Lead Aquarist - Marine Animal Husbandry

Atlantis; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Food & beverage privileges

Discounted rates worldwide

Health insurance with dental coverage

Annual flights home

Life insurance

Incentive programme

Colleague wellness initiatives

Social initiatives

Job summary

Atlantis The Royal is seeking a Lead Aquarist to supervise and advance the marine animal husbandry program in a luxury hospitality setting in Dubai. You will oversee health, nutrition, welfare, and life-support systems while providing technical leadership to the aquarist team and supporting guest education and conservation initiatives.

The role requires strong leadership, extensive practical husbandry experience, and a focus on safety, accuracy of records, and guest-facing marine education.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Zoology, Marine Science, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years aquarium experience with 1+ year supervisory experience.
• PADI Open Water certification or equivalent (diving) is preferable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor aquarist team to ensure high standards of animal care.
• Oversee health, nutrition, welfare, exhibits, and water quality for marine and freshwater animals.
• Coordinate disease recognition and treatment, quarantine protocols, and precautionary measures.

Skills

Marine animal husbandry

Team leadership

Public speaking

Observation & record keeping

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biology, Zoology, Marine Science, or related field

Tools

Life Support Systems

Water quality analysis

Job description

Lead Aquarist - Marine Animal Husbandry Job Snapshot Role: Lead Aquarist Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Industry: Hospitality Function: Other Experience: 5 years of aquarium experience and education, with 1 year or more of supervisory experience Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview Atlantis The Royal is hiring a Lead Aquarist for a Hospitality opportunity in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This full-time marine animal husbandry role oversees the health, nutrition, welfare, aquarium habitats, Life Support Systems, water quality, quarantine procedures, and daily care of marine and freshwater animals while providing technical leadership to the aquarist team and supporting educational, research, and conservation experiences.

Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Hospitality Function: Other Salary: Not disclosed Gender: No Preference Candidate Nationality: Not specified Job Type: Full-time

Role Context The Lead Aquarist is responsible for maintaining healthy and sanitary living conditions, appropriate nutrition, and consistent professional care for marine and freshwater animal collections. The position also fulfils delegated leadership responsibilities within the marine aquarium operation. The role combines advanced animal husbandry with team supervision, aquarium exhibit maintenance, feeding management, water analysis, Life Support System oversight, animal observation, quarantine and treatment procedures, and guest-facing marine education. The Lead Aquarist also mentors junior colleagues and contributes to research, conservation, and community learning experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct daily animal observations and identify abnormalities or changes in normal behaviour.
• Report animal health or behavioural concerns to the appropriate management personnel.
• Participate in decision-making and problem-solving related to animal care and aquarium operations.
• Maintain and oversee aquarium exhibits according to routine and preventive maintenance programmes.
• Ensure team members consistently follow established aquarium maintenance standards.
• Lead the identification and resolution of operational problems within assigned areas.
• Perform and oversee routine and preventive maintenance of dive and exhibit equipment.
• Immediately report equipment malfunctions to the appropriate supervisor.
• Manage feeding schedules and support proper nutrition across animal collections.
• Ensure dietary programmes are implemented according to established standards.
• Oversee disease recognition and fish treatment procedures.
• Ensure water quality programmes are completed correctly by the team.
• Compile and interpret information from animal records, daily observations, and departmental logbooks.
• Maintain continuous personal and professional development in aquarium operations and animal husbandry.
• Build advanced husbandry knowledge through structured participation, observation, listening, and available learning resources.
• Maintain professional teamwork through cooperation, reliability, and constructive feedback.
• Perform reasonable duties associated with animal and guest requirements regardless of time, day, or location when operationally necessary.
• Ensure Marine Animal Adventure interactions are delivered to a high standard.

Animal Husbandry and Welfare

The role requires practical leadership in applying animal husbandry principles with strong emphasis on colleague, guest, and animal safety. Responsibilities include:

• Apply and guide appropriate husbandry techniques to maintain optimal animal health.
• Identify local and exhibit animals by common and scientific names.
• Apply knowledge of external fish anatomy.
• Recognise signs of disease and support appropriate treatment decisions.
• Assess animal compatibility and behaviour.
• Plan and execute animal quarantine protocols and regimes.
• Coordinate disease recognition and treatment procedures.
• Manage animal transport and handling requirements.
• Conduct and oversee water quality analysis.
• Maintain accurate husbandry and animal records.
• Oversee consistent live-feed cultures.
• Support invertebrate and fish rearing programmes.
• Maintain sanitary animal environments and appropriate nutritional programmes.

Life Support Systems

The Lead Aquarist must have a comprehensive understanding of aquarium Life Support Systems and be capable of recognising and troubleshooting abnormal operating conditions. The role requires technical awareness sufficient to identify problems, report abnormalities appropriately, participate in corrective solutions, and build knowledge that can be applied to future operational issues.

Responsibilities include:

• Apply and guide appropriate husbandry techniques to maintain optimal animal health.
• Identify local and exhibit animals by common and scientific names.
• Apply knowledge of external fish anatomy.
• Recognise signs of disease and support appropriate treatment decisions.
• Assess animal compatibility and behaviour.
• Plan and execute animal quarantine protocols and regimes.
• Coordinate disease recognition and treatment procedures.
• Manage animal transport and handling requirements.
• Conduct and oversee water quality analysis.
• Maintain accurate husbandry and animal records.
• Oversee consistent live-feed cultures.
• Support invertebrate and fish rearing programmes.
• Maintain sanitary animal environments and appropriate nutritional programmes.

Leadership and Team Development

• Provide direction to junior-level aquarist positions.
• Mentor and coach team members with confidence.
• Ensure animal care and aquarium maintenance standards are consistently followed.
• Support effective problem-solving within assigned operational areas.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with managers and subordinate team members.
• Provide constructive feedback and accept professional feedback from others.
• Work effectively both independently and as part of the wider aquarium