Senior Aquarist

Salary: Competitive (starting at $525 per week)

Position Summary:
The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station is seeking a Senior Aquarist to oversee animal husbandry operations and ensure the wellbeing of all aquatic species under the facility’s care. The role involves habitat maintenance, animal health monitoring, and providing leadership within the Life Sciences Department.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise daily operations within the Life Sciences Department, ensuring safety, efficiency, and educational excellence.
• Maintain positive representation to professional agencies, institutions, and committees.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations at local, state, and federal levels.
• Provide coaching and professional development for assigned team members.
• Oversee habitat maintenance, ensuring adherence to facility-specific policies and procedures.
• Assist in the implementation of new habitats and educational programs to enhance guest experience.
• Maintain electronic records on animal health, water quality, system maintenance, and stock reports.
• Monitor and diagnose animal health concerns, including disease detection and water quality issues.
• Collaborate with the Animal Care Manager, veterinary team, and water quality staff to implement care and treatment plans.
• Respond to emergency situations to protect guests, staff, animals, and company property.
• Work with the Guest Experience Department and Aquarium Foundation to develop engaging educational programs.
• Ensure volunteers and educators provide exceptional guest service.
• Perform daily dive operations as required.

Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in animal husbandry required.
• Degree in wildlife biology, marine biology, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Background in freshwater and saltwater aquariums, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and small mammals.
• Experience working in a public aquarium setting preferred.
• Open Water Dive Certification required (Rescue Diver level preferred).
• First Aid, CPR, AED, and Emergency O2 Provider certifications required.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent communication, presentation, and decision-making skills.

Work Environment & Requirements:

• Ability to stand for extended periods.
• Effective verbal and written communication in English.
• Comfortable working with computer systems for data input and recordkeeping.
• Hearing and visual ability to detect emergency situations.

Additional Information:

• Employees must comply with company policies; violations may result in disciplinary action.
• Work schedule varies, including weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed.
• Employees may need to attend departmental meetings outside their regular shift.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should submit their resume and cover letter via the St. Louis Aquarium website: https://www.stlouisaquarium.com.

Contact Information:
Name: Hiring Team – St. Louis Aquarium
Website: https://www.stlouisaquarium.com