POSITION SUMMARY
The position requires a highly
motivated individual who will take direction from the Curators, Area
Supervisors and/or Sr. Vice President of Property Operations in carrying out
the animal care routine and maintenance for an assigned set of habitats. The
position will also be responsible for maintaining organized written records
pertaining to health, feeding, water quality, animal welfare and behavioral observations.
This position is responsible for adhering to all aquarium safety, protocols,
standard operating procedures (SOPs) and Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and
Aquariums (AMMPA) accreditation standards.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Assists and participates as one of the management
team in overseeing all aspects of the daily care and behavioral
conditioning of bottlenose dolphins, North American river otters, and
other taxa as assigned
- Under the direction of upper-management, coordinate the
execution of daily and long-term animal training goals, including
enrichment, new learning, presentation/interactive program content &
quality, and staff development
- Assist the management team in coordinating the
implementation of dynamic animal training projects and programs that serve
to enhance animal care, animal management, guest experience, and public
relations
- Implement and maintain a comprehensive animal
enrichment program for the Animal Care department
- Coordinates with management to organize staff
assignments for daily area husbandry, presentations, guest interaction
programs, and other special events
- Interacts with guests and crew members in a positive
and professional manner
- Performs the execution of all interactive programs
- Participate in media events, film shoots, PR events
- Ensure the facility is following industry and
government standards in the areas of husbandry/cleanliness, diet
preparation, record keeping, and facility maintenance
- Serve as a mentor and oversee the developmental goals
of MSAQ Volunteers, Interns, Assistant Marine Mammal Trainers, Marine
Mammal Trainers I, and Marine Mammal Trainers II. This includes
providing feedback to management for staff performance appraisals
- Facilitates daily area operations as lead in the
absence of management, including communication with other department leads
as needed
- In absence of management, capable of overseeing
veterinary procedures
- Ensure the implementation and compliance with dive
safety guidelines established by the dive safety officer
- To perform other duties as workload necessitates,
regardless of time, day, or location
QUALIFICATIONS
- A four-year degree in aquatic sciences, zoology,
biology, psychology, or a related field is preferred
- Four or more years of full-time animal care experience
from an accredited AMMPA or AZA institution, or equivalent
- Certified SCUBA diver
- Successful completion of pre-employment drug screening,
SCUBA dive physical, and area swim test.
- Detailed knowledge of the biology, behavior, and
natural history of marine mammals, especially cetaceans, mustelids and
other major taxa as needed
- Detailed knowledge of operant conditioning and positive
reinforcement animal behavioral conditioning techniques
- Extensive experience with free contact, in-water
training with bottlenose dolphins in a interactive programming and/or
public presentation setting
- Experience with protected contact training techniques
- Record-keeping; experience with TRACKS software
preferred
- Familiarity with basic medications and vaccination
programs
- Knowledge of proper animal conformation & body
conditions, gestation/incubation periods and nutrition
- Excellent observation and communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills that generate and sustain a
positive team atmosphere and professional environment
- A valid driver’s license and the ability to travel if
necessary
- Ability to work weekends, holidays, days closed due to
inclement weather, and to travel for extended periods of time to perform
collecting and other duties
- Experience in preparing and conducting public
educational programs
- Experience in conducting interactive programming
- Able to lift a minimum of sixty (60) pounds
- Strong command of the English language, both written
and verbal
This job description is not designed
to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or
responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties,
responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
TEAM REQUIREMENTS
- Safety & Security - All Team Members are required
to adhere to all Mississippi Aquarium safety and security standards.
- Attendance & Appearance - To maximize the guest’s
experience, all Team Members are required to adhere to Mississippi
Aquarium standard operating procedures regarding attendance and dress code
policies as it relates to individual job functionality. Tattoos and
piercings must be appropriate and in keeping with a professional image.
Depending on the work area, management reserves the right to determine
that tattoos will need to be covered during your shift.
- Sales & Guest Services - Our forward-thinking
business model requires listening and understanding the needs of our
guests both internal and external. To that end, we must always be
focused on the guest experience which is the key driver for return guest
visitation and increased sales.
- Team Partnership - All Team Members are focused on
supporting each other to complete the guest experience. Therefore,
supporting, facilitating, and participating in activities that promote
team effectiveness is vital to our organization.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK
ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands and work
environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities
to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job,
the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger,
handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb
stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Specific
vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision,
color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather
conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is
usually moderate.
Note: Position will involve exposure to
inclement weather, dust, potentially dangerous and unpredictable animal
species, and potentially dangerous machinery, restraint devices and toxic
chemicals and/or drugs. Occasional use of protective clothing or
equipment is required e.g., goggles, mask, gloves, and gowns.
