Job
Description
POSITION: Marine
Aquarist
LOCATION: Blue
Planet Aquarium
Tropical Marine
Aquarist at Blue Planet Aquarium
Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire Oaks is looking
to recruit an experienced Tropical Marine Aquarist.
The aquarium is part of
Deep Sea Leisure plc which has 6 other aquarium visitor attractions in the
group. Our displays include animals from the British coastline to
tropical reefs. At the heart of the aquarium is a
3.8 million litre shark tank; as well as a diverse collection of terrestrial
vertebrates and invertebrates.
You will be responsible for the Tropical Marine Displays – consisting of corals, jellyfish and fish species. As well as assisting on the freshwater, temperate marine and terrestrial animal sections when needed.
A proven track record in fish and coral husbandry is essential. A proven ability to design, construct and maintain tropical reef aquaria is a must and familiarity with PVC pipework, basic joinery and maintenance of life support equipment including pumps is a must. Other responsibilities will include providing veterinary care, display development and breeding programmes as directed. PADI Dive Master or above is desirable but not essential.
You will be responsible for the Tropical Marine Displays – consisting of corals, jellyfish and fish species. As well as assisting on the freshwater, temperate marine and terrestrial animal sections when needed.
A proven track record in fish and coral husbandry is essential. A proven ability to design, construct and maintain tropical reef aquaria is a must and familiarity with PVC pipework, basic joinery and maintenance of life support equipment including pumps is a must. Other responsibilities will include providing veterinary care, display development and breeding programmes as directed. PADI Dive Master or above is desirable but not essential.
It's important that all visitors have an enjoyable day out and this is where you play a part. You will be responsible for conversing with visitors whilst carrying out your daily duties around the aquarium as well as delivering engaging presentations. It's essential therefore that you enjoy and are just as confident working behind the scenes as well as Front of House.
We do recognize
the time and effort it takes to apply for a position, but as an employer of
choice we receive a high volume of applications and in the interests of
economy, Aspro UK does not notify candidates who have been unsuccessful in
their application; consequently if you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of
the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this
occasion.
If interested, please send your CV and covering letter to: Janeen Pickup, Aspro UK Group HR Manager, c/o Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire Oaks,
Your application letter should highlight why you would be
able to fulfill this key role within the organisation and clearly demonstrate
how you meet our requirements. Please include your salary expectations. Closing
date: Friday, 15th June 2012 Interviews will be held week commencing
22nd June 2012.
Blue Planet Aquarium is committed to Equal Opportunities: www.blueplanetaquarium.co.uk
RESPONSIBLE
TO: Curator
RESPONSIBLE
FOR: Volunteers and work
experience (on a day to day basis)
RESPONSIBLE FOR LIAISON
WITH: Blue Planet Aquarium staff
at all levels.
Deputy Curator
Dive
Supervisor (daily dive operations only)
Dive
team
Dive/LS Technician (shark exhibit maintenance
and husbandry)
Mission Statement: To offer fun in parks which are safe and
environmentally friendly, and guarantee a high quality of service, with
customers served by a motivated team, to ensure that they are satisfied and
want to return.”
Purpose: To ensure the highest
standards of animal husbandry and exhibit maintenance throughout the Blue
Planet Aquarium with special interest in marine exhibits. Through
consideration of the Visitor experience, fun, education, value, conservation
awareness and animal welfare – employ Zoological strategies and an enthusiastic
attitude to deliver the highest standard of exhibits, informative talks and
dive operation throughout Blue Planet Aquarium (BPA) ensuring that Visitors are
satisfied and want to return.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
1.1
Upkeep (including hygiene, tidiness and safety) of all marine exhibits, equipment
and service areas to the standards expected by the Curator
1.2
Responsible
for animal
husbandry throughout the collection with special interes t in all marine exhibits.
1.3
Responsible for monitoring and
recording water quality and environmental parameters ensuring it meets the
needs of the animals in the collection.
1.4
Maintain suitable stock levels in all exhibits (as directed by Curator
and Displays Supervisor) by liaising with a variety of live stock suppliers and
ordering under the guidance of the displays supervisor.
