SUMMARY:

The Shedd Aquarium is seeking an Animal Care Specialist. The Animal Care Specialist is responsible for assisting in the overall care of animals in the Oceanarium department. The department comprises teams caring for Cetaceans, Penguins and Otters, Sea lions, and Animal Ambassadors. The Animal Care Specialist is a supportive role that focuses on learning the skillset for caring for animals, while also providing an educational experience for the visitor. While in this role, staff will learn about the animals under their care and the basic science of operant conditioning.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd’s vision, mission, and values.
• Assist in ensuring the health and well-being of the animal collection
• Demonstrates a commitment to good relations with fellow staff members, visitors, volunteers, community leaders, and contractors by promoting positive attitudes, goodwill, and cooperation and providing high standards of service
• Maintain a clean and healthy environment for the animals, staff, and aquarium guests.
• Clean the kitchens, utensils, floors, windows, pools, offices, laundry, and any other area or item utilized in the Oceanarium department.
• Prepare diets for all the animals, which include thawing, sorting, weighing, cutting, formula preparation, vitamin administration, heavy lifting, and frequent exposure to cold temperatures.
• Interact with guests daily by answering guest questions about the animals and the facility.
• Perform various tasks, including evening functions, special employee training and seminars, volunteer guidance and interactions, special maintenance or construction projects, public speaking, and student interviews.
• Attend regularly scheduled meetings for intra-departmental communication, including meetings before each animal session or presentation, animal group meetings, staff meetings, and additional meetings, as needed.
• Maintain detailed records of all animal interactions and observations, including diet, vitamins, medication, behavioral notes, medical notes, animal weights, physical observations, graphs, temperatures, and any other records deemed important to the care of the animals, the facility, or daily staff operation.
• Narrate public presentations and guide private behind-the-scenes tours, as needed.
• Engage in regular interactions with some of the animals under the guidance and direction of experienced staff, including training sessions, physical exams, public presentations, and play sessions.
• Embrace a flexible work schedule that includes weekends, holidays, and non-standardized hours.
• Work in an environment with daily exposure to cold salt water
• Daily lifting over 40 pounds, periodic lifting up to 70 pounds.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Biology, Life Sciences, or a related area is preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered instead of a degree.

EXPERIENCE:

• Animal experience is preferred. Experience can include volunteering, internship, or other animal care experience.
• Experience with taxa the Oceanarium team cares for is beneficial.

Designations/Certifications: Open water diving certification required.

Other Skills and Characteristics:

• Ability to work well with others in a diverse team environment and communicate proficiently with colleagues and guests.
• Written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to receive and apply feedback.
• Demonstrates commitment to growth.
• Ability to work holidays and weekends.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend English fluently.
• Ability to read and comprehend basic instructions given from written and oral sources.
• Ability to write professional business correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information to and collaborate with all levels of employees.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to understand basic mathematical relationships and formulas.
• Ability to understand and employ intermediate-level accounting mathematics.

COMPUTER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Computerized accounting system
• Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Excel

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Lift more than 40 pounds, periodic lifting up to 70 pounds.
• Sit
• Stand
• Stoop
• Walk

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

This person may be exposed to:

• Low noise
• Moderate Noise
• Cold Water
• Saltwater

We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ community, veterans and active duty military, parents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds to apply. Shedd Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team.

If you need a reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know. In your application, please feel free to select which pronouns you use (For example – she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs).