Position: Freshwater Aquarist III

Reports To: Curator of Freshwater

Compensation: Starting at $20.00 per hour

Position Summary:

The Freshwater Aquarist III will help and care for our animals, including our arapaima, discus, electric eel, yellow anaconda, and caiman. They will lead the Journey to South America gallery, maintain vibrant freshwater habitats, and play a key role in training Aquarists I & II, interns, and volunteers.

About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium provides learning opportunities for all levels, interests, and ages, with the mission to inspire people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems since 1997. Since opening its new facility in Draper in March 2014, the Aquarium has welcomed over ten million visitors and provided more than 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to more than 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium showcases ecosystems from around the planet including kelp forests, coral reefs, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, Asian cloud forests, South American rain forests, and the waterways of our home state of Utah. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019. With a new expansion currently under construction and slated for completion in late 2025, LLPA will soon be the largest aquarium in the Mountain West, and 5th largest aquarium overall in the continental United States.

Why Utah?

Utah is an outdoor lover’s dream. With five national parks and 46 state parks, adventure is always just a short drive away. In the winter, you’ll find world-class skiing and snowboarding at resorts known for having the greatest snow on earth. Whether you love hiking, climbing, biking, paddling, or enjoying vibrant local arts and food, Utah offers an unbeatable quality of life and four beautiful seasons to explore it all.

Qualifications:

• A college degree (A.A, A.S. B.A. or B.S.) is required with an emphasis on biology or science course work, or equivalent hands on work experience/knowledge may be considered
• Four (4) years’ experience caring for animals in a public aquarium or zoological facility

Critical Skills/Competencies:

• Experience with, understanding of, and aptitude for maintaining fish, invertebrates, and reptiles
• Is a role model for performing consistent, high quality animal husbandry practices on a daily basis; consistently maintains excellent standards
• Experience and proficiency in all Aquarium procedures
• Shows excellence in at least one category (fish or reptile medicine, planted aquaria, species collection or propagation, life support, etc.)
• Demonstrates competency in advanced plumbing skills (comfortable plumbing PVC pipe up to 2”)
• Experience with animal collection methods preferred
• Is a role model for professionalism
• Basic competency of all LLPA aquarium systems and ability to cover any fish or invertebrate system in the department

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Function as the senior aquarist over the Journey to South America Gallery
• Ensure the care of a diverse animal connection, including freshwater fish, reptiles, terrestrial invertebrates, and tropical and aquatic plants
• Acts as a resource to Level I and II Aquarists, Interns and Volunteers
  • Train, develop and oversee the work of volunteers and interns assigned to work in the individual’s area of responsibility
• Has acquired and maintains appropriate skill set allowing for an advanced ability to cover and problem solve LLPA aquarium systems
• Performs general husbandry functions without direct supervision
• Maintains the highest level of cleanliness and artistic quality of the displays
• Tests and maintains proper water quality to ensure the health of the organisms
• Ensures the proper care of life support equipment by adhering to a regular preventative maintenance schedule and by keeping all items clean
• Ensures proper lighting levels are achieved and maintained
• Completes inspection rounds at least twice daily to check status of all exhibit and holding systems and their occupants
• Makes daily observations of animals for health and behavioral assessment and report suspected incidence of disease immediately to the management
• Administers medications as needed under the direction of the Curator, Director or Veterinarian
• Reports all non-function life support equipment to the Curator, Director of Animal Husbandry, or Life Support Systems Manager
• Assists with system design and fabrication during renovations
• Prepares food according to LLPA Food Preparation Protocol
• Maintains all established records in accordance with LLPA policy (acquisition, disposition, tank records, water quality records, etc.)
• Demonstrates flexibility in completing tasks, which may extend after normal working hours, weekends and holidays
• Collaborates with colleagues from other aquariums and zoos in aquarium techniques
• Provides alternate coverage for other aquarists as assigned

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Valid Utah driver’s license, or obtain one within 6 months of hire
• CPR/First Aid certification to be obtained upon employment
• Must possess or be willing to obtain current, negative drug and TB test results
• SCUBA open water certification strongly preferred

Physical Demands of the Job:

• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 lbs. and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds, stand for long periods of time and drive aquarium vehicles
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear
• The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to handle, reach or feel and manipulate objects or controls
• The employee is frequently required to sit, walk distances, climb, balance, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch and stand for long periods for time

While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.