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WCWildlife Conservation Society
Wildlife Conservation SocietyWildlife Conservation

Wild Animal Keeper, Oceans, Wonders: Shark!

Location

New York, United States

Work type

Onsite

Employment

Full Time

Experience

2-5 years

Compensation

$48.1K - $48.1K per year

Posted

7h ago

Summary and responsibilities

Role overview

Summary

The Wild Animal Keeper is responsible for providing excellent animal care and enhancing the visitor experience at the New York Aquarium. This role involves performing activities for life support systems, working with various aquatic animals including elasmobranchs, sea turtles, marine fishes, and invertebrates, and adhering to all safety and animal wellbeing standards. Key duties include maintaining habitats, ensuring proper nutrition, participating in public demonstrations, and contributing to animal training and enrichment programs.

This role supports animal care and enhances the visitor experience at the New York Aquarium. Responsibilities include maintaining life support systems and caring for a variety of species such as elasmobranchs, sea turtles, marine fish, and invertebrates.

Key Responsibilities

  • Follow all Wildlife Conservation Society and Aquarium policies to ensure safety, animal welfare, training, and enrichment standards.

  • Maintain safe, clean habitats and food preparation areas.

  • Provide proper nutrition and monitor animal health, reporting any concerns promptly.

  • Assist in public demonstrations, exhibit feedings, and educational programs.

  • Support care of sick or young animals, including administering treatments as directed.

  • Monitor environmental systems (water quality, filtration, temperature, lighting) and identify issues.

  • Assist with animal transfers and exhibit installations.

  • Use positive reinforcement training and support behavior development plans.

  • Maintain accurate husbandry, training, and enrichment records.

  • Collaborate with team members and ensure all enclosures are secure.

  • Clean tanks and exhibits, including through SCUBA diving.

  • Train and support new staff, interns, and volunteers.

  • Provide coverage for senior staff as needed.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in biology, psychology, or related field.

  • Minimum 2 years’ experience working with aquatic animals in a zoo, aquarium, or similar setting.

  • Knowledge of life support and filtration systems.

  • SCUBA certification required.

  • Valid driver’s license.

  • Strong communication, teamwork, and organizational skills.

  • Ability to work weekends, holidays, evenings, and events.

  • Experience with volunteers and public interaction preferred.

  • Professional memberships (e.g., AZA, IMATA) are a plus.

Physical Demands

  • Frequent standing, walking, stair climbing, and lifting up to 50 lbs.

  • Regular use of hands, arms, and computer equipment.

  • Ability to alternate between sitting and standing.

Work Environment

  • Primarily indoor setting with team collaboration and some independent work.

  • Occasional exposure to noise and varying work conditions.

This role requires a proactive, safety-focused individual committed to animal welfare, teamwork, and delivering an engaging guest experience.

Updated 7h ago

Candidate fit

Skills and qualifications

Additional skills

Animal Care • 1+ yrs
Life Support Systems • 1+ yrs
Filtration • 1+ yrs
Operant Conditioning • 1+ yrs
Animal Husbandry • 1+ yrs
Teamwork • 1+ yrs
Communication • 1+ yrs
Organizational Skills • 1+ yrs

Experience

2-5 years

Certifications

SCUBA certification • Required
Driver's License • Required

How this role is positioned

Role classification

Job domains

Operations

Industries

Wildlife & Conservation

Employment

Full Time

Contract duration

Permanent

Hiring type

Direct

Global hiring

Location specific

Offer details

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

$48.1K - $48.1K per year

VisibilityShared on listing
CurrencyUSD
PeriodYearly

Location, schedule, and role shape

Work setup

Work conditions

Primary locationNew York, United States
Work typeOnsite
Global hiringNo

Bandwidth profile

peopleMedium7/10
physicalHigh8/10
cognitiveMedium7/10
executionHigh8/10
creativityMedium6/10
uncertaintyMedium5/10
communicationHigh8/10

Context on the employer

Company snapshot

Company

Wildlife Conservation Society

Team size

Growing team

Location

New York, United States

WCS stands for wildlife and wild places. As the world’s premier wildlife conservation organization, WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. We run field programs spanning 60 countries and the entire ocean. We build on a unique foundation: Our reach is global; we discover through best-in-class science; we protect through work on the ground with local and indigenous people; we inspire through our world-class zoos, aquarium, and education programs; and we leverage our resources through partnerships and powerful policy influence. Our more than 4,000 diverse, passionately committed team members in New York City and around the world work collectively to achieve our conservation mission.

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Wild Animal Keeper, Oceans, Wonders: Shark!

New York, United StatesFull Time