JOB TITLE: Aquarist Technician I DEPARTMENT: Education REPORTS TO: Animal Care Manager FLSA STATUS: Exempt SALARY RANGE: $42,000 - $45,000

PURPOSE OF JOB: Provide aquarist maintenance support of LSS (life support systems)/Aquaria/vivaria and exhibits in the Discovery Center; and educates visitors and students about the Southwest Florida environment, conservation, and the mission of the Conservancy. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • Supports the daily animal care team and oversight of exhibits and holding areas, including:    - Observing, logging, and reporting issues concerning animal behavior, health, and welfare.    - Meeting regularly with animal care team, management, and veterinary staff.    - Supervise animal care interns and assist in the training of new interns.    - Perform daily husbandry activities, including feedings, exhibit cleaning and maintenance, medicating, training, enrichment,    completing reports, etc.    - SCUBA dive to maintain exhibits and conduct welfare exams.    - Maintain detailed records on feeding, maintenance, welfare, and other husbandry related tasks.    - Keep back-of-house spaces and work areas well maintained.    - Administer and monitor medication to aquatic animals. • Conduct routine cleaning and maintenance on large life support systems for marine and freshwater exhibits and freshwater rehabilitation pools. • Maintain a regular inventory of food, medical, and miscellaneous supplies and communicate when reordering is required • Maintain accurate logs of animal feeds to know when diet changes are needed. • Assist in acquiring, acclimation, and quarantining new aquatic species & learn their care • Become fully trained to handle our non-aquatic animals, including birds of prey and large pythons. • Support the Animal Care manager with special projects and aquarium upgrades. • Provide care to other, non-aquatic captive species as needed. • Perform public presentations and tours as needed. OTHER/NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES: • Tracks inventory to order food, supplies, and materials as needed at the request of the Animal Care Manager. • Assists with Conservancy special events. • Other duties as assigned. The above statements describe the general qualifications required to perform the job and the general nature and level of work performed - not a complete list of duties - management may assign additional responsibilities. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: • 1-2 years aquatic animal husbandry experience required, 2-3 years strongly preferred. • Extensive knowledge of aquatic animal husbandry, behavior, and procedures for proper care and conditioning of exotic animals. • Experience disassembling equipment to perform routine maintenance and major repairs. • Experience plumbing aquariums and working with PVC. • Experience with Neptune APEX Systems, not required but preferred. • Experience with the maintenance and operation of large life support systems including sand filters, canister filters, UV sterilizers, protein skimmers, and ozone generators. • Must hold current certification as an open-water diver with a recognized dive certifying authority, with the ability to achieve Rescue Diver certification or equivalent. Significant exhibit diving experience is strongly preferred. EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in biology, animal science, zoology, or related field. Trade school and/or certifications may be substituted with relevant experience. SKILLS AND ABILITIES: • Strong observational skills to recognize and evaluate conditions of animal health, diets, behavior, and exhibit quality. • Strong maintenance skills, including general plumbing and the use of power tools, hand tools, and sealants/glue. • Ability to work independently to problem solve and critically think through solutions. • Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Strong organizational ability. • Must be willing to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, and evening hours, in all weather extremes. • Must pass a background and drug screening. • Must be willing to become trained in the handling of dangerous, exotic wildlife. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS: • Valid driver's license and good driving record. • Ability to obtain and hold a current First Aid, CPR, and DAN Emergency O2 Provider certification. • Aquatic Species Collecting Permit or ability to obtain. • Open-water SCUBA certification is required. PHYSICAL, DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands 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 essential functions. Physical demands: While performing the duties of this Job the employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance and smell. The employee is regularly required to stand for extended periods of time, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. The employee is frequently required to walk, reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift up to 60 pounds. Special vision abilities required by this job include close and color vision, and peripheral and depth perception. The employee must have sufficient mobility to ensure a safe work environment. Must be able to tolerate stress, endure high-risk situations when feeding, transferring, or restraining animals, and make immediate decisions concerning the safety of animals, staff, or the public. Work Environment: The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places, and is exposed to fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals, and outdoor weather conditions. The employee is regularly exposed to wet or humid conditions (non-weather) with a risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Date Posted: 12.13.2022