Overview

With a passion for tropical wildlife, reporting to the Assistant Curator, Tropics, the Assistant Aquarium Biologist’s position is a supportive role providing section coverage for the full-time Aquarium Biologists. The taxa may include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and terrestrial invertebrates, as well as terrestrial plants.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Maintains tropical environments by:

  • Monitoring and maintaining the proper environmental conditions for specimens;
  • Monitoring and maintaining the health of specimens through proper feeding;
  • Reporting all animal/plant health concerns to the Assistant Curator;
  • Completing and maintaining daily animal care/husbandry reports;
  • Propagating and maintaining the live food species required for specimen feeding.

Develops the tropical environments by:

  • Implementing appropriate display environment for specimens, as directed;
  • Assisting in planning, constructing and maintaining exhibits to represent natural habitat;
  • Developing the exhibits using Research & Development, as directed;
  • Conducting research into the husbandry of species, as directed.
  • Interprets the tropical environments by:
  • Communicating with other departments regarding species and exhibits;
  • Interpreting displays (labels) , researching and responding to questions from the public regarding specimens and husbandry.

Assists the Amazon Department by:

  • Providing section coverage for other husbandry staff;
  • Performing additional duties as required.
  • Consciously improves the overall organization and its processes by:
  • Promptly aiding in emergency protocol;
  • Maintaining and supporting organizational safety standards;
  • Continually improving our impact on the environment and greening of operations by supporting our Environmental Management Systems (EMS) protocols;
  • Performing additional duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

  • Direct experience in the husbandry of tropical organisms;
  • Experience in general animal husbandry, but with exotic species, is an asset;
  • A Rabies vaccination is an asset;
  • Relevant post-secondary course work;
  • Requires a valid Driver’s License.

Skills

  • Enthusiastic team player; effective organizational, interpersonal and communication skills to deal effectively with departmental team, public, students, volunteers and other departments;
  • Requires proficiency with MS Office applications;
  • Good record-keeping skills;
  • Careful attention to habitat and husbandry details;
  • Ability to follow through on Curatorial direction;
  • Active demonstration of the company’s values and mission;

Working Conditions

  • Job requires strength and endurance;
  • Shared office environment;
  • Requires standing for periods of time;
  • Job requires working in co-operation with co-workers;
  • Job requires working in constrictive ways;
  • Ability to safely lift and move up to 50lbs;
  • Constant exposure to wet and slippery conditions with exposure to cleaning chemicals, electrical, driving hazards and pest species;
  • Duties involve constant exposure to dangerous specimens;
  • Job involves regular activities in a warm, humid environment;
  • Job includes relative freedom of movement.