1.5
Ensuring the highest standards of animal husbandry are maintained with
all livestock whilst keeping up to date with advances in relevant technology
and practices.
1.6
Strict record keeping for all areas of animal husbandry (births, deaths,
arrivals, departures, feeding regimes, development plans, daily protocols,
Animal health procedures etc.
1.7
Consideration for the welfare of all animals in our care providing input
to ethical review committee where requested.
1.8
Carry out animal health enquiries and post mortems in accordance with the
requirements of the company vet.
1.9
To implement feeding regimes as directed by Curator in consultation with
the company vet.
1.10
Awareness and promotion of Conservation Strategies throughout the
activities of the Zoological department.
2 EXHIBIT MAINTENANCE
2.1
To be competent in all aspects of designing, costing and building
tropical reef aquariums.
2.2
Ensure the upkeep of all plant rooms, quarantine areas, laboratories,
store rooms to the highest standard and
meet relevant safety standards.
2.3
To design, construct and maintain filtration systems suitable for the
species in your care whilst being responsible for installation and maintenance
of plumbing, basic joinery and lighting of displays.
2.4
To maintain displays, plant, equipment and life support systems, including
pumps to relevant safety standards.
2.5
To continuously improve your displays throughout the collection with an
ability to work to deadlines set by your Line Manager.
3 HEALTH AND
SAFETY
3.1 Ensure the storage of all COSHH materials
and medication adheres to company standards
3.2 Ensure company Health and Safety practices
are followed at all times
3.3
Ensure that Risk Assessments for your working areas are up to date and
revised annually.
4. DIVING
4.1 To satisfactorily
complete dive courses agreed with Curator
4.2 Undertake training
to become PADI Divemaster/BSAC Dive Leader if requested by the Curator
4.3 Responsible for
ensuring Dive Medical is up to date at all times
4.4 Maintaining own
records of diving and ensuring compliance with HSE & PADI regulations
4.5 Maintaining accurate
records of dive equipment
4.6 Supervising and dive
tending for shows, training, maintenance and collecting dives
4.7 Scuba diving for
shows, maintenance, training and collection
4.8 Assist with monitoring,
servicing and maintenance of scuba equipment
4.9 Responsible for
reporting any health and safety incidents to the Curator and Dive Officer.
5 CUSTOMER SERVICE
5.1
Providing outstanding customer
service to all BPA visitors in all circumstances
5.2
Write and present public feeds and shows to the highest standard as
directed
5.3
Maintain and continually develop interpretation throughout collection
including species graphics with special
interest in terrestrial exhibits
5.4
Ensure uniform standards are maintained at a suitable level and for
representing BPA within the Zoological Community in a positive light
5.5
To be courteous, pleasant and approachable at all
times when dealing with the public in order to establish a lasting positive
image of the aquarium
6. Finance management
6.1 Ensure that all
purchases are authorized by the Curator in accordance with financial control
procedures.
6.2 To
manage resources, be aware of costs and to look for better value for money at
all times
7. OTHER DUTIES
7.1 To attend training
courses as required by the business, and be available to assist at other sites
if required.
7.2 To impart knowledge
to the rest of the BPA team if deemed necessary and to assist in the training
of work experience and work based students
7.3 Responsible
for representing BPA within the Zoological Community in a positive light
7.4 To do any other reasonable duty as
required by the Curator in accordance with the needs of the business.
7.5 From time to time
the company or Park Director may make reasonable requests for you to undertake
duties not necessarily covered in the above
7.6 Once fully trained
become part of the on call rota which means being on call outside normal
working hours
7.7 To work unsociable
and sometimes long hours as and when the business needs
7.8 Attend meetings,
conference, work placements and training when requested and to assist other
Aspro sites in order to help development where deemed necessary by the Company
7.9 Cooperate and assist other team
members (including the sharing of all knowledge and experience) when needed.
Provide cover for the Zoological department during holidays and days off
Agreed by:
……………………………………..Post Holder Date…………………………….
…………………………………….. Curator Date……………………………..
For Your Information
