Operations and Life Sciences Relief

JOB POSTING

Operations life sciences relief

Posted: Open to internal and external applicants.

Reports to: Associate curator of Temperate Fish and Invertebrates.

Status: Full-Time (32-40 hours/week), hourly, benefitted position.

Hours of work: Variable schedule; shifts include morning, day, evening, and overnight hours.

Date needed: December 2023

Posting expires: Open until positions are filled.

Position description:

We're looking for a part-time operations life sciences relief crew member to the join the team. This position furthers the Seattle Aquarium's mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment through the management and care of our animal collection. The position is responsible for assigned husbandry duties in the Aquarium's Fish & Invertebrate, Birds & Mammals, and Engineering departments.

The position fills scheduled and short-notice open slots in the Life Sciences & Operations staffing schedule. This position is considered skilled backfill for full-time staff on all shifts, including working alone during evening and overnight shifts. Schedule is not set and is dependent on vacancies or needs generated by project and fieldwork schedules and full-time staff vacancies, vacations, and illness.

Essential functions:

• Prepare, store and distribute animal food according to established amounts, types and diets and monitor feeding habits. Evaluate animal behavior to determine physical and behavioral health and well-being and report concerns to appropriate staff.
• Maintain records and reports regarding assigned species, including daily veterinary reports, habitat maintenance, food consumption records and other reports specific to the assigned area
• Perform rounds when scheduled at night; monitor animals, life support systems, facility systems and habitats and resolve issues as needed per training provided. Drain and fill animal pools as scheduled. Organize, store and inventory parts, fittings and supplies as directed.
• Clean and perform routine maintenance and minor repairs of animal habitats and holding areas to ensure the health of animals and the presentation of the species in an attractive environment. Maintain water quality to keep aquatic animals healthy.
• Assist full time staff in identifying, assigning, and monitoring tasks for animal care volunteers and interns.
• Assist full time staff in use of computerized preventive maintenance system. Communicate and coordinate work activities in consideration of circumstance and impact on other sections, the public and volunteers as directed.
• As directed by curator, apply basic operant conditioning techniques and principles to effectively feed animals, shift habitats for cleaning or in response to interspecies aggression.
• As requested, meet with Aquarium event representatives to accommodate brief requests as needed for customizing evening mammal feedings and times, modifying habitat lighting for events, etc.
• Notify relevant staff members of any issues of concern that may arise, especially when working in the evening or night shifts.

• Ensure the safety of animals, employees and the visiting public from injury or mishap. Perform emergency first aid and CPR as needed and according to established guidelines. Training provided.
• Be able to learn and operate handheld power tools and equipment directed by manager or curator.
• Provide informal animal interpretation as needed for guests.
• Position is expected to respond to emergencies and provide basic after-hours security functions for the Aquarium, including responding to alarms and contacting fire and police. Additional security staffing is present as well.

Required skills, abilities:

• Clear verbal and written communications that are legible and organized.
• Keep records and correspondence using MS Office Suite.
• Read and interpret all related operating procedures, manuals, and safety protocols.
• This position requires a detail-oriented, organized, and diligent approach to both everyday tasks and problem-solving.
• Must be able to swim or be comfortable working in or around water.
• Add, subtract, multiply and divide quickly and accurately.
• Must possess organizational skills, be self-motivated and communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to use appropriate safety gear and work in confined spaces.
• Possess coordination and dexterity necessary to ascend and descend rocky habitats with animals in the habitat while carrying containers of food, enrichment items or vet supplies.

Experience, education and certifications: We'll consider various combinations of relevant experience and education to meet minimum requirements.

• A.A. degree in life sciences, mechanical/technical field required.
• B.A./B.S. degree in related field preferred.

Working conditions:

• Requires handling, working with or exposure to large, dangerous animals, animal diseases, feces and toxic chemicals.
• Occasionally required to lift more than 50 pounds, or provide team lift assistance.
• Ability to use appropriate safety gear.
• This is a demanding, physically intense position, with frequent use of physical labor and the necessity to work in inclement weather.
• Willing to work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays, and an occasional 24-hour emergency call.
• Must be able to be on feet six or more hours a day and be active through all physical motions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk and sit; use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel; crouch; crawl; talk and hear; and taste and smell.
• In order to assess animal health and cleanliness of facility and habitat, specific vision abilities are required, including but not limited to close vision; distance vision; color and peripheral vision; depth perception; contrast; and the ability to adjust focus, both indoors and out in all weather conditions.

Pay and benefits: $22.90 to $24.00 per hour, dependent on experience. Full-time staff are eligible for the Seattle Aquarium's full-time benefits package to include medical, vision, employer-funded health reimbursement account, flexible spending account, an Aquarium Family Plus membership and access to a subsidized ORCA pass as well as paid sick time.

How to apply: The Seattle Aquarium is a progressive, equal-opportunity employer that values a diverse workforce. One of our core values is fostering an inclusive community and we want our staff to reflect our community. To that end, we encourage diverse candidates to apply, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous and People of Color applicants and members of the LGBTQIA community.

Interested candidates should upload a resume to our online application in order to be considered. Application review will begin immediately.

Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for this job by emailing us at .

Note: Must pass a background check to be eligible for this position.

About the organization:

The Seattle Aquarium is a respected authority on Puget Sound, the Salish Sea and the world's one ocean. Our passionate staff increases awareness and drives the change needed to preserve and protect our marine environment through a variety of channels, including a compelling habitat experience and engaging daytime and evening events, conservation education programs for people of all ages and backgrounds, community outreach to marginalized populations, research that advances understanding of animals in our care and their counterparts in the wild, advocacy and policy work, an award-winning volunteer program, strong and consistent marketing efforts and more.

We're noted for our collaborative, communicative and team-oriented working environment. Our values, developed in conjunction with our staff, include commitments to adopting and promoting sustainable practices, creating awe-inspiring experiences, constantly learning and improving, fostering an inclusive community, maintaining scientific credibility through evidence-based practices, and honoring our unique place by using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding.

Proudly accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, we're the eighth-largest aquarium in the U.S. by attendance, and we welcome over 850,000 people through our front doors each year. Guided by our mission of Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment, we've developed a master plan to substantially increase in size and impact by opening a new habitat building, the Ocean Pavilion. Our current annual budget is $20 million.

Timeline:

We anticipate the following recruiting schedulefor those candidates who are selected for consideration.The following dates are preliminary and subject to change.We will work with candidates to set interviews that work for all involved.If hired, relocation assistance is not available.

• Priority given to applications received within the first two weeks of posting.
• Start date December 2023