher levels of technical skill/knowledge.
• Competence in research components including publications and research.
• Accountable to use independent judgement and critical thinking to problem solve, keeping human safety and animal welfare at the forefront of decision making and actions. Innovation may be required to temporarily modify existing policies and procedures. Problems to solve are typically within the assigned section.
• Stays abreast of current trends in the related field to ensure that National Aquarium programs, policies, and protocols continue to evolve and improve.

Contact Information