The Fishes team deals with a large cross-section of animals throughout the building including fresh and salt water fish, invertebrates, and herps. This position provides support for the department as needed and may work with a variety of teams and exhibits. Dive support required of the position includes diving for exhibit maintenance and animal care, dive tending, and equipment maintenance.

Duties & Responsibilties:

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd’s vision, mission, and values.
• Aquatic animal care, including general husbandry, water quality, life support concepts and operation, animal health concerns including disease recognition and treatment.
• Work directly with Animal Health, as directed, to provide optimal animal care.
• Animal care, husbandry, and collection management techniques including development of breeding programs, novel display opportunities, etc.
• Record keeping – Assists in maintaining detailed records of all animal interactions and observations. These include 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.
• Assist with the development and area management of animal records using TRACKS.
• Perform minor maintenance/repair on gear, tanks, or supplies needed for section. Identify major maintenance/repair problems in any section and report through established protocols.
• Perform dives for exhibit maintenance and animal care.
• Tend dives as needed.
• Help fill SCUBA tanks as assigned.
• Assist to ensure compliance with all applicable safety and security procedures and protocols as needed.
• Support the Fishes department in fulfilling requests for other departmental programing, content review, guest interactions, public relations, development activities, and special requests as needed and assigned
• Keep area/exhibits clean and well maintained.
• Participate on aquarium committees and taskforces as needed.
• Coordinate projects as assigned.
• Participate in collection planning.
• Participate in educational programs.
• Help to train and supervise volunteers and interns.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Education:
BA or BS in Biology or related field with coursework in Zoology, Aquatic Biology, and Chemistry, or Equivalent Experience.

Other Qualifications, Experience, Skills & Designations:

• Experience with aquatic animal care, water quality and life support.
• Must possess current SCUBA certification from a professionally recognized SCUBA certifying agency or must obtain certification within 6 months of employment
• Must pass a diving physical examination given by an authorized Shedd Aquarium doctor yearly, and before being employed as an Aquarist/Diver.
• Must be able to work and communicate well with fellow employees and the public.
• Must have a valid Driver’s License and insurance or be able to obtain one within 60 days of employment, and be able to safely drive any company vehicle.
• This position may call for special scheduling or overtime needs throughout the week, sometimes without much advance notice. Must be able to work weekends and holidays as needed.
• Must be comfortable handling a variety of species including fish, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians.
• Must be comfortable giving educational presentations to small and large audiences.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to give and follow directions effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively independently and in a team setting.

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).