Exhibits Technician I (Aquarist Keeper)

Department:

VIRGINIA AQUARIUM

Compensation Grade:

G16

Compensation Range & Starting Salary:

Pay Range: $36,940.80 - $57,574.40
Starting Salary: $36,940.80 (minimum of the pay range)

Job Exempt (If No, Position is eligible for overtime):

No

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

About Us:

Recognized as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers for 2024, the City of Virginia Beach is proud to offer a diverse and dynamic work environment. Our workforce plays a crucial role in delivering exceptional government services to both our citizens and fellow City employees. Apply now to join an organization where you truly make a difference.

Job Duties and Preferred Qualifications:

The Virginia Aquarium seeks an energetic and upbeat team member to assist in the daily husbandry of the Aquarium’s animals as an Exhibits Technician I (Aquarist/Keeper). A solid understanding of animal welfare standards that includes fishes, invertebrates, reptiles and amphibian husbandry is required. This position’s primary focus will be maintaining superb animal health and welfare by cleaning habitats, providing nutritious diets, and assisting with medical procedures.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain and continually enhance the daily husbandry of a variety of fishes, elasmobranchs, marine invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians

• Assist veterinary staff and senior aquarists with medical procedures

• Work collaboratively to communicate husbandry and medical needs of the animals in the section

• Work as part of a team to maintain animal habitat cleanliness, which includes SCUBA diving

• Administer diets to a wide variety of fishes, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians

• Assist with the process of species planning to include animal transfers and acclimations

• Assist with live animal and food culturing

• Train new volunteers and part-time staff

• Present public programs and educational messaging to be used in a variety of settings

• Support the guest experience by participating in visitor enhancement development and actively seek out guest engagement opportunities

• Participate in professional development opportunities

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week; shifts between the hours of 7am – 6pm; may vary on occasion to meet operational needs. Days off may occur during the week and may not be consecutive.

Preferences:

• Bachelor’s degree in biology or similar field

• Two (2) or more years full-time equivalent experience with cnidarian husbandry in an aquarium, zoo or similar setting

• Live food culture experience in an aquarium, zoo or similar setting

• Experience maintaining biosecurity in an aquarium/zoo exhibit or quarantine setting

• Experience maintaining animal records in ZIMS or similar database

• Experience diving in exhibits for husbandry/maintenance

• Experience working with and training volunteers

• Working knowledge and experience with life support and water quality testing

The City of Virginia Beach offers a generous benefits package with health, dental and life insurance, as well as retirement and savings plans. Other key benefits include:

• Maternity/paternity and parental leave

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Employee Wellness Programs

• Professional Development

Minimum Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications: Requires any combination of education (above the high school level) and/or experience equivalent to two (2) years in fields utilizing the required knowledge, skills, and abilities and associated with positions such as aquarist, exhibits technician, biologist, or animal keeper in a similar facility or program. Individual positions will have specific requirements regarding subject expertise, skills, and training; these will be noted on job requisition at time opening is advertised. Must possess and maintain at all times current SCUBA certification of Open Water Diver or higher from a nationally recognized certifying agency. Must have a current and valid driver’s license. Special Requirements: All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies. This position may require that incumbents to wear and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, steel toed shoes, hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, or other safety attire and equipment in designated areas of risk. Specific requirements will be determined and communicated by the employee’s supervisor based on position assigned. Positions within this class have been designated as Alpha I positions requiring employees to work during inclement weather, regardless of the City’s operational status. Successful completion of a pre-employment physical. This is a safety sensitive position and is subject to mandatory drug testing. Positive drug test results may result in counseling and/or discipline, up to and including, termination.

Skills:

Working Conditions:

Per HR Policy 6.19, Americans with Disabilities, the City follows the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all hiring and employment decisions. The City shall not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring and employment practices. The City shall make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified applicant or employee with a disability upon request unless the accommodation would cause an undue hardship on the operation of the City’s business.

The Working Conditions Summary is intended to provide a general overview of the environmental conditions inherent in the job setting, as well as the physical, mental, and sensory requirements necessary to perform the essential functions of the position in the noted job profile. Please copy and paste the URL below into your web browser to view the Working Conditions Summary for this position.

https://workingcondition-summary-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/P4153.pdf

Official Job Descriptions:

To browse official job descriptions, please access this link - https://virginiabeach.gov/careers/job-descriptions-pay-plans?search=&group=E

VRS Contribution: All full-time employees are required to contribute 5% of annual salary toward their retirement account; in accordance with VRS retirement provisions. This will be handled through a pre-tax payroll deduction.

Drug Free Workplace: The City of Virginia Beach maintains a drug free workplace.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement: The City of Virginia Beach is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive work environment. We do not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status as defined by applicable law.