Exhibits Technician I - Aquarist Keeper

The Virginia Aquarium is seeking a dependable, self-motivated Exhibits Tech I - Aquarist Keeper to assist in the daily husbandry of the Aquarium’s animals. A solid understanding of animal welfare standards that includes reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates husbandry is required. This position’s focus will be maintaining superb animal health and welfare by cleaning habitats, providing nutritious diets, maintaining aquatic life support systems, and assisting with medical procedures for a diverse animal collection. Included in this animal collection are teleosts, elasmobranchs, chelonians, crocodilians, Komodo dragons, venomous snakes and poison dart frogs.

Duties will include the following:

• Maintain and continually enhance the daily husbandry of a variety of reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and both aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.
• Assist veterinary staff and Senior Aquarists with medical procedures.
• Work collaboratively as part of the Animal Husbandry team to communicate husbandry and medical needs of the animals in the section.
• Work as part of a team to always maintain animal habitat cleanliness, which includes SCUBA diving.
• Administer diets to a wide variety of fishes, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians.
• Assist with the process of species planning to include animal transfers and acclimations.
• Assist with live animal and food culturing.
• Train new volunteers and part-time staff.
• Present public programs and educational messaging to be used in a variety of settings.
• Support the guest experience by participating in visitor enhancement development and actively seek out guest engagement opportunities.
• Participate in professional development opportunities.
• Work Schedule: 40 hours per week; Sun-Thu or Tue-Sat between the hours of 7am – 6pm; may include occasional evenings and/or holidays to meet operational needs or during special events.

Preferences:

• One (1) or more years husbandry experience with reptiles, amphibians, fishes and/or invertebrates in a zoo, aquarium or similar setting.
• Basic knowledge of the biology, anatomy, behavior and nutritional needs of reptiles, amphibians and fishes.
• Experience in the care and management of venomous snakes, including daily husbandry, handling, and restraint.
• Experience in the care and management of large, and potentially dangerous reptiles to include monitor lizards and crocodilians.
• Experience in the care and management of aquatic chelonians, including daily husbandry, handling, and restraint.
• Experience in the management of freshwater and saltwater aquaria, including daily maintenance, temperature and lighting control, and the analysis and manipulation of water quality parameters.
• Experience in the design, construction, and maintenance of aquarium life support systems
• Experience speaking with the public in a zoo, aquarium, museum, or related setting.
• Experience with operant conditioning-based animal training programs in zoo or aquarium settings.
• Experience SCUBA diving in aquarium exhibits for husbandry and maintenance.
• The City offers a generous benefits package such as health, dental and life insurance, retirement and savings plans.

Other key benefits include:

• Maternity/Paternity and Parental Leave
• Leave Donation Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistant Program
• Professional Development

Experience Required

• Requires any combination of education (above the high school level) and/or experience equivalent to two (2) years in fields utilizing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities and associated with positions such as aquarist, exhibits technician, biologist, or animal keeper in a similar facility or program.
• Individual positions will have specific requirements regarding subject expertise, skills and training; these will be noted on job requisition at time opening is advertised.
• Must possess and maintain at all times current SCUBA certification of Open Water Diver or higher from a nationally recognized certifying agency.
• Must have, or obtain, a current and valid driver’s license.

Further Comments

• All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.
• This position may require that incumbents to wear and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, steel toed shoes, hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, or other safety attire and equipment in designated areas of risk. Specific requirements will be determined and communicated by the employee's supervisor based on position assigned.
• Positions within this class have been designated as Alpha I positions requiring employees to work during inclement weather, regardless of the City's operational status.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment physical.
• This is a safety sensitive position and is subject to mandatory drug testing. Positive drug test results may result in counseling and/or discipline, up to and including, termination.

Perks

• https://virginia-beach-departments-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/city/Careers/Full-time-Employee-Benefits.pdf

Salary

• G.16, $35,494.40 - $55,016.32