Facility
Houston Zoo
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
The Houston Zoo Inc. is searching for motivated individuals to add to its Aquarium staff. The Aquarist position is responsible for exhibit maintenance and animal husbandry of a wide range of fishes and invertebrates. Aquarists are expected to interact with the Zoo guests through daily keeper chats, believe in the value of diversity and be respectful of other team members. The Aquarist position will work with others to provide the Zoo guests with the highest quality experience.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Observes and evaluates animal condition, behavior and responses and communicates observations orally and on written reports.
Prepares and feeds appropriate diets, noting conformance of foods provided to diets prescribed for each animal.
Administers prescribed medications and dietary supplements and monitors food and medicine consumption.
Checks on integrity of enclosures and structures, ensuring safety and welfare of animals, zoo visitors, and staff in accordance with established guidelines.
Monitors water quality
Maintains life support systems
Assist with the acquisition of specimens
Performs minor repairs and preventative maintenance as necessary.
Maintains clean and organized exhibits, equipment, and keeper areas.
Improves the quality of life of the animal collection by providing environmental and behavioral enrichment opportunities.
Trains selected animals through operant conditioning for purposes of gaining cooperation for veterinary treatment and/or public demonstrations.
Installs exhibit furnishings, props, and decorations safely, attractively and in a manner consistent with zoo guidelines.
Data entry of animal records
PHYSICAL EFFORT:
Candidates must be able to stand, walk and work in awkward positions for an extended period of time. Candidates can be expected to work in less than optimal outside weather conditions. Candidates must be able to lift 50-75 lbs.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
There are routine exposures to significant levels of heat, cold, moisture and air pollution. The position may involve exposure to chemical substances and physical trauma of a minor nature such as cuts, bruises and minor burns.
PHYSICAL SKILL:
Requires the ability to make closely coordinated hand/eye movements within very fine tolerance and/or calibration demands; or the ability to make rapid closely coordinated hand/eye movements on a patterned response space within somewhat fine tolerance demands; or the ability to make coordinated hand/eye movements within fine tolerances with large equipment as an extension of the worker.
PUBLIC CONTACT:
Frequent public contact and extensive interaction with vendors, requiring considerable interpersonal skill and a high degree of customer service.
Education and Pre-requisites
EXPERIENCE:
College undergraduate degree in biology or related field and at least one year of work experience in Public Aquarium or Aquatic Research facility.
KNOWLEDGE:
Candidates must be Open Water SCUBA certified by National recognized training organization and have a valid Texas Driver license or the ability to obtain one.
Compensation and benefits
Full-Time position with strong benefits package
Application instructions
Applicants can visit www.houstonzoo.org/careers to download an application
E-mail resume and completed application to careers@houstonzoo.org
Houston Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer