TITLE: Temporary Animal Care Specialist, Galleries Team
DEPARTMENT: Aquarium Team
REPORTS TO: Manager of Freshwater Habitats
STATUS: Full-time, Temp, Non-Exempt
DURATION: 5 Months (September 28th - February 28th, 2027)
PAY RATE: $20.00/hour
 
POSITION OVERVIEW: Shedd Aquarium illustrates a commitment to optimal animal care and welfare to facilitate impactful public engagement with wildlife. Our animals first approach has a foundation that individuals and groups of animals can exhibit natural behaviors encouraged through complex environmental design, innovative behavioral training, and enrichment.  

The Animal Care Specialist, Galleries team reports to the Manager of Freshwater Habitats and performs the daily husbandry of Shedd Aquariums animal collection, with a specific focus on tropical and temperate freshwater fishes, temperate marine animals, and Amazonian semi-aquatic and terrestrial species. This role also participates in the care of other animals under the department’s responsible role as needed. The Animal Care Specialist, Galleries team will assume coverage responsibility for habitats and animals assigned to them, which may include tropical and temperate fish and invertebrates, both marine and freshwater. As well as reptiles, amphibians and birds.  

This position works closely with their Manager and the rest of their team – along with Animal Health, Environmental Quality, and Facilities – to ensure the smooth and effective operations involving animals and habitats, especially as they relate to husbandry and welfare. This position works cooperatively with the animal care management teams to ensure compliance with all accreditation and regulatory requirements for departmental operations. 

Animal Care Specialists are entry-level and just beginning to learn animal operations in the Animal Care and Science Division. They will assist Aquarists, Senior Aquarists, and Managers with inter-departmental productivity and begin participation in strategies to meet institutional objectives and initiatives requiring support of the Animal Care Department.  

TIME COMMITMENT/SCHEDULE: Thursday - Monday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm 
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.   

• Demonstrates commitment to Shedd's vision, mission, and values. 
• Achieves goals and objectives assigned for short- and long-term operations. 
• Learns to maintain good animal records in accordance with Aquarium Team standards and as directed by Manager, including the use of TRACKs animal record keeping software. 
• Prepares diets and feeds animals to meet their nutritional requirements as assigned.  
• Applies and records enrichment for animals to meet their psychological requirements as assigned. 
• Maintains front of house habitats at an inspection level of readiness. 
• Maintains back of house areas and habitats at an inspection level of readiness. 
• Works proactively with Animal Health to provide optimal animal care, assessment, and treatment as needed. 
• Assists in animal treatments and procedures as required. 
• Assists with animal transports between onsite and offsite buildings and helps maintain all transport equipment.  
• Identifies major maintenance/repair problems in any section and reports through their manager. 
• Provides timely communication to manager and covered staff members.  
• Maintains awareness and communication expectations by checking email daily along with any additional platforms used by the Animal Care departments.   
• Maintains daily animal observations, records, and reports any abnormal behavior or appearance. 
• Works effectively with Aquarium Leadership Team to achieve strategic goals and objectives of the Animal Care and Science Division. 
• Learns all the primary animal groups cared for by the Aquarium team. 
• Learns proper animal training, enrichment, and nutrition for animals. 
• Provides support for coworkers in their responsible roles as needed. 
• Maintains legal compliance measures such as tracking of respirator use (if applicable), adherence to OSHA standards, etc. 
• Participates in 1-on-1, team meetings, department meetings, division meetings, and One Shedd meetings. 
• Participates in Shedd’s DEAI objectives.  
• Works with other divisions as assigned to meet strategic objectives. 
• Assists in the continuous development and implementation of animal care and sustainability innovations.  
• Responsible for the overall husbandry of Galleries systems, including lighting, flow, water quality, and animal condition.  
• Ensures animals throughout the facility are kept to Shedd Aquarium’s standards of wellbeing and maintain good body condition  
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

Education: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in marine sciences, biology, zoology, or related field (or demonstrated comparable knowledge) 
 
Experience:   

• 1+ years of experience caring for aquatic and terrestrial animals  
• Knowledge of water chemistry and quality as they pertain to living marine systems preferred. 
• Knowledge of proper animal care, training, and enrichment preferred. 
• Knowledge of collection planning processes preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, including Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, and PowerPoint. 
• Ability to learn other business operation software as assigned, including the animal management software TRACKs. 

Certifications: 

• Must possess a valid driver's license or can obtain one within 6 months from the start of employment. 

Physical Readiness: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job including while wearing dive gear. 

• Lift up to 40 pounds  
• Sit 
• Stand 
• Stoop 
• Kneel 
• Walk 
• Swim  
• Hear 

Working Environment:  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 

This person may be exposed to: 

• Water 
• Heat 
• Cold 
• Hazardous Chemicals 
• Low noise 
• Moderate Noise 
• Loud Noise 

BENEFITS OF WORKING AT SHEDD: We offer competitive compensation packages and opportunities for professional growth within our organization. 

• Accrued Paid Time Off
• 401(k)
• Discounted Parking and Public Transit Subsidies
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Wellness program
• Employee discounts
• Employee Tickets 

Reasonable Accommodations: 
Shedd Aquarium is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodations for any part of the employment process, please email us at jobs@sheddaquarium.org. 

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.