Position Summary:
The Aquatics Supervisor is responsible for the daily care, health and enrichment as well as the management of water quality and life support systems for the aquatics collection. This role involves overseeing aquarists and coordinating with other animal care staff, ensuring high standards in animal welfare, habitat maintenance, and guest experience. The Aquatics Supervisor will collaborate with other departments to support educational programs, research, conservation, and public engagement initiatives. They will aid in fostering a safe, educational, and enjoyable environment for both animals, staff and visitors.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Oversees and schedules aquatics staff. Providing leadership, guidance and support to ensure a cohesive and effective team. Trains, mentors, and assesses staff to maintain the highest standards in animal care, safety, and operational protocols. Helps team growth by identifying professional development opportunities for team members.
- Supervises daily husbandry routines, including feeding, cleaning, health monitoring, and enrichment of aquatic animals.
- Collaborates with Curator of Aquatics, veterinary staff and other aquatics staff to monitor health conditions, conduct medical treatments, and perform behavioral assessments.
- Assures that appropriate daily records are kept on all husbandry, training and water testing activities including daily care, animal health and welfare, acquisition/disposition and moralities.
- Develops, coordinates, delegates and implements training and enrichment programs that promote natural behaviors and positive animal welfare.
- Manages and maintains life support systems, interprets water quality and environmental conditions to ensure optimal health conditions for all animals.
- Works closely with Facility Operations to review, troubleshoot and coordinate repairs or upgrades of equipment and systems as needed to maintain operational efficiency.
- Ensures adherence to all local, state, and federal regulations related to animal care, safety, and workplace health standards..
- Helps develop, train and implement emergency response protocols for animals, staff and guests.
- Conducts collecting and/or transport activities when needed, including collection, transport, acclimation, and quarantine.
- At the direction of the supervisor, interacts with and responds to public/media requests for information. Participates in Aquarium related education, public relations and membership programs including facility tours and lectures.
- Organizes interactive programs and educational presentations in assigned areas
- Serves as a liaison to Curator of Aquatics and SVP
- Undertakes special projects as assigned by manager(s)
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in aquatic sciences, marine biology, zoology, biology or related field.
- Minimum of (4) years of experience in aquatic animal husbandry, with at least (1) year in a supervisory from an accredited AZA institution or equivalent, aquaculture facility, or zoo.
- Strong knowledge of life support systems, water quality, and animal welfare standards.
- Detailed knowledge of biology of a large variety of aquatic animals and other taxa as needed.
- Demonstrated mechanical skills, basic LSS plumbing, and understanding of LSS theory and operation
- Excellent observation and communication skills. Strong interpersonal skills and ethics that generate and sustain a positive team atmosphere and professional environment
- A valid driver’s license and the ability to travel if necessary
- Valid SCUBA certification and collection experience or the ability to obtain certification within one year from hire date
- 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.
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.
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.
