Assistant Aquarium Biologist

Vancouver Aquarium, one of the many properties owned by Herschend Family Entertainment, prides itself on working towards bringing families closer together and to creating memories worth repeating. Our Core Values – greatly exceeding guest expectations, serving others, creating emotional connections, constantly improving – give us purpose and guidance.

SUMMARY

The Assistant Aquarium Biologist plays a key role in supporting Amazon Department Biologists in maintaining the health and well-being of a diverse collection of animals and plants, including tropical mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and live plants. Primary duties include exhibit maintenance, cleaning, diet preparation, observations, and record-keeping.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Enclosure Maintenance

• Monitor and maintain optimal environmental conditions for specimens
• Conduct thorough AM and PM checks of assigned enclosures
• Clean and maintain all components of animal enclosures
• Perform basic filtration and life support system (LSS0 maintenance
• Report and address enclosure or plant health concerns to supervisors
• Conduct plant care tasks, including raking, pruning, and propagation
• Assist in the maintenance of enclosures

Animal Husbandry and Health

• Adhere to all husbandry protocols
• Observe and reports animal behaviour and health concerns
• Accurately prepare and present animal diets according to established protocols
• Propagate and maintain live invertebrates food cultures
• Maintain detailed records of daily care in both written and digital formats
• Assist with animal handling, training, enrichment, and medical procedures under supervision

Record Keeping and Communication

• Maintain accurate and thorough husbandry records
• Submit daily animal care and husbandry reports
• Complete assigned in person and online training as required

Public Engagement

• Accurately answer guest questions about the facility and animal collection
• Support interpretive team and participate in guest programs as requested

Health and Safety

• Report health and safety concerns immediately
• Follow all departmental and facility health and safety procedures
• Support Environmental Management System protocols to minimize environmental impact

Workspace Management

• Maintain cleanliness and organization of shared workspaces
• Monitor and report low-stock inventory items

General Support

• Provide Assistance to other teams as needed
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Amazon department

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• Direct experience in husbandry of tropical animals and/or wildlife
• Relevant post-secondary coursework (completed or in-progress) is considered an asset
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications
• Willingness to receive rabies vaccination series if required

Skills and Attributes

• Excellent animal handling, husbandry, and technical skills
• Able to work efficiently without supervision
• Excellent time management skills, with the ability to keep on task with strategic items while managing day-to-day responsibilities
• Basic understanding of taxonomy and animal characteristics
• Attention to detail
• Effective communication and record-keeping skills
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions closely
• Team-oriented, enthusiastic, and adaptable
• Active demonstration of the company's values and mission

Working Conditions

• Must be available to work on weekends, holidays, and occasional night shifts
• Perform repetitive cleaning tasks, including scrubbing, shovelling, and raking
• Frequent exposure to wet, slippery conditions, bright lights, strong odors, and loud sounds
• Engage in physical activities such as climbing, crouching, kneeling, and reaching
• Exposure to zoonotic diseases, cleaning chemicals and medical supplies
• Work in warm, humid environments and interact with potentially dangerous specimens
• Exposure to animal bites, animal pathogens, and chemicals
• Job requires a high degree of alertness to changing conditions when working with animals
• Requires ability to gain access to all animal holding areas some of which are difficult to enter and require ladders and walking on slippery, uneven surfaces
• Requires the ability to safely lift equipment and animals weighing up to 30kg
• Requires standing for periods of time

WORK CULTURE

At VanAqua, we care about the well-being of our employees and offer support at all levels within our organization. We foster an environment of learning, supported by leaders who listen, where you are encouraged to voice opinions and share new ideas. We have developed a mental health committee to continuously find ways to support our staff and we encourage a healthy work-life balance. We look to continually assess and improve our culture to reflect the positive change we want to see in the field. It is important to find an applicant that has a positive attitude that will contribute to a healthy work culture where we celebrate each other. We are looking for someone to grow with our organization. The right fit with our team is more important than the amount of experience.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Successful completion of pre-employment requirements

Wage Range: $20 - $30 / hour