Marine Mammal Trainer

This position is responsible for the daily care and welfare of the collection of Steller sea lions, harbor seals, northern fur seals, northern sea otters, and a Californian sea lion. This position will facilitate in daily shows, interactive programs and provide professional and courteous experiences to guests. Collaborate with active scientists in the field to collect data when research projects arise. Responsibilities include but not are not limited to diet preparation, environmental enrichment, facility/habitat maintenance, record keeping, develop and implement training regimes, and animal observation/monitoring. 

Experience Required

Education and Experience

• Appropriate 3 year university degree;
• Open Water SCUBA certification and ability to participate regularly in the dive program is required;
• Occupational First Aid Level 1 (to be completed at VA)
• Minimum of 3 years of working with Steller sea lions or sea otters at an AZA or equivalent facility, gained through employment or internships;
• Job title and compensation will be determined based upon level of experience. Skills • Knowledge of animal husbandry;
• Ability to develop skills with animals for veterinary, research and educational activities; • Basic understanding of animal behaviour (including pinnipeds) and the ability to observe, interpret, capture and communicate animal activities;
• Excellent interpretive and public speaking skills.

Further Comments

At VanAqua, we care about the well-being of our employees and offer support at all levels within our organization. We foster an environment of learning, supported by leaders who listen, where you are encouraged to voice opinions and share new ideas. We have developed a mental health committee to continuously find ways to support our staff and we encourage a healthy work-life balance. We look to continually assess and improve our culture to reflect the positive change we want to see in the field. It is important to find an applicant that has a positive attitude that will contribute to a healthy work culture where we celebrate each other. We are looking for someone to grow with our organization. The right fit with our team is more important than the amount of experience