Animal Care Specialist

TITLE: Animal Care Specialist
DEPARTMENT: Oceanarium Team
REPORTS TO: Director of Animal Care & Behavioral Training
STATUS: Full-time, Non-Exempt
PAY RATE: $23.00 - $26.00/hour
LOCATION: Chicago - Onsite Required
 
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Animal Care Specialist is responsible for assisting in the overall care of animals in the Oceanarium department.  The department consists of teams that care for Cetaceans, Penguins and Otters, Sea lions, and Animal Ambassadors.  The Animal Care Specialist is a supportive role that focuses on learning the skill set for caring for animals, while also providing an educational experience for the visitor.  While in this role, staff will learn about the animals under their care and the basic science of operant conditioning.   
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.   

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd’s vision, mission, and values.   
• Assist in ensuring the health and well-being of the animal collection 
• Demonstrates a commitment to good relations with fellow staff members, visitors, volunteers, community leaders, and contractors by promoting positive attitudes, goodwill, cooperation, and providing high standards of service 
• Maintain a clean and healthy environment for the animals, staff, and aquarium guests.   
• Clean the kitchens, utensils, floors, windows, pools, offices, laundry, and any other area or item utilized in the Oceanarium department. 
• Prepare diets for all the animals, which includes handling fish, thawing, sorting, weighing, cutting, formula preparation, vitamin administration, heavy lifting, and frequent exposure to cold temperatures. 
• Interact with guests daily by answering guest questions about the animals and the facility.   
• Perform various tasks including evening functions, special employee trainings and seminars, special maintenance or construction projects. 
• Attend regularly scheduled meetings for intra-departmental communication, which include meetings before each animal session or presentation, animal group meetings, staff meetings, and additional meetings, as needed. 
• Maintain detailed records of all animal interactions and observations, which include diet, vitamins, medication, behavioral notes, medical notes, animal weights, physical observations, graphs, temperatures, and any other records deemed important to the care of the animals, the facility, or daily staff operation. 
• Engage in regular interactions with some of the animals under the guidance and direction of experienced staff, including training sessions, physical exams, public presentations, and play sessions. 
• Embrace a flexible work schedule that includes nights, weekends, holidays, and non-standardized hours.  
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Biology, Life Sciences, or a related area is preferred. (Equivalent experience will be considered instead of a degree)
 
Experience:   

• 1+ year of animal experience, which can include volunteering, an internship, or other animal care experience.   
• Experience with Cetaceans, Penguins and Otters, Sea lions, and Animal Ambassadors is a plus.    

Designations/Certifications:  

• Open water diving certification, or the ability to obtain certification within one year. 

Other Skills and Characteristics:  

• Competent swimmer.   
• Ability to work well with others in a diverse team environment and communicate proficiently with colleagues and guests.   
• Written and verbal communication skills.  
• Able to receive and apply feedback.  
• Demonstrates commitment to growth. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Work in an environment with daily exposure to cold salt water. 
• Daily lifting in excess of 40 pounds, periodic lifting up to 50 pounds. 

BENEFITS OF WORKING AT SHEDD: We offer competitive compensation packages and opportunities for professional growth within our organization. 

• Medical Insurance, including FSA and HSA plan options
• Vision and Dental Insurance 
• Accrued Paid Time Off 
• Up to 12 Paid Holidays 
• Life Insurance 
• Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
• 401(k)
• Discounted Parking and Public Transit Subsidies
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Wellness program, including Preventive Care Incentive 
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Tickets 

Reasonable Accommodations: 
Shedd Aquarium is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodations for any part of the employment process, please email us at [email protected]. 

We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ community, veterans and active duty military, parents, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds to apply. Shedd Aquarium is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team.