Aquarist Assistant
Location
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Work type
Onsite
Employment
Full Time
Experience
0-2 years
Compensation
$38K - $42K per year
Posted
12h ago
Summary and responsibilities
Role overview
Summary
The Aquarist Assistant supports aquarists and the Curator of Fishes by providing daily animal care, including feeding, cleaning, life support maintenance, and record keeping. This role involves assisting with veterinary procedures, quarantine operations, exhibit development, and interacting with guests to provide educational information.
Job Summary:
The Aquarist Assistant supports aquarists and the Curator of Fishes in providing exceptional animal care and supporting public education goals. Responsibilities include daily animal care, feeding, cleaning, life support maintenance, record keeping, and exhibit support.
Key Responsibilities:
Assist with daily care, feeding, cleaning, and maintenance of animal exhibits and holding systems.
Prepare and distribute diets and assist with animal enrichment.
Support veterinary procedures, medication administration, animal handling, transportation, and quarantine operations.
Maintain accurate animal and enclosure records using Tracks and other systems.
Provide coverage for fish, invertebrate, elasmobranch, and non-fish galleries, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and plants as needed.
Assist with specimen collection, animal transportation, exhibit renovations, enclosure construction, and maintenance.
Perform water quality testing and assist with life support system maintenance.
Maintain clean, organized backup areas and assist with supply tracking and ordering.
Follow PPE and biosecurity procedures to protect animal and staff health.
Interact with guests and support educational and conservation programs.
Assist with interns and volunteers and work independently when required.
Support fundraising, membership activities, social media content, committees, and other Aquarium initiatives.
Assist with animal welfare assessments and maintain regulatory compliance.
Participate in emergency weather ride-out duties when required.
Work flexible schedules, including weekends, holidays, evenings, and occasional late nights.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Working knowledge of husbandry practices for saltwater and freshwater fish, invertebrates, and elasmobranchs.
General knowledge of aquatic life support systems, including sand filters, pumps, protein skimmers, heat exchangers, ozone, and UV filtration.
Ability to recognize and treat aquatic diseases and safely handle and transport collection animals, including sharks and stingrays.
Knowledge of water quality parameters and their impact on aquatic animals.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Experience with specimen collection equipment, plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, or boat handling is a plus.
Education & Experience:
Associate’s degree in Biology or a closely related field, and/or equivalent experience.
License:
Valid driver’s license required.
Physical & Working Requirements:
Must be able to walk, stand, bend, stoop, crouch, climb ladders, kneel, balance, crawl, push and pull, use tools and computers, and safely lift and carry at least 50 pounds. Requires driving Aquarium vehicles and working in office, indoor, outdoor, and aquatic environments. Work may involve extreme heat or cold, chemicals, hazardous materials, ozone, animals, tight spaces, and risks such as cuts, falls, and falling objects. Personal protective equipment is required when appropriate. Position requires regular interaction with guests, vendors, and the public, carrying a radio, occasional travel, and flexible availability for weekends, holidays, evenings, and emergency weather response.
Updated 12h ago
Candidate fit
Skills and qualifications
Additional skills
Experience
0-2 years
Certifications
How this role is positioned
Role classification
Job domains
Industries
Employment
Full Time
Contract duration
Permanent
Hiring type
Direct
Global hiring
Location specific
Offer details
Compensation and benefits
Compensation
$38K - $42K per year
Location, schedule, and role shape
Work setup
Work conditions
Bandwidth profile
Context on the employer
Company snapshot
Company
South Carolina Aquarium
Team size
Growing team
Location
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
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Aquarist Assistant
Charleston, South Carolina, United States • Full Time