The Virginia Aquarium is seeking an Exhibits Technician I – Herpetology Keeper/Aquarist. This individual should be a dependable, self-motivated team member to assist in the daily husbandry of the Aquarium’s animals. A solid understanding of animal welfare standards that includes reptile, amphibians, fish, and invertebrate 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 which includes teleosts, elasmobranchs, chelonians, crocodilians, Komodo dragons, venomous snakes and poison dart frogs.
Duties:
- 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 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/week; Sunday–Thursday or Tuesday–Saturday between the hours of 7:00 am – 6:00 pm; will vary occasionally to meet operational needs.
- 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
- Official City Job Description:
- https://virginia-beach-departments-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/city/job-descriptions-pay-plans/Exhibits-Technician-I-Aquarist-Keeper-02049.pdf
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 Virginia or North Carolina drivers license in accordance with Virginia or North Carolina DMV drivers license eligibility requirements.
Further Comments
- Preferences: 1. One (1) or more years husbandry experience with reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates in a zoo, aquarium, or related setting
- 2.Basic knowledge of the biology, anatomy, behavior, and nutritional needs of reptiles, amphibians, and fishes
- 3. One (1) or more years husbandry experience in the care and management of venomous snakes, including daily husbandry, handling, and restraint
- 4. One (1) or more years husbandry experience in the care and management of large, and potentially dangerous reptiles to include monitor lizards and crocodilians
- 5. Experience in the care and management of aquatic chelonians, including daily husbandry, handling, and restraint
- 6. 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
- 7. Experience in the design, construction and maintenance of aquarium life support systems
- 8. Experience speaking with the public in a zoo, aquarium, museum, or related setting
- 9. Experience with operant conditioning-based animal training programs in zoo or aquarium settings 10. Experience SCUBA diving in aquarium exhibits for husbandry and maintenance
Perks
- https://virginia-beach-departments-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/city/Careers/Full-time-Employee-Benefits.pdf
Salary
- G.16, $35,671.90 - $55,291.45
