At a Glance
- Tasks: Care for marine life, manage exhibits, and engage with visitors at a unique aquarium.
- Company: Anglesey Sea Zoo, a leader in marine conservation and education.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on experience, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to sustainability and community initiatives.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in marine conservation while working with amazing sea creatures.
- Qualifications: 3+ years of aquarist experience and a degree in a relevant science.
The predicted salary is between 27300 - 27300 € per year.
Anglesey Sea Zoo Marine Conservation Centre is a unique aquarium on the bank of the Menai Strait exclusively showcasing only British marine species, with seawater sourced directly from the sea, and focussed on education, conservation, animal rescue and sustainability. We are renowned for our conservation efforts, including breeding programs for endangered native species like both species of British seahorse, lobsters and spiny lobsters, aiming to eventually restore wild populations. We have been leaders in sustainability, organising beach cleans, litter surveys, and providing support to local community initiatives for over 19 years. We are working with local fishermen and other stakeholder groups and contributing towards seagrass restoration around our coasts. We also rescue, rehabilitate and release stranded or injured marine animals and most recently we have started rescuing cold-stunned turtles washed up on our coasts for long-term rehabilitation and release back into the wild.
The Senior Aquarist will be responsible for maintaining a high standard of animal husbandry and welfare, assisting the aquarium Curator in managing the aquarium team, helping to develop new and existing displays and visitor interactions, and ensuring aquarium admin and zoo licence compliance is kept up to date.
Animal Husbandry- Ensure day to day management of animal husbandry.
- Develop animal welfare and husbandry practice improvements alongside the Curator.
- Ensure correct monitoring, management and recording of exhibit water parameters and water quality.
- Help to maintain and repair exhibit life support systems, including regular maintenance checks, service and record keeping.
- Assist Curator in modifying existing life support systems and pipework, or installation of new systems.
- Monitor nutrition, preparation, feeds and food storage for animal stocks, including regular review and updating of feeding regimes alongside the Curator.
- Assist the Curator and veterinary consultants with veterinary examinations, procedures and record keeping.
- Assist in the design and creation of new exhibits, as well as updating existing displays.
- Assist the Curator in ensuring all aspects of zoo licensing are complied with and that all records are complete and in the specified formats.
- Assist in the captive breeding programs for Hippocampus hippocampus and Hippocampus guttulatus, including brood stock maintenance, fry collection and fry husbandry.
- Assist with and facilitate the rescue, rehabilitation and repatriation of cold-stunned turtles and other injured or stranded animals through our on-site rescue facility.
- Assist in the breed and release programme for European lobsters, including brood stock husbandry, larval collection and rearing, juvenile husbandry and juvenile release.
- Assist in local collection of live food, as well as new livestock animals.
- Assist in the safe transportation, health checking and quarantine process for collected and new livestock.
- Assist in updating and maintaining signage and interpretation around exhibit displays.
- Assist the Curator in the management of aquarium staff and volunteers in accordance with company procedures and policies, including recruitment, induction, training and development.
- Help to co-ordinate volunteer and work-experience programmes and internship/training programmes.
- Must be courteous, pleasant and approachable at all times when dealing with the public and confident with customer interaction as a senior member of staff.
- Deliver scheduled informative talks and feeding displays to the public, as well as tours and educational packages to school groups.
- Attend scheduled events and outreach programmes as a representative of the Anglesey Sea Zoo.
- Help to develop public talks, feeding displays, educational packages and other interactive events.
- Assist with coverage of the admissions desk, including cash handling and customer service representation.
- Assist with the creation of social media posts on relevant topics.
- The successful applicant will be a key holder and must be available for scheduled 24 hours on call for environmental and intruder alarm activations.
- Cover Duty Manager responsibilities site-wide on scheduled days when the Curator is absent, including cash handling, management and collection; ensuring proper site opening and closing down; covering first aid responses.
- Attend training courses as required by the business.
- At least three years’ fish keeping/aquarist experience – (commercial, industrial or research and development or a combination of all these).
- Education to degree level or equivalent in an applicable science.
- Full UK manual driving licence and own vehicle.
- Availability to respond to callouts after hours on a scheduled basis.
- Availability to work weekends and bank holidays.
- Experience with zoo licence compliance and regulations or similar equivalent industry standards.
- Experience maintaining, modifying and installing common life support system components and pipework.
- Experience with seahorse husbandry, breeding and rearing in captivity.
- Ability to use Microsoft packages in particular Excel and Word.
- Ability to speak Welsh or the desire to learn.
- Ability to use maintenance tools and equipment.
- Recognised diving/skin diving experience (PADI, BSAC or other recognised professional body).
If interested, please apply using your CV and cover letter by email to matt@angleseyseazoo.co.uk. Your cover letter should highlight how you would be able to fulfil this role and clearly demonstrate how you meet our requirements.
Senior Aquarist in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll employer: Anglesey Sea Zoo Marine Conservation Centre
Anglesey Sea Zoo Marine Conservation Centre is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work in a dedicated environment focused on British marine conservation and education. With a strong commitment to sustainability and community engagement, employees benefit from a collaborative work culture that fosters personal and professional growth, alongside the chance to make a meaningful impact on local marine ecosystems. Located in the picturesque setting of Anglesey, staff enjoy a fulfilling career while contributing to vital conservation efforts and engaging with the public through educational initiatives.
Contact Detail:
Anglesey Sea Zoo Marine Conservation Centre Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Aquarist in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the Anglesey Sea Zoo inside out! Familiarise yourself with their conservation efforts and animal husbandry practices. This way, when you chat with them, you can show off your passion for marine life and sustainability.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former staff on LinkedIn or at local marine events. They might share insider tips or even put in a good word for you. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by thinking about how your experience aligns with their mission. Be ready to discuss specific examples of your work in aquarist roles, especially any conservation projects you've been involved in. We want to see that you’re a perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Aquarist in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your cover letter, let your enthusiasm for marine conservation and animal welfare shine through. We want to see how much you care about the work we do at Anglesey Sea Zoo!
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience, especially in aquarist roles or any conservation projects you've been involved in. We love seeing how your background aligns with our mission!
Be Specific:In your application, provide specific examples of your past experiences that relate to the responsibilities of the Senior Aquarist role. This helps us understand how you can contribute to our team.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you're keen to be part of our community!
How to prepare for a job interview at Anglesey Sea Zoo Marine Conservation Centre
✨Know Your Marine Life
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of British marine species, especially the ones relevant to the Anglesey Sea Zoo. Be prepared to discuss specific conservation efforts and breeding programs, like those for seahorses and lobsters, as this shows your genuine interest in their mission.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Highlight your aquarist experience clearly during the interview. Discuss specific examples of your work with life support systems, animal husbandry, and any compliance with zoo licensing. This will demonstrate that you have the practical skills needed for the role.
✨Engage with the Community Focus
Since the zoo is heavily involved in community initiatives, be ready to talk about any past experiences you've had with public education or outreach programmes. Show how you can contribute to their ongoing efforts in conservation and community engagement.
✨Prepare Questions
Have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask at the end of your interview. This could be about future projects, team dynamics, or how they measure success in their conservation efforts. It shows you're not just interested in the job, but also in the organisation's goals.
