Aquarium Technician

Overview

Are you ready to take on an essential role in maintaining world-class aquatic systems? The Biological Services Aquarium (BSA) at the University of Sheffield is looking for a dedicated Aquarium Technician to help manage a top zebrafish research facility. This important role focuses on keeping over 3,000 tanks healthy through careful manual cleaning, core husbandry, and detailed health checks. You will work in a highly regulated setting alongside Named Animal Care and Welfare Officers (NACWOs) and the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS).

The successful candidate will help ensure daily operations and animal care standards follow the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Are you comfortable working in a physical, highly organised environment where accuracy matters? This role depends on reliability and a careful attention to detail. Your daily duties involve cleaning tanks, keeping accurate logs, and preparing chemical stock solutions to exact standards. Maintaining a clean facility will directly contribute to the success of groundbreaking scientific research. Our community values a diverse set of backgrounds and viewpoints and encourages all individuals aligned with our values to apply.

Because this position involves physical tasks regularly, we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to ensure access for all talented applicants.

• Detailed maintenance of over 3,000 tanks to ensure our facility consistently meets all legal and biological welfare standards.
• Utilising a variety of specialised methods for the manual cleaning of both standard and small-breeding tanks.
• Rigorous upkeep of fish racks, equipment, and communal spaces.
• Managing the collection of consumables from stores and maintaining aquarium stock solutions by preparing fresh mixtures to detailed specifications.
• Delivering detailed nutritional care through regular fish feeding routines.
• Meticulous daily logging of all completed work.
• Carrying out detailed health evaluations to maintain the sustained health of the zebrafish colony.
• Undertaking unplanned tasks, including heavy lifting, to meet the evolving needs of the aquarium environment.
• Upholding the University Code of Conduct.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply.

• Essential Ability to perform repetitive tasks with independent time management
  Stage:
  Interview/ Reference
• Desirable Previous experience/knowledge of fish husbandry
  Stage:
  Application/ Interview
• Essential Knowledge of health and safety procedures
  Stage:
  Application/ Test
• Desirable Instrumentation skills, including use of microscope
  Stage:
  Application/ Interview
• Essential Knowledge of systematic cleaning methods
  Stage:
  Application/ Interview
• Essential Good communication skills (written and oral) in order to work with other facility users
  Stage:
  Interview/ Test
• Essential Excellent interpersonal skills to enable effective working relationships within the aquarium staff team
  Stage:
  Reference/Test
• Essential Ability to show initiative
  Stage:
  Interview/ Reference
• Essential Ability to work with accuracy
  Stage:
  Application/ Interview

• Grade 2.2
• Salary £23,061 pro rata
• Work arrangement Part-time for 15 hours a week with extra weekend paid work required - Mondays, Wednesdays (for meetings), and Fridays
• Additional weekend paid work is available on a rota of 1 weekend in 4.
• Duration Permanent
• Line manager BSA Facility Manager
• Direct reports Senior Technicians
• Right to work in the UK Yes
• Our website

For informal enquiries about this job contact Claire Allen, BSA Manager: on  or on

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 16th September 2026. This will consist of an interview and tour of the facility. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage…