Position: Freshwater Aquarist III
Reports To: Curator of Freshwater
Compensation: $20 per hour
Why Utah?
Utah is home to five national parks, world-class skiing and snowboarding, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and stunning deserts, mountains, and lakes, all within easy driving distance. Outdoor adventure is part of everyday life. The Salt Lake Valley consistently ranks high for safety, clean communities, short commute times, and family-friendly amenities. Draper offers a balance of suburban comfort and urban access, with downtown Salt Lake City just 15 minutes away. Enjoy all four seasons without extremes—sunny summers, colorful falls, snowy winters, and mild springs—perfect for both outdoor recreation and city living. Utah’s communities are known for being engaged, supportive, and service-oriented, making it easy for newcomers to feel at home.
About Loveland Living Planet Aquarium:
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA) is a mission-driven institution dedicated to inspiring people to explore, discover, and learn about Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Founded in 1997, the Aquarium provides impactful educational experiences for guests of all ages and backgrounds.
Since opening its Draper, Utah facility in 2014, LLPA has welcomed more than 10 million visitors and delivered over 650,000 educational experiences to students. Home to over 4,000 animals representing 650 species, the Aquarium features immersive habitats from around the world—including coral reefs, kelp forests, the deep ocean, Antarctic waters, tropical rainforests, Asian cloud forests, and Utah’s freshwater ecosystems.
Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) since 2019, LLPA is in an exciting phase of growth. With the Sam and Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center currently under construction, the Aquarium will soon become the largest in the Mountain West and the fifth largest aquarium in the continental United States, offering expanded opportunities for education, research, and professional impact.
Position Summary:
The Freshwater Aquarist III is a senior-level aquarist responsible for the advanced care, husbandry, and welfare of a diverse collection of freshwater species, including arapaima, discus, electric eel, and yellow anaconda. This role provides leadership for the Journey to South America gallery, ensuring exceptional habitat presentation, life-support system performance, and animal health standards. The Freshwater Aquarist III plays a critical role in mentoring and training Aquarists I & II, interns, and volunteers, contributing to team development, best practices, and the continued success of the Freshwater team.
Qualifications:
- A college degree (A.A, A.S. B.A. or B.S.) is required with an emphasis on biology or science course work, or equivalent hands-on work experience/knowledge may be considered
- Four (4) years’ experience caring for animals in a public aquarium or zoological facility
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
- Valid Utah driver’s license or ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire
- Must possess or be willing to obtain current, negative TB test results
- CPR/First Aid certification to be obtained upon employment
- SCUBA open water certification strongly preferred
Critical Skills/Competencies:
- Experience with, understanding of, and aptitude for maintaining fish, invertebrates, and reptiles
- Be a role model for performing consistent, high quality animal husbandry practices on a daily basis; consistently maintains excellent standards
- Experience and proficiency in all Aquarium procedures
- Shows excellence in at least one category (fish or reptile medicine, planted aquaria, species collection or propagation, life support, etc.)
- Demonstrates competency in advanced plumbing skills (comfortable plumbing PVC pipe up to 2”)
- Experience with animal collection methods preferred
- Be a role model for professionalism
- Learn competency of all LLPA freshwater aquarium systems and ability to cover any fish or invertebrate system in the department
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Function as the senior aquarist over the Journey to South America Gallery
- Ensure the care of a diverse animal connection, including freshwater fish, reptiles, terrestrial invertebrates, and tropical and aquatic plants
- Acts as a resource to Level I and II Aquarists, Interns and Volunteers
- Train, develop and oversee the work of volunteers and interns assigned to work in the individual’s area of responsibility
- Has acquired and maintains appropriate skill set allowing for an advanced ability to cover and problem solve LLPA aquarium systems
- Performs general husbandry functions without direct supervision
- Maintains the highest level of cleanliness and artistic quality of the displays
- Tests and maintains proper water quality to ensure the health of the organisms
- Ensures the proper care of life support equipment by adhering to a regular preventative maintenance schedule and by keeping all items clean
- Ensures proper lighting levels are achieved and maintained
- Completes inspection rounds at least twice daily to check status of all exhibit and holding systems and their occupants
- Makes daily observations of animals for health and behavioral assessment and report suspected incidence of disease immediately to the management
- Administers medications as needed under the direction of the Curator, Director or Veterinarian
- Reports all non-function life support equipment to the Curator, Director of Animal Husbandry, or Life Support Systems Manager
- Assists with system design and fabrication during renovations
- Prepares food according to LLPA Food Preparation Protocol
- Maintains all established records in accordance with LLPA policy (acquisition, disposition, tank records, water quality records, etc.)
- Demonstrates flexibility in completing tasks, which may extend after normal working hours, weekends and holidays
- Collaborates with colleagues from other aquariums and zoos in aquarium techniques
- Provides alternate coverage for other aquarists as assigned
Physical Demands of the Job:
- Frequently lift and/or move up to 25 lbs. and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds, stand for long periods of time and drive aquarium vehicles
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear
- The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to handle, reach or feel and manipulate objects or controls
- The employee is frequently required to sit, walk distances, climb, balance, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch and stand for long periods for time
While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.
The Living Planet Aquarium is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or military status. The Living Planet Aquarium is committed to ensuring individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application and interview process. Should you require accommodations, please contact accommodation@livingplanetaquarium.org.
