The National Aquarium is seeking an aviculturist to join the Upland Tropical Rain Forest team. The Rain Forest aviculturist team primarily provides care to birds and small mammals in a large, free-flight neo-tropical aviary and sea birds in a North Atlantic habitat. The successful candidate will provide assigned birds and mammals with excellent day-to-day care through approved husbandry practices; maintain exhibits, equipment, and workspaces to NA standards; participate in acquisition, disposition, transport, and training of birds/mammals; and assist other members of the Upland Tropical Rainforest teams and Australia: Wild Extremes teams as assigned, which may include working with additional taxa. Daily diet preparation (including management of live colonies), operant conditioning, and health monitoring are part of the daily tasks of this position. Other functions of this job may include public presentations, behind-the-scenes tours, assisting with volunteer and intern programs, and responding to emergencies after hours or during severe weather.
- This position reports to the Assistant Curator of Australia-Rainforest.
KEY REQUIREMENTS:
Essential responsibilities include:
- Knowledge of natural history and professional husbandry standards for avian species and small mammals
- Understanding of behavioral husbandry and operant conditioning
- Ability to represent the Aquarium to the public
- Experience with maintenance of large life support systems
- Ability to work in extreme environments safely including extreme cold and heat.
- Ability to carry up to 50lbs, climb ladders and work in high areas and near water
- Ability to work weekends and holidays regularly
- Ability to report evening or night hours during emergencies or severe weather
- Support company mission.
- Adhere to all organizational and departmental policies and procedures
- Other duties as assigned or required
- The National Aquarium is committed to diversity and invites individuals who bring a diversity of culture, experience and ideas to apply.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 4-year degree in biology or animal behavior or related field plus 1 year of professional paid experience or professional experience equivalent
- Maintains a valid Maryland drivers’ license
- Experience with animal data management software such as Tracks, ZIMS etc
- Enthusiasm for working in a developing organization where change is frequent, structure is evolving, and flexibility, teamwork, and good humor are absolute necessities
ABOUT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM
- Recently named one of Baltimore’s Best Places to Work, the National Aquarium opened in 1981 as a nonprofit aquatic education and conservation organization, the jewel of the city’s Inner Harbor redevelopment.
- SmartCEO Magazine honored the National Aquarium with the Healthiest Workplace award and the Corporate Culture award in 2016.
- With a mission to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures, the Aquarium is consistently ranked one of the nation’s two top aquariums and has hosted over 51 million guests since opening.
- Today, the National Aquarium builds on a 43-year history of local, regional, and global conservation initiatives that provide real solutions for protecting marine life, ecosystems and aquatic communities.
- Its Animal Rescue team has rescued, rehabilitated, and released hundreds of marine mammals and endangered sea turtles throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
- Its Animal Care & Welfare teams participate in important research efforts to confront pressing ocean conservation issues and advocate for smarter policies at local, state, and federal levels.
- Through education, research, conservation action and advocacy, the National Aquarium is pursuing a vision to change the way humanity cares for our ocean planet.
Experience Required
- 4-year degree in biology or animal behavior or related field plus 1 year of professional paid experience or professional experience equivalent
- Maintains a valid Maryland drivers’ license
- Experience with animal data management software such as Tracks, ZIMS etc
- Enthusiasm for working in a developing organization where change is frequent, structure is evolving, and flexibility, teamwork, and good humor are absolute necessities.
Perks
- Medical,
- Dental,
- Vision,
- 401(K) match and More!
