Aquarist

General Purpose of Position

To help provide a world-class customer experience by keeping high animal welfare and display maintenance standards in conjunction with excellent customer service. By achieving this and delivering a good conservation message, we will ensure that our visitors will have a positive experience and will want to return.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Animal Husbandry & Welfare

• Maintain animal health and husbandry to a high standard;
• Report any observations to the Displays Supervisor;
• Keep records for all exhibits as required by Zoo Licensing and internal standards;
• Apply appropriate animal welfare guidelines for all species in our care;
• Ensure routine life support system checks and operational tasks are completed within the correct time frames;
• Administer appropriate treatment for sick or injured livestock as directed by the Displays Supervisor, following advice from the Company Vet.

Display Maintenance

• Ensure displays and exhibits are maintained to a high standard;
• Responsible for the daily operation and monitoring of Life Support Systems, carrying out minor routine tasks and reporting any faults to the Displays Supervisor;
• Maintain, track and manage water quality of exhibit systems and quarantine system;
• Report faults promptly so that repairs can be arranged on a timely and safe basis;
• Ensure the highest possible standards of cleanliness are maintained throughout the attraction, inside and out;
• Maintain clean, tidy and safe standards of all plant rooms, tool rooms, food prep rooms and quarantine facilities.

Customer Service

• Be enthusiastic, polite, pleasant and approachable at all times when dealing with the public in order to establish a lasting positive image of the aquarium;
• Responsible for delivering good customer service at all times;
• Responsible for providing informative talks and tours to all visitors.

Diving

• Act as dive tender and assist the dive supervisor during diving operations;
• Scuba dive for exhibit maintenance, feeding and animal checks;
• Assist with monitoring, servicing and maintenance of scuba equipment;
• · Responsible for reporting any health and safety incidents to the Displays Supervisor.

Other Duties

• Ensure that all purchases are authorised by the Director of Aquarium in accordance with financial control procedures;
• Control stock, be aware of costs and look for better value for money at all times;
• Attend training courses as required by the business;
• Share knowledge with the rest of the aquarium team where necessary, and assist in the training of work experience and work-based students;
• Responsible for representing the Malta National Aquarium within the zoological community in a positive light;
• Carry out any other reasonable duties related to the role as assigned by the Displays Supervisor.

Knowledge, Experience and Education required

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a public aquarium;
• Degree in biological/environmental sciences or related field;
• Advanced Open Water Diving certification required;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment;
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills;
• Good judgement with the ability to make timely and sound decisions;
• Ability to work under pressure.