Senior Aquarist

The position requires a highly motivated individual who will take direction from the Curators, Managers, Supervisors, and/or the Senior Vice President of Property Operations in carrying out daily animal care routine and maintenance for an assigned set of habitats, quarantine or holding tanks. This role will include responsibilities at the Mississippi Aquarium’s offsite quarantine location, as well as the aquarium campus. The position will participate in and assist with informing, teaching, and implementing best animal care practices. They will participate in and at times lead daily operations within the aquatics team. The position will also be responsible for maintaining organized written records pertaining to health, feeding, water quality, animal welfare assessments, and behavioral observations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide overall daily care of assigned animals and exhibits in a multi-taxa collection to ensure animal health, safety, and welfare, as well as staff and public safety.
• Observe and monitor animals’ general health and behavior, reporting any abnormal behavior to supervisor and/or veterinary staff.
• Manage, prepare, and provide diets, following written instructions, and administer supplements, medication, and/or treatments as instructed to ensure proper nutrition and health.
• Provide detailed record keeping involving daily observations, feedings, enrichment, water quality monitoring, life support system (LSS) operations, animal health and welfare, and acquisition/disposition and moralities.
• Mentor aquatics staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Ensure guest satisfaction by maintaining habitats through daily maintenance, and keeping support areas clean, organized, and safe.
• Identify and resolve problems with minimal assistance.
• Comply with all SOPs pertaining to daily operations and safety.
• Conduct acquisition activities when needed, including collection, transport, acclimation, and quarantine.
• Research and suggest upgrades, enhancements and changes to habitat systems to supervisors.
• At the direction of the supervisor, interact with and respond to public/media requests for information. Participate in Aquarium related education, public relations and membership programs including facility tours and lectures.
• Provide coverage for other biologists and areas as assigned.
• Cross-train with other staff within the animal care department as needed.
• Promote conservation, animal welfare, and good stewardship in daily tasks.
• Implement habitat and LSS modifications, repairs, and fabrication as directed.
• Manage assigned aspects of daily animal care operations under the guidance of the Curator of Aquatics and Aquatics Supervisor.
• Provide leadership by demonstrating motivation and exhibit the values of the Mississippi Aquarium on a daily basis.
• Organize interactive programs and educational presentations in assigned areas.
• Serve as a liaison to the Curator of Aquatics and Aquatics Supervisor.
• Undertake special projects as assigned by manager(s).

Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in aquatic sciences, zoology, marine biology, biology, psychology, or related field.
• Three or more years of full-time animal care experience from an accredited AZA institution or equivalent, aquaculture facility, or zoo.  
• Successful completion of pre-employment drug screening and SCUBA dive physical
• Detailed knowledge of biology of a large variety of fishes, elasmobranchs, aquatic invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians.
• Detailed knowledge of operant conditioning and positive reinforcement as animal behavioral conditioning techniques.
• Record-keeping and collection management experience.
• Familiarity with basic medications and vaccination programs.
• Knowledge of proper animal conformation, body conditions, gestation/incubation periods, and nutrition.
• Demonstrated mechanical skills, basic LSS plumbing, and understanding of LSS theory and operation.
• Excellent communication and observational skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ethics that generate and sustain a positive team atmosphere and professional environment.
• A valid driver’s license and the ability to travel if necessary.
• Valid SCUBA certification or the ability to obtain certification within one year from hire date.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, days closed due to inclement weather, and to travel for extended periods of time to perform collecting and other duties.
• Experience in preparing and conducting public educational programs.
• Able to lift a minimum of sixty (60) pounds.

Note: 

• Position will involve exposure to inclement weather, dust, potentially dangerous and unpredictable animal species, and potentially dangerous machinery, restraint devices and toxic chemicals and/or drugs. 
• Occasional use of protective clothing or equipment is required e.g. goggles, mask, gloves, and gowns.
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
• Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Team Requirements:

• Safety & Security - All Team Members are required to adhere to all Mississippi Aquarium safety and security standards.
• Attendance & Appearance - To maximize the guest’s experience, all Team Members are required to adhere to Mississippi Aquarium standard operating procedures regarding attendance and dress code policies as it relates to individual job functionality.
• Sales & Guest Services - Our forward-thinking business model requires listening and understanding the needs of our guests both internal and external. 
• To that end, we must always be focused on the guest experience which is the key driver for return guest visitation and increased sales.
• Team Partnership - All Team Members are focused on supporting each other to complete the guest experience. 
• Therefore, supporting, facilitating, and participating in activities that promote team effectiveness is vital to our organization.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

• The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.