| Job Description
Aquarist 1 |
| Position Title | Aquarist 1 | Reports To | Animal Care Manager |
| Department | Animal Care | Location | Children’s Aquarium Dallas |
| Date Written/Revised | August 1, 2025 | | |
| Position Summary |
| This position is responsible for the day-to-day husbandry operations in the Aquarium. Primary responsibilities include the care and wellbeing of all animals under the facility’s care; maintenance of habitats; fun and meaningful education for guests, and positive team approach within the Animal Care Department. |
| Duties & Responsibilities |
- Undertake daily operations within the Animal Care Department to ensure highest level of safety, courtesy, education, efficiency and operational readiness at all times.
- Perform daily care and husbandry of reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic animals, including feeding, water quality monitoring, and environmental enrichment.
- Clean and maintain aquarium exhibits, life support systems, and holding areas, including dive requirements as needed.
- Perform water chemistry testing and recordkeeping to ensure optimal conditions for aquatic life.
- Prepare diets and follow feeding schedules in accordance with species-specific needs.
- Interact with guests in a professional, fun, and educational manner; conduct daily presentations, keeper chats, feed shows, and behind-the-scenes tours, electronic presentations, or off-site events as needed.
- Participate in departmental meetings, trainings, and emergency drills as needed.
- Support special events, exhibit changes, and animal transports as directed.
- Maintain positive representation of self and facility to guests, coworkers, professional agencies, and other institutions.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety standards in accordance with local municipality, state and federal rules and regulations, to protect animal, guest and staff health and safety.
- Ensure habitats meet compliance of facility specific policies and procedures.
- Perform duties while reducing loss/waste, control costs and accurately communicate expenses.
- Proactively assist in habitat renovation and educational opportunities in order to maximize revenues and guest experience.
- Maintain up-to-date electronic records on animal health, water quality, system maintenance, system checks and stock reports.
- Monitor and identify animal health concerns, disease diagnosis and water quality concerns.
- Communicate to Management, Veterinary, and Life Support staff any animal health concerns to develop and implement a care and treatment plan.
- Compliance of all policy and procedure documents.
- Assist in emergency situations to minimize damage, loss or injury to guests, team members, animals or company property.
- In collaboration with Guest Experience Department, ensure habitats, programs, and facility engage, educate and entertain diverse audiences.
- Work closely with the volunteers and educators provide exemplary guest service and engagement.
- Other duties as assigned.
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| Experience, Skills & Qualifications |
- One year with animal husbandry or related animal care experience required.
- Previous working experience with freshwater species, saltwater species, coral, jellyfish and/or reptiles preferred.
- PADI Rescue Diver or equivalent preferred.
- First Aid, Emergency O2, and AED certification preferred.
- Degree in wildlife/marine biology or relevant work experience preferred. .
- Competency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and Google Drive.
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong listening, presentation and decision-making skills.
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| Abilities |
The individual must possess the following abilities to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some or a combination of the abilities- Ability to walk and stand and walk for long periods of time.
- Ability to lift up to 75 pounds
- Ability to read, listen and communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to access and accurately input information using a moderately complex computer system.
- Ability to work indoors and outdoors in temperatures ranging from 16 - 95 degrees Fahrenheit
- Hearing and visual ability to observe and detect signs of emergency situations.
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| Other |
- Upon employment all team members are required to comply with the standards, rules and regulations, which may be established by the Company and updated from time-to-time. Team members who violate property rules or have irregular attendance will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
- The leisure business functions seven days a week. Due to the seasonal nature of the industry, team members may be required to work varying schedules, weekends, holidays and overtime to reflect the business needs of the property. Team members may also be required to attend group and/or department meetings in addition to the work shift as necessary.
- This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions that a team member in this position may be asked to perform.
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| Salaried or Hourly |
| Hourly. |
