Sr.) Aquarist, Marine Invertebrates

TITLE:

(Sr.)Aquarist, Tropical Marine Invertebrates

Aquarium Team

Supervisor, Aquarium Sustainability

Full-time, Non-Exempt

$26.00 - $28.00/hour; (Sr.) $30.00 - $35.00/hour

Chicago, IL.

- Onsite

We are open to hiring at either the Aquarist or Senior Aquaristlevel. Placement will bedeterminedbased ondemonstratedexperience, scope of past work, leadership, and ability to independently manage complex creative projects.

• Orientation (First Week):
  Monday–Friday
• Onboarding & Training (1 Month Minimum):
  Thursday–Monday
• Regular Schedule (Ongoing):
  Sunday - Thursday.

This Aquaristis responsible forthe daily husbandry, care, and welfare of a diverse collection of tropical marine invertebrates and reef fishes, including cnidarians, crustaceans, gastropods, cephalopods, and marineteleosts. Working as part of a collaborative team, the role supports Shedd Aquarium's living reef, Indo-Pacific coral, cuttlefish, and mixed marine habitats.

A key focus of this position is the care and propagation of Shedd Aquarium's coral collection through water quality management, routine health assessments, culture and propagation, enrichment, and support of veterinary procedures. This role contributes to advancing Shedd's standards for animal welfare, coral conservation, and exceptional guest experiences.

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.

Core Responsibilities

• Demonstrate commitment to Shedd Aquarium's vision, mission, and values.
• Achieve assigned operational goals and support the daily care and wellbeing of the animal collection.
• Provide high-quality husbandry, including diet preparation, feeding, enrichment, behavioral observations, recordkeeping, and habitat maintenance.
• Maintainaccurateanimal records using TRACKS and communicate observations, concerns, and updatesin a timely manner.
• Provide primary care for Shedd Aquarium's coral collection andmaintaintropical marine invertebrate habitats, supporting collection planning and animal wellbeing.
• Maintain front‑of‑house habitats and back‑of‑house areas at inspection‑ready standards.
• Collaborate with Animal Health to support preventative care, assessments, and treatments.
• Perform routine maintenance on equipment and habitats,identifying and reporting larger maintenance needs.
• Supervise, coach, and support interns and volunteers, providing feedback and accountability.
• Collaborate across the Aquarium Leadership Team and Animal Care Leadership Team to support animal training, nutrition, enrichment, and departmental goals.
• Developexpertisein assigned animal groups, husbandry techniques, and emerging animal care practices, applying continuous learning to improve animal welfare.
• Evaluate work practices and recommend improvements that enhance animal care, operational efficiency, and team effectiveness.
• Support coworkers and collaborate across divisions to achieve organizational priorities.
• Maintain compliance with applicable safety, legal, and regulatory requirements, including OSHA standards.
• Participate in required meetings, organizational initiatives, and Shedd's DEAI commitments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Take primary ownership of designated habitats, collections, programs, or operational responsibilities, ensuring consistent, high‑quality execution.
• Serve as a role model bydemonstratingexcellence in animal care, professionalism, collaboration, and safety.
• Provide day‑to‑day leadership, coaching, and…