Facility
The Florida Aquarium
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Position Summary
Work on the Offsite Exhibits Team to achieve The Florida Aquarium’s mission to entertain, educate, and inspire stewardship about our natural environment by exemplifying the Aquarium’s values of Respect, Trust, and Excellence. Directly care for the aquarium’s aquatic animals within our collection. Perform essential and secondary job functions in accordance with guidelines set and approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and other safety regulatory agencies. Must have a passion for offsite exhibit animal care and maintenance.
Essential Position Duties
• Ability to work independently and identify issues with life support and animal health
• Demonstrates knowledge in providing the highest level of animal care and wellness
• Performs daily animal husbandry duties for animals; including but not limited to preparing accurate daily reports, prepping food, feeding and training animals
• Promptly reports any animal injury, illness or abnormal behavior to the Animal Health team to ensure the highest standards for all animals
• Cleans exhibit pathways, service and holding areas, and backup areas
Secondary Functions
• Demonstrates interpersonal skills that embody The Florida Aquarium’s values of trust, respect and excellence
• Executes presentations and reports with help
• Understands and knows role in a team setting
• Executes work processes with help
• Maintains supplies and equipment necessary for the care of the collection
• Adheres to and assists with writing husbandry SOPs with guidance
• Works with volunteers and interns within scope of position
• All other duties as required
Education, Requirements, and Technical Skills
• Minimum of 1.5 years’ experience in a facility working with aquatic and terrestrial organisms including but not limited to: marine teleosts, inverts, and elasmobranchs
• BS or higher degree in a biological science or related field with equivalent experience
• Knowledge of habits, food requirements and cleaning needs of a diverse animal collection consisting of marine fish and invertebrates
• Knowledge of life support systems and water quality parameters for aquatic species
• Knowledge of Animal Record Keeping systems (ZIMS/ISIS) preferred
• Knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• SCUBA certification required with ability to advance to Open Water Scientific Diver/Rescue Diver level within 6 months of hire
• Must be willing and able to obtain a valid State of Florida Driver’s License
• Flexibility in working weekends, evenings, and holidays
Competencies
• Professional/Technical Knowledge and Competency – Remains current on developments in the field within and outside the organization; maintains proficiencies.
• Interpersonal Skills/Teamwork – Demonstrates the ability to work collaboratively within a team and across departments for organizational success. Demonstrates a positive attitude and initiative, seeks to understand before being understood. Fosters a positive, supportive and encouraging work environment. Demonstrates respect for other’s opinions, trusts in their abilities and recognizes their contributions.
• Customer Focus – Demonstrates courtesy, cooperation and friendliness with staff, volunteers, and customers. Actively listens, anticipates and evaluates the customer’s needs. Ensures that customer satisfaction is a priority in all areas of responsibility. Actively engages our customers while fulfilling job responsibilities.
• Communication (oral and written) — Effectively expressing ideas verbally and non-verbally and actively listen to individuals and groups; preparing and focusing presentations to the characteristics and needs of the audience; expressing ideas clearly and concisely in written form, through memoranda, letters, reports, and other documents.
• Emotional Intelligence/Integrity – Recognizes the emotions of self and others with the ability to accept and distinguish different feelings, label them appropriately, and use this information to guide behavior. Maintaining social, ethical, and organizational values and norms; building trust and confidence with the internal and external customers; respecting the confidentiality of personal and proprietary information.
• Initiative – Takes initiate to achieve goals; asserting oneself to support others in the achievement of their goals; originating action rather than responding only to the actions of others; anticipating the needs of both internal and external constituencies.
• Judgement – Deciding on and committing to an action on the examination of facts at hand; finding creative solution to situations and opportunities that arise; taking strategic risks when necessary.
• Quality – Upholding standards beyond what is required; inspiring staff to maintain and initiate high standards of excellence in their work efforts.
Typical Physical Requirements
• Sitting (2 hours per day)
• Standing (2 hours per day)
• Walking (4 hours per day)
• Bending/Stooping — Frequently
• Squatting — Frequently
• Crawling — Occasionally
• Climbing heights (12’) — Frequently
• Reaching above shoulders — Frequently
• Crouching — Occasionally
• Kneeling — Frequently
• Balancing — Frequently
• Pushing/Pulling — Frequently
• Carrying (up to 70 lbs.) — Occasionally
• Lifting (up to 70 lbs.) — Occasionally
• Using hands for repetitive movements — fine manipulating
• Exposure to marked changes in temperature and humidity
• Typing on a computer keyboard
• Excellent vision for proofing and detail work
• Coping with demands (stresses that are associated with the job and/or the work environment so that acceptable levels of performance and overall contribution are maintained
• Operating machinery and boats
• Ability to travel (car) as needed — locally and/or nationally
• Ability to travel (air) as needed
• Ability to conduct field work in collection and research
• Daily contact with a living collection of plants and animals in a central Florida climate
Education and Pre-requisites
Education, Requirements, and Technical Skills
• Minimum of 1.5 years’ experience in a facility working with aquatic and terrestrial organisms including but not limited to: marine teleosts, inverts, and elasmobranchs
• BS or higher degree in a biological science or related field with equivalent experience
• Knowledge of habits, food requirements and cleaning needs of a diverse animal collection consisting of marine fish and invertebrates
• Knowledge of life support systems and water quality parameters for aquatic species
• Knowledge of Animal Record Keeping systems (ZIMS/ISIS) preferred
• Knowledge of Windows and Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• SCUBA certification required with ability to advance to Open Water Scientific Diver/Rescue Diver level within 6 months of hire
• Must be willing and able to obtain a valid State of Florida Driver’s License
• Flexibility in working weekends, evenings, and holidays
Compensation and benefits
Benefit Plan options; Retirement Plan options; Discounts, and more!
Application instructions
Interested candidates should visit our Career Center at https://www.flaquarium.org/careers to apply.