(Sr.) Aquarist, Tropical Marine Invertebrates

Shedd Aquarium•Chicago, IL

21d•Onsite

About The Position

This Aquarist is responsible for the daily husbandry, care, and welfare of a diverse collection of tropical marine invertebrates and reef fishes, including cnidarians, crustaceans, gastropods, cephalopods, and marine teleosts. Working as part of a collaborative team, the role supports Shedd Aquarium's living reef, Indo-Pacific coral, cuttlefish, and mixed marine habitats. A key focus of this position is the care and propagation of Shedd Aquarium's coral collection through water quality management, routine health assessments, culture and propagation, enrichment, and support of veterinary procedures. This role contributes to advancing Shedd's standards for animal welfare, coral conservation, and exceptional guest experiences.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in marine biology, zoology, animal science, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
1+ years of experience providing aquatic animal care in an accredited zoo or aquarium.
Experience caring for marine teleosts and marine invertebrates, including corals.
Knowledge of aquatic animal husbandry, training, enrichment, and collection planning.
Working knowledge of water chemistry and water quality management for marine systems.
Demonstrated ability to safely care for and handle aquatic animals.
3+ years of experience providing aquatic animal care in an accredited zoo or aquarium (Senior Consideration).
Demonstrated experience caring for marine teleosts and marine invertebrates, with advanced experience supporting coral collections (Senior Consideration).
Proven ability to independently manage complex animal care responsibilities, habitat operations, and departmental priorities (Senior Consideration).
Broad knowledge of aquatic habitat systems and the ability to troubleshoot issues and improve operations across multiple program areas (Senior Consideration).
Experience mentoring, coaching, or providing day-to-day guidance to team members (Senior Consideration).
Demonstrated ownership of departmental programs, operational functions, projects, or cross-functional initiatives (Senior Consideration).
Strong judgment, initiative, and decision-making skills with the ability to balance team, animal care, and organizational priorities (Senior Consideration).
Must possess a valid driver's license or obtain one within 6 months from the start of employment.
Must possess a valid passport or obtain one within 6 months from the start of employment.
Must possess a minimum of open water SCUBA certification.
Employment contingent upon passing a dive physical and checkout swim test protocol administered by Shedd Aquarium's Dive Operations.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate commitment to Shedd Aquarium's vision, mission, and values.
Achieve assigned operational goals and support the daily care and wellbeing of the animal collection.
Provide high-quality husbandry, including diet preparation, feeding, enrichment, behavioral observations, recordkeeping, and habitat maintenance.
Maintain accurate animal records using TRACKS and communicate observations, concerns, and updates in a timely manner.
Provide primary care for Shedd Aquarium's coral collection and maintain tropical marine invertebrate habitats, supporting collection planning and animal wellbeing.
Maintain front-of-house habitats and back-of-house areas at inspection-ready standards.
Collaborate with Animal Health to support preventative care, assessments, and treatments.
Perform routine maintenance on equipment and habitats, identifying and reporting larger maintenance needs.
Supervise, coach, and support interns and volunteers, providing feedback and accountability.
Collaborate across the Aquarium Leadership Team and Animal Care Leadership Team to support animal training, nutrition, enrichment, and departmental goals.
Develop expertise in assigned animal groups, husbandry techniques, and emerging animal care practices, applying continuous learning to improve animal welfare.
Evaluate work practices and recommend improvements that enhance animal care, operational efficiency, and team effectiveness.
Support coworkers and collaborate across divisions to achieve organizational priorities.
Maintain compliance with applicable safety, legal, and regulatory requirements, including OSHA standards.
Participate in required meetings, organizational initiatives, and Shedd's DEAI commitments.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Take primary ownership of designated habitats, collections, programs, or operational responsibilities, ensuring consistent, high-quality execution (Senior Level).
Serve as a role model by demonstrating excellence in animal care, professionalism, collaboration, and safety (Senior Level).
Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and technical guidance to Aquarists, interns, and volunteers (Senior Level).
Apply advanced knowledge of habitat systems and husbandry practices to troubleshoot issues, improve operations, and support departmental success (Senior Level).
Lead assigned projects, programs, or operational initiatives while helping coordinate priorities and maintain consistent standards across the department (Senior Level).
Promote knowledge sharing, continuous improvement, and operational continuity across the Aquarium Team (Senior Level).