Senior Trainer Belugas

Sea Research Foundation•Mystic, CT

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Trainer, Belugas leads the daily care, training, and enrichment of Mystic Aquarium's beluga whale collection, providing daily assistance to the outdoor pinniped collection as needed. This role models a positive, can-do attitude and strong customer service and teamwork, executing routine animal care procedures, daily planning, training, diet preparation, habitat maintenance, record keeping, public presentations, feedings, and interactive programs for the marine mammal collection.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related discipline preferred.
Minimum of five years of paid professional experience in the care and training of marine mammals, or eight years of equivalent experience.
Cetacean experience required.
SCUBA certification and the ability to pass a dive physical required.
Strong communication and teamwork skills required.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime.
Extended periods of standing, walking, and moving equipment.
Climbing ladders.
Positioning oneself by stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
Ability to communicate clearly.
Ability to hear effectively.
Meet visual requirements including close, distance, and color vision, along with depth perception and peripheral vision.
Regular scuba diving.
Operation of computers and telephones.
Occasional driving.
Ability to work in cold, hot, wet, humid, and temperature-variable conditions, both indoors and outdoors, and in high places.
Exposure to noise, fumes, odors, dusts, solvents, acids, corrosives, and cleaning agents.

Nice To Haves

Comfort and skill in public presentations preferred.

Responsibilities

Execute and develop routine husbandry procedures to maintain federal, state, and institutional guidelines.
Plan and execute daily training and enrichment sessions to ensure all animals receive stimulation, exercise, variability, and positive reinforcement in accordance with guidelines established by AMMPA, AZA, IMATA, and AH.
Care for and maintain the marine mammal collection and habitats.
Monitor the operation of life support systems and water quality.
Perform regular scuba diving maintenance on habitats.
Assume a leadership role in working with and training staff, interns, and volunteers.
Serve as a role model for staff, demonstrating positive customer service and teamwork with other departments at Mystic Aquarium.
Assist the area supervisor with staff evaluations and administrative tasks as assigned.
Assist with daily supervisor responsibilities as scheduled and assigned by the supervisor.
Assist with development of staff schedules to ensure area and departmental coverage.
Develop leadership skills through management courses.
Present public and classroom demonstrations, educating guests with approved institutional information.
Keep proper records and monitor record-keeping practices.
Work in a safe manner at all times.
Properly use and maintain all personal protective equipment (PPE) supplied as protection from recognized hazards.
Report any unsafe conditions.
Maintain a working knowledge of all facility-wide and department-specific safety procedures relevant to the position, including Emergency Evacuation, Lockdown Procedure, and Fire Extinguisher Use.
Perform all other duties as assigned by supervisor.