Newport Aquarium Biologist I - Penguin and Herps

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Husbandry and Exhibit Management

• Serves as the primary biologist for assigned exhibit(s), consistently maintaining high exhibit standards with minimal corrective guidance.
• Provides support and coverage to additional exhibits as training, competency and need allow.
• Conducts daily cleaning, feeding, environmental maintenance, and animal monitoring to ensure exhibits consistently meet established standards.
• Performs daily husbandry in accordance with institutional standards, AZA standards and USDA regulations as required.
• Conducts daily cleaning, feeding, environmental maintenance, and animal monitoring to ensure exhibits consistently meet established standards.
• Understands species-specific nutritional needs and ensures diets are formulated and delivered to support individual animal health, overall wellbeing, and exhibit/environmental requirements.
• Escalates exhibit and animal wellbeing concerns to senior biologists or the Assistant Curator to aid in decision making.

Animal Health and Veterinary Support

• Recognizes and accurately assesses abnormal behavior, appearance, or changes in animal condition. Promptly communicates concerns to supervisory or veterinary staff while working to correct environmental concerns that may lead to compromised health.
• Assists with veterinary-directed treatments and health procedures under supervision, ensuring proper technique, documentation, and follow-through to support positive medical outcomes.

Life Support System and Water Quality Management

• Understands the flow of water through a life support system (LSS), components, and the required maintenance. Monitors system performance using metrics such as flow rates, filter pressure, water quality, etc.
• Demonstrates working knowledge of the different filtration methods and the mechanical function of aquarium life support systems.
• Performs basic PVC plumbing tasks for life support system optimization and operational reliability.
• Interprets water-quality results with accuracy and actively maintains water-quality parameters within required ranges by making timely proactive and corrective adjustments.
• Ensures optimal system performance through effective gas-exchange management, balanced nutrient loads, and appropriate bio-load oversight.

Animal Handling

• Participates in animal captures, transports, and procedures appropriate to their experience level, demonstrating safe, low-stress handling techniques while taking opportunities to assist in additional areas as development opportunities allow.
• Participates in animal shipments as determined by experience and need.

Scuba Diving

• Functions effectively as a safety diver or working diver, depending on certification and training level, ensuring safe execution of dive operations for self and team.
• Performs SCUBA diving tasks to support exhibit maintenance, animal care, and monitor the overall maintenance efficacy, adhering to all safety and operational protocols.

Training and Enrichment

• Applies enrichment principles to design and construct appropriate, goal-driven enrichment devices that support species-specific behaviors and welfare.
• Develops and submits enrichment and training plans for approval, revising and refining them based on supervisor or veterinary feedback.
• Implements animal and environmental enrichment, documenting outcomes and adjusting to ensure effectiveness and animal wellbeing.

Leadership, Team Communications and Operational Function

• Applies critical thinking to identify early signs of animal care or operational issues and resolves routine concerns—such as feeding inconsistencies, exhibit upkeep needs, or emerging stress indicators—by selecting and implementing the appropriate established protocols.
• Works under direct supervision while developing technical and professional skills, with no independent leadership or decision-making responsibilities.
• Maintains compliance with all established safety and operational protocols, and any additional direction set by Assistant Curator.
• Demonstrates advanced communication skills by providing verbal and written updates that are timely and clear to team members, supervisors, and veterinary staff on animal observations, concerns, and workflow, while ensuring accuracy and consistency.
• Engages and guides volunteers, providing clear direction and support to ensure daily husbandry and operational objectives are completed to standard.
• Actively participates in training and team learning to strengthen husbandry skills, applying coaching and feedback to advance knowledge and technical proficiency.
• Assists with routine departmental projects with supervision and guidance while taking on limited independent project responsibilities as assigned.
• Regularly demonstrates behaviors that are consistent with the “Lead with Love” philosophy.

Administrative Duties

• Completes required documentation, logs, and Tracks entries accurately and on time; maintains competency in all forms of documentation.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 4-year degree in related field and/or relevant and adequate experience at an AZA accredited institution.
• 1 year of paid experience at an AZA accredited institution performing in a relevant role.
• Open Water SCUBA certification.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Successful completion of pre-employment drug screening and background check
• Ability to remain on feet for long periods of time, climb stairs, bend and stoop
• Ability to work in all weather conditions
• Physical strength, including the ability to lift up to 50 pounds

Note: Position will involve exposure to inclement weather, dust, potentially dangerous and unpredictable animal species, and potential dangerous machinery, restraint devices and toxic chemicals and/or drugs. Occasional use of protective clothing or equipment is required e.g. goggles, mask, gloves, and gowns.

WHAT YOU’LL GET:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vison insurances
• 40 sick hours, 40 personal hours, 8 Holidays, 80 Vacation Hours annually
• Profit Sharing and 401K Plan with company match
• Free entrance for you and your dependents which extends to most Herschend Enterprises’ properties
• Earn 1 General Admission complimentary ticket, that you can give to anyone, per pay period
• Discounts at Sharky’s Café, Sweet Dreams Candy Company, and the gift shop
• Discounted tickets and annual passes for friends and family
• Training and development

You can expect to work on projects that have never been done after – ideas that are unproven, and concepts that make people smile. You can expect to have fun and be treated with respect the minute you start…and through to the end. You can expect to work in an environment that is highly innovative and low in politics – truthful and filled with smart people; all while providing the BEST GUEST EXPERIENCE IN THE NATION!

And most of all, you can expect to work hard and make a difference in our world by helping to bring families closer together.

Looking to pursue your education without debt? Grow U has hundreds of programs available from certifications to college prep to associates, bachelor's, and master’s degrees. Most of these programs are fully funded. Learn more at: https://www.newportaquarium.com/Careers/Benefits/GrowU

Newport Aquarium, one of the many properties owned by Herschend Enterprises, prides itself on creating memories worth repeating. Our Core Values – greatly exceeding guest expectations, serving others, creating emotional connections, and constantly improving – give us purpose and guidance.