Overview

The Marine Mammal Aide is responsible for providing husbandry and support to the marine mammal training staff.  Responsible for preparing daily animal diets as instructed.  Responsible for cleanliness and safety of all animal and back-up areas.

Essential Functions:

• Aides the Marine Mammal staff with the daily husbandry of marine mammal animal collection
• Prepares daily animal diets and dispenses vitamins as instructed.
• Assists in feeding all colony animals.
• Provides secondary assistance in the training of behaviors under the guidance of experienced staff members.
• Assists in daily animal observations.
• Participates in the scheduled SCUBA dives into the Dolphin pools to clean/scrub and maintain the overall cleanliness of the exhibit
• Maintains all animal and related records.
• Assists in the marine mammal enrichment program.
• Responsible for the cleanliness and safety of all animal and back-up areas.
• Aides staff in training of animal collection
• Responsible for observing behavior training within a learning capacity.
• Develops basic understanding and application of operant conditioning techniques and terminology.
• Will participate in back-up and primary roles for public presentations.

• Adheres to all organizational and departmental policies and procedures
• Other duties as assigned or required

Qualifications/Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or undergraduate coursework in biology, zoology, psychology or a related science is preferred.
• Open water SCUBA certification required
• Able to apply basic knowledge of marine mammal biology, and basic operant conditioning concepts to an Aquarium setting.
• Basic understanding of marine mammal natural history.
• Ability to learn about basic marine mammal husbandry and training techniques.
• Familiarity with computers is necessary; especially MS Office software.
• Ability to take direction and follow instructions
• Capacity to absorb feedback from training staff and/or director in order to meet developmental goals.
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.
• Able to communicate effectively with the visitors, and staff. Work in a teamwork environment. Able to meet assigned goals on time.
• Must interact with other staff members in a professional manner with an emphasis on teamwork.

The National Aquarium is committed to diversity and invites individuals who bring a diversity of culture, experience and ideas to apply.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM

Recently named one of Baltimore’s Best Places to Work, the National Aquarium opened in 1981 as a nonprofit aquatic education and conservation organization, the jewel of the city’s Inner Harbor redevelopment. SmartCEO Magazine honored the National Aquarium with the Healthiest Workplace award and the Corporate Culture award in 2016. With a mission to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures, the Aquarium is consistently ranked one of the nation’s two top aquariums and has hosted over 51 million guests since opening.

Today, the National Aquarium builds on a 37-year history of local, regional and global conservation initiatives that provide real solutions for protecting marine life, ecosystems and aquatic communities. Its Animal Rescue team has rescued, rehabilitated and released hundreds of marine mammals and endangered sea turtles throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Its Animal Care and Welfare teams participate in important research efforts to confront pressing ocean conservation issues and advocate for smarter policies at local, state and federal levels. Through education, research, conservation action and advocacy, the National Aquarium is pursuing a vision to change the way humanity cares for our ocean planet.

HOW TO APPLY Interested and engaged applicants should apply through our website http://aqua.org/jobs. Requests for reasonable accommodation can be made by e-mailing HR@aqua.org.