Aquarium / Aquarist Jobs

Job Title: Senior Aquarist
Organization: BlueAct Marine Society, operator of Nicholas Sonntag TidePools Aquarium
Location: Gibsons, BC

Reports to: Curator, Nicholas Sonntag TidePools Aquarium
Term: Regular Full-Time; 37.5 hrs/week; includes mandatory weekend work
Compensation: Salary - start range $42,900 - $48,750 ($22-25/hr), based on experience
Benefits: on-call supplement, $100/month health and wellness supplement, 3 weeks paid vacation

Job Summary:

Provides proper husbandry practices to ensure a healthy environment for aquatic animals; assists the aquarium team and Curator in maintaining the highest standards for animal health and welfare and exhibit presentation. Performs duties including animal care, maintenance, interpretation, exhibit design, event support, staff and volunteer orientation and coordination, and working with the public.

Application Deadline: Ongoing until filled
Start Date: As Soon As Possible

BACKGROUND

The Gibsons Community Building Society (GCBS) is a not-for-profit organization operating the Gibsons Public Market and is the sole member of BlueAct Marine Society, operator of the Nicholas Sonntag Tidepools Aquarium. Our mission is to build a healthy, caring, thriving community through vibrant community events, programs, public gathering spaces, a bustling local market, an inspiring collect-and-release aquarium, and a robust conservation program. We connect people to foster a healthier, more social, and caring community. We inspire sustainable behaviour for the health of our oceans. We create opportunities for artists and entrepreneurs to cultivate community economic development.

BlueAct Marine Society operates Nicholas Sonntag Tidepools Aquarium housed within Gibsons Public Market. It is a unique collect-and-release aquarium with over 70 local species collected from the pristine waters of Átl'ka7tsem | Howe Sound and Sechelt Inlet, providing an awe-inspiring experience to connect visitors with the wonders of the local marine environment. At TidePools Aquarium, we deliver experiential marine science education programs for school-age children, while our environmental conservation projects are undertaken in collaboration with regional partners. We are focused on educating the public about our local marine ecosystems and encouraging our community to become stewards for the health of our ocean. Individuals working with us must value environmental stewardship and love the marine world.

Who You Are

● You are a skilled and experienced aquarist with a deep understanding of aquatic animal husbandry, life support systems, and water quality management.
● You are adept at performing both routine maintenance and troubleshooting complex technical issues.
● You are organized and detail-oriented, with a proven ability to maintain accurate records, support budget processes, and order supplies.
● You are a team player with proven supervisory abilities, capable of motivating and guiding junior staff and volunteers.
● You are a clear and effective communicator, able to interact professionally with colleagues, volunteers, and the public.
● You are comfortable working independently and as part of a team, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability in a variety of situations.
● You are adaptable to changing priorities and comfortable working in a dynamic environment that includes physical work (including lifting up to 75lbs), technical tasks, and public interaction.
● You are committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and exhibit care and to upholding the organization's values and promoting its mission.

Duties and Responsibilities

Animal Husbandry and Welfare
● Responsible for ensuring the highest level of animal care and husbandry of the aquatic collections,
including observational rounds, diet preparation and feeding, disease recognition, and adhering to
quarantine protocols
● Daily duties include but are not limited to: cleaning exhibits internally and externally, prepping and
feeding food, treating any injured/diseased individuals as necessary, making detailed observations
and recognizing abnormal animal behaviour/appearance, acting upon/reporting such observations in
a timely manner and completing all necessary records and paperwork thoroughly
● Ordering animal food, equipment and materials - including assisting with annual budgets and budget
tracking relating to animal care and maintenance
● Working with a veterinarian as needed to maintain animal health, including annual review for release
● Research and recommend improvements for animal care, as necessary

Life Support System Maintenance
● Performing weekly, monthly, annual maintenance on aquarium filters and other equipment, logging
and reporting in a timely manner
● Performing prescribed water quality testing and water changes
● Overseeing the maintenance of life support equipment and systems, including researching and
recommending improvements
● Support budget process for Life Support System maintenance

Collections, Releases, Permits, and Reporting
● Assisting with planning, coordinating, and implementation of animal collections, releases, and field
work, including assisting with budgeting, renewal of scientific collecting licenses, and compiling
acquisition and release logs
● Completing quarterly animal health reports
● Following and upholding policies and procedures regarding animal care, exhibit maintenance, animal
welfare, and treatment plans including maintaining all required documentation
● Assisting Curator with documenting protocols, policies, and standards of practice as it pertains to the
needs of the aquarium

Exhibits and Interpretation
● Performing daily routine Aquarium cleaning and exhibit maintenance, including interpretive displays,
props and materials, and exhibit repairs
● Assisting with exhibit design, exhibit renovation, and exhibit improvements as delegated by the Curator
● Working with the Curator to design and implement programs within the Aquarium to connect and
educate guests about marine life and environmental stewardship
● Greeting guests on a regular basis; taking admissions and handling cash, when required
● Leading aquarium interpretation during public open hours and training aquarium staff in delivering
interpretive programs, in collaboration with Curator and other BlueAct employees
● Participating and assisting in special events and education programs, as required

Staff, Volunteer, and Student Management
● Recruiting and supervising junior aquarists, summer and coop positions, and volunteers

Organization Support
● Participating as a member of a team, understanding their role is flexible, embraces collaboration,
holds themself accountable, and backs up goals with actions
● Promoting the Society’s mission of inspiring sustainable behavior for the health of our ocean
● Upholds the organization's values of being community-centered, inclusive, accountable, respectful,
collaborative and resourceful
● Support marketing and publicity efforts relating to the Aquarium, as required
● Support Aquarium and Gibsons Public Market special events, as required

Relationships
● Establishes and maintains relationships and alliances
● Maintains effective communications
● Shares information and readily determines to whom to go for relevant information
● Seeks assistance and feedback in the problem-solving process
● Partners with others to achieve expectations
● Respects cross functional accountabilities within the organization

Qualifications
● Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology, Zoology, Biology, or related field or equivalent degree –
equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirement
● Minimum of 4 years professional experience in an aquarium or marine-related field
● Minimum of 1 year in a supervisory or equivalent role
● Must be physically fit, able to lift 75 lbs, able to work in tight spaces with the ability to traverse areas
around and overtop of exhibits
● Knowledge of water quality parameters as well as proficiency in maintaining and understanding life
support systems, and improving as needed
● Open water diving certification an asset
● Must be a team player with outstanding communication skills and a positive attitude
● Excellent oral and written communication skills
● Effective and articulate public speaker
● Solid organizational and problem-solving skills
● Customer-oriented and receptive to feedback
● Must be available to work weekends as part of regular schedule, and some evenings as required

Please note we are considering only local or BC applicants who live nearby or are willing to relocate to the Sunshine Coast, BC.

If you are interested, please email: admin@blueact.org

 

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