Job Details:

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Skegness Aquarium for an experienced Aquarist to progress within our passionate and busy team.

This position is targeted at experienced aquarists/ senior aquarists/ display managers looking to grow in a role suited to their career progression. Depending upon your current level of experience and skill set we will discuss at interview the level you will be positioned within the team (minimum senior aquarist) to reflect the scope for progression in the team too.

You will play a vital team leader role in maintaining the exhibits to the highest possible standards and ensuring that they surpass the expectations of our visitors, with animal welfare as the priority. You will also be encouraged to come up with exciting new ideas and concepts for our displays, improvements to husbandry and conservation work inline with the ongoing future plans of the aquarium.

With assistance from the other TeenSpirit Ltd managers, you will face new challenges and your leadership skills will be key to help manage and lead the zoological team to achieve the highest standards of animal care and husbandry while the relevant SSSMZP standards.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Familiarisation and conforming to zoo licensing requirements set out in the SSSMZP guidance documentation and ensuring aquarists and other zoological staff are led by example in adhering to these practices with support from other zoological management.
• Organising the team to efficiently complete daily husbandry tasks and maintenance of the displays, maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare while striving to make improvements.
• Monitoring animal behaviour and health, liaising with the vets independently where necessary
• Ensuring compliance with our site’s policies and protocols
• Delivering basic veterinary care & treatments under guidance & prescription from IZVG Vets
• Maintaining life support for various sized aquatic and terrestrial systems
• Accurate daily record keeping with ownership of reviewing certain records to ensure compliance and suggest improvements to current recording practices.

Essential requirements:

• A keen passion for the aquatic world and it’s conservation
• Minimum two years’ paid experience working within the aquarium industry
• Experience of tropical marine aquatic husbandry and a good knowledge of aquarium life support systems
• Proven ability to work under own initiative with high attention to detail but also a strong team player
• Confident and effective leadership skills, always leading by example
• Excellent communication skills, personable and inclusive of others and their ideas
• Excellent record keeping skills and currently a basic knowledge of the British zoo licensing procedure
• Passionate about delivering the highest standards throughout the work environment
• Relocation (or reliably commute) to Skegness

Desirable requirements:

• Minimum five years’ experience working within the aquarium industry
• Sound knowledge of the British zoo licensing procedure and SSSMZP standards with confidence to assist in updating practices and welfare for animals reflecting the newly revised standards.
• Experience in providing basic veterinary treatments for various taxa (fish, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, invertebrates)
• Experience and knowledge of basic aquarium plumbing
• Supervisory/ staff management experience within a recognised zoological institution