Aquarist 1
Cox Science Center and Aquarium- West Palm Beach, FL
The Aquarium Assistant is responsible for providing the highest possible quality of care to the animals in his/her care. This responsibility includes the set-up, maintenance and care of aquarium exhibits, preparing and dispensing food. The individual will maintain current on the husbandry and of all fish, invertebrates and reptiles in the aquarist’s area of responsibility. Must have the knowledge and ability to act as a resource for volunteers and interns. The Aquarium Assistant must be an excellent public speaker with the ability to teach and perform in front of large audiences.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Maintains live exhibits and specimen holding facilities at a high level of quality.
• Performs daily touch tank programs, feedings and alligator pettings. • Performs general husbandry functions without direct supervision. • Works well in a team environment and follows directions easily. • Maintain the highest level of cleanliness. • Maintain proper water quality to ensure the health of the organisms. • Ensure the proper care of life support equipment by adhering to a regular preventative maintenance schedule and by keeping all items clean.
• Complete inspection rounds at least twice daily to check status of all exhibit and
holding/quarantine systems and their occupants. • Make daily observations of animals for health and behavioral assessment and report suspected incidence of disease immediately to the Director.
• Administer medications as needed under the direction of the Aquarium Director.
• Report all non-function life support equipment to the Director of Animal Husbandry.
• Prepare food and feed organisms. • Maintain and organize excel spreadsheets in accordance with established practice and policy (acquisition, disposition, tank records, water quality records, etc.).
• Adhere to all safety protocols (fire, diving, etc.). • Demonstrate flexibility in completing tasks, which may extend after normal working hours. • Required to work weekends and holidays. • Ensure all husbandry areas are kept clean, organized and hazard free.
Critical Skills/Competencies:
• Strong identification skills, ability to identify all animals under your care. • Extensive knowledge of biological processes as they pertain to water chemistry and animal health.
• Possesses familiarity of all animals in the Aquarium, including a good understanding of the requirements of individual species in captivity • Attention to detail. • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Qualifications: An Aquarium Assistant must have previous experience in aquariums and/or zoos and a background related to living organisms. Experience with, understanding of, and aptitude for maintaining fish, invertebrates and reptiles is essential. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or abilities required. A college degree (B.A. or B.S.) is required with an emphasis on biology/zoology or science course work, or equivalent hands on professional or volunteer experience/knowledge may be considered. Must be scuba certified. One (1) year experience caring for animals in a public aquarium or zoological facility preferred. Possess a valid driver’s license and obtain a Florida driver’s license within 6 months of hire date.
Physical Demands of the Job: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. • Ability to swim. • Ability to stand for long periods of time. • Ability to walk up and down ladders. • Ability to work with various cleaning chemicals. • Ability to operate power tools or heavy machinery.
•Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• Hot and cold environments. • Outdoor and indoor environments in varying weather conditions. • Elevated platforms. • Aquarium habitats. • Uneven surfaces. • Confined spaces. • Underwater environments. • Noisy workspaces.
Please submit your resume and cover letter to Rebecca Fago, Aquarium Director at Aquarium@coxsciencecenter.org
