Senior Aquarist
: Job Details :

Scope of Job:

• Working alongside the Displays Curator to maintain all aspects of the daily care, feeding and life support system maintenance of a diverse collection of freshwater and marine animals including elasmobranchs, fish, reptiles and invertebrates.
• Ensure the highest possible standards of animal husbandry, exhibit presentation, technical operation and safety in all operational areas of the SEA LIFE Aquarium.
• To monitor all public display areas to achieve the objective of delivering a world class guest experience.
• To manage displays staff operations and husbandry under the direction of the Curator.

Main Responsibilities:

• Adopts a passionate approach to guest service by maximizing guest engagement with creatures.
• Delivers world-class aquatic and terrestrial displays by actively listening, communicating, and engaging with team members, managers, and guests.

• Support team members (Aquarist I & II) in their daily tasks as required.
• Manage site stock and mortality reporting under direction of Curator.
• Oversee nutrition for our animal collection under direction of Curator.
• Detailed record keeping of animal health treatments, exhibit maintenance and feed logs.
• Oversee and support water quality analysis of all exhibits.
• Dive exhibits for in-tank maintenance, cleaning and feeding dives.
• Daily animal feeding, observation and record keeping.
• Weekend, evening and holiday hours are required.

• Follow the sites animal care protocols and programs such as understanding the dietary and nutritional needs of animals, proper preparation, and storage of food.
• Ability to handle and transport animals safely under guidance.
• Advanced understanding of animal welfare principles, animal behavior, and husbandry development.
• Ability to perform the basics of animal training and enrichment.
• Ability to utilize all tools and perform basic water chemistry analysis and spot basic trends in readings. (pH, Temperature, DO, NH3, NO2, NO3, Salinity, Alkalinity, Phosphates, TRO's, and any other parameters as required by site)
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures as needed.
• Ability to perform daily observations, monitoring for health issues and common types of parasites.
• Under guidance, understand the proper drug administration, storage, disposal, and show the ability to carry out prescribed treatments.
• Ability to perform a necropsy, identifying organs, any abnormalities, takes samples and record findings.
• Ability to perform operational procedures of basic filtration and life support systems.
• Ability to maintain proper records and maintenance schedules.
• Ability to follow the policies and procedure to maintain health, safety and security matters pertaining to team, guests, and animals, adhere to reporting procedures.
• Improve health and safety culture, reporting standards and resolution of safety issues/concerns.
• Must be Open Water Certified with the ability to gain Rescue Certification.
• Must pass a dive physical.
• Deliver diving operations on site safely by working in adherence to the Global SEA LIFE Dive Policy.
• Other job duties as assigned.

Health & Safety:

Team Members are responsible for ensuring all Health, Safety & Security measures are in line with the Group Policy (HS001). They must ensure that they follow all Company measure to ensure their own safety and the safety of others. This includes ensuring risk assessments are signed off, safe working procedures are in place and being followed for all work activities. Where incidents do occur, an Aquarist team member must ensure that these are brought to the attention of the Curator in order for an incident report to be completed and corrective action is taken to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. Must adhere to all Merlin Dive Safety standards.

Work Environment:

• Various areas inside and outside of the Attraction, with varying temperatures and floor surfaces and heights.
• Ability to work in or underwater.
• Occasional travel to other Merlin Entertainments properties or other non-Merlin attractions as needed.

Working Pattern:

• This position requires flexibility. Work hours require early mornings.
• Occasional late afternoons, evenings and may require overnight shifts.
• Will require some weekends and holidays.
• Days worked are five out of seven.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to sit for sustained periods of time to attend on-site meetings, complete paperwork.

• Intermittent and prolonged standing and walking to move about the resort site and interact with employees and guests.
• Finger dexterity sufficient to complete paperwork activities and to use a computer.
• Visual acuity sufficient to read written materials, to complete paperwork activities, and to drive.
• Hearing sufficient to communicate with individuals in person and by telephone.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs
• Ability to swim and SCUBA dive for extended periods of time

Other Job Requirements:

• Must be willing to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays to support resort operations.
• Must be open water SCUBA certified

Background and Experience:

• Over 5 years of experience in a public aquarium or zoo in an Aquarist type role.
• Extensive hands-on experience working with a diverse animal collection, including elasmobranchs, fish, reptiles and invertebrates.
• Ability to get rescue diver certification, preferred up to date AED, CPR, First-Aid and O.
• Advanced knowledge of Life Support Systems (LSS).
• Able to identify common fish pathogens and administer medications under the direction of veterinarian.
• Proven ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and multitask as necessary.
• Great organization skills, detail oriented and self-starter.
• Understanding of AZA standards and policies.
• Ability to work with people from all levels of discipline.
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills.
• Adapts well to change and willing to be flexible with work tasks.
• Other tasks not listed under the direction of Displays Curator.

Education:

• B.A/B.S. degree in Life Sciences (Biology, Marine Biology, Zoology, and Psychology) or a two-year certification from an accredited aquarium science/zoological program is preferred.