Temp Animal Care Specialist (Mon-Friday)

Shedd Aquarium•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

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, CACS reports to the Manager of Quarantine and performs the daily husbandry of Shedd Aquariums animal collection maintained at Shedd’s offsite location, with a specific focus on quarantine, acquisitions, and off-exhibit animals. This role also participates in the care of other animals under the department’s responsible role as needed. The Animal Care Specialist, CACS 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.

Requirements

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in marine sciences, biology, zoology, or related field (or demonstrated comparable knowledge)
1+ years of experience caring for aquatic and terrestrial animals
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.
Must possess a valid driver's license or can obtain one within 6 months from the start of employment.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

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.
Ability to work at Shedd Aquarium’s main onsite building if needed and travel between facilities if necessary
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 CACS 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
Assists in the setup of new CACS habitats.
Collaborates with the Aquarium Sustainability Team and helps with the culturing of necessary live foods.
Performs other duties as assigned.