Job Title: Exhibit Technician- Australia
Posting Date: June 2026
Job Department: Animal Care and Welfare
Schedule: Full Time
Job Type: On-site
Location: National Aquarium Pier 3 501 E Pratt St Baltimore, MD 21202
JOB SUMMARY:
The National Aquarium is seeking an Exhibit Technician to join our Australia-Rainforest team to provide flexible coverage to animal and plant care roles within the department. Provides assigned specimens with excellent day-to-day care through approved husbandry practices; keeps exhibits, back-up spaces, support equipment, and workspaces well maintained and to National Aquarium standards; participates in the acquisition/disposition, transport and acclimation of specimens; participates in the design and maintenance of exhibits and back-up enclosures, including life support systems and equipment, as assigned. Fully accountable for animals and systems under care in assigned areas. Assists with training and mentoring volunteers and interns.
KEY REQUIREMENTS:
Essential responsibilities include:
- Provides care and husbandry of assigned living specimens. Understands and implements specimen care that is concurrent with professional standards of animal welfare and well-being. Conducts annual welfare assessments for assigned specimens.
- Completes inspection rounds of specimens, exhibits, life support equipment, and back-up spaces/tanks three times daily, reporting problems and independently resolving them where possible.
- Prepares diets for assigned living collections in accordance with established dietary needs. Cleans and maintains kitchen and other food preparation areas, food preparation equipment and utensils daily or as required.
- Follows established feeding schedules and provides appropriate food amounts to maintain specimens at a healthy weight and body condition. Monitors weights and monitors the body condition of specimens at assigned intervals.
- Develops and utilizes various feeding techniques to overcome the challenges of feeding specimens housed in multi specimen/species enclosures.
- Observes, reports, and collaborates with curatorial staff on the resolution of issues including specimen incompatibility, feeding challenges, specimen injury and illness, escaped animals, equipment maintenance and function, enclosure/exhibit insufficiencies, and time management issues.
- Participates in propagation programs as assigned.
- Maintains live food cultures as assigned.
- Maintains detailed, daily husbandry records and reviews records regularly with curatorial staff to identify important trends.
- Maintains current knowledge of the natural history and professional husbandry standards for all assigned specimens through hands-on experience, literature reviews, and/or symposium participation.
- Maintains and updates area protocols with information on all assigned exhibits, back-up enclosures/tanks, and their associated life support systems.
- Provides coverage notes, when absent, with specific husbandry instructions.
- Understands current behavioral conditioning methodology with the ability to draft and implement animaltraining plans for assigned specimens.
- Participates in the acquisition/disposition and transport of living specimens as assigned.
- Responds to life-support and animal-related emergencies (including after hours) as assigned.
- Provides back-up support to other areas, as assigned.
- Maintains and remains current and compliant on all TRACKS related assignments.
- Maintains a valid Maryland drivers’ license.
- Observes, recognizes, and reports about medical conditions that may require attention.
- Supports and participates in Animal Health case management and annual physicals of specimens as assigned, administer medications, and implements routine quarantine procedures as instructed.
- Maintains current knowledge of all pumps, valves, filters, lighting timers, climate control equipment, water supply, etc. in assigned areas.
- Conducts backwashing and other procedures necessary to care for pumps, filters, and to maintain high water quality standards.
- Cleans and maintains orderly workspaces and back-up areas and participates in the Integrated Pest Management Plan.
- Develops and maintains professional relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and professional colleagues.
- May represent the Aquarium in external, public-facing interactions, including those with media, donors and board members.
- May participate in workshops, seminars, lectures, member programs and tours.
- Participates in aquarium committees as assigned.
- Adheres to all organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences or equivalent experience
- A minimum of one year experience in the care of animals in a zoo, aquarium, or other zoological facility
Preferred:
- Experience with a wide variety of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, or fish species.
- Experience in the operation and maintenance of life support systems.
Competencies:
- Familiarity with the TRACKS database or the ability to learn.
- An ability to develop and maintain professional work relationships with co-workers and professional colleagues.
- Ability to follow all established safety procedures and policies and identify potential hazards in assigned areas.
- Ability to work safely on ladders, around water, at heights, and around potentially dangerous animals.
- Ability to communicate effectively with staff, guests and colleagues both verbally and in writing.
- Must have good observational skills, be highly detail oriented, and adept at problem solving.
TOTAL COMPENSATION INFORMATION
Hourly range ($17.31-20.45) with hours worked over 40 in a week eligible for overtime, premium pay for National Aquarium recognized holidays, and shift differential for overnight shifts. National Aquarium provides an excellent benefits package including four weeks paid time off, six paid floating holidays, up to four weeks of paid family leave and conservation day leave. Employees are eligible for health care (single and family) after 30 days of full-time work and 401(k) plan participation with employer match available. Employees receive a family membership package and Aquarium tickets.
About the National Aquarium
Established in 1981, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet. The Aquarium’s award-winning habitats are home to thousands of animals representing hundreds of species of fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. We are proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and exceed industry standards in all aspects of animal care and welfare.
More than 1.2 million people visit the Aquarium each year to experience our immersive exhibits, and we reach far more through our science-based education programs and hands-on field conservation work. The National Aquarium is one of the top three aquariums in the United States and the largest paid cultural attraction in Maryland.
Our Mission and Goals
The Aquarium’s mission—to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for our ocean planet—begins within the walls of its buildings, but it does not end there. The Aquarium protects, enhances and restores natural resources through education and engagement, habitat restoration, animal rescue and sustainable business practices, with its conservation work guided by three overarching goals—to combat climate change, save wildlife and habitats, and stop plastic pollution.
Our Values
At the National Aquarium, our core values form the basis for our beliefs about our organization, our colleagues and ourselves, and serve as the framework to guide our behaviors and actions to achieve our mission.
Connection: We take the time to build lasting connections with each other, our guests, the animals in our care and the nature that surrounds us. We communicate clearly and collaborate readily within and across teams. We engage thoughtfully with our partners. We practice shared accountability.
Curiosity: We center learning and growth in all that we do. Our people are empowered to explore new approaches. We support taking risks. We value diverse perspectives and bold ideas. We embrace change.
Optimism: We celebrate the power of positive moments and shared experiences. We seek out opportunities to have fun. We reconnect with our purpose through sharing successes with our colleagues.
Service: We are in service to each other, our guests and our communities. We make intentional decisions and actions for the benefit of the people and animals within our organization.
Wellbeing: We ensure our people and animals have what they need mentally and physically to thrive. We are committed to improving the wellbeing of communities and sharing the healing power of natural for all.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice
National Aquarium values an inclusive and diverse environment for all employees, volunteers, and interns. Our goal is to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a candidate pool representative of the variety of communities we serve. With a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the Aquarium is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and promotes an environment free from all discrimination and harassment.
In the selection and retention of employees, volunteers, and interns, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, national, social, or ethnic origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical, mental, or sensory disability, sex (including pregnancy or childbirth), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, arrest record, family or caregiver status, HIV status, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Our organization is dedicated to this policy with respect to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, training, promotions, performance management, and separation, and general treatment during time of employment.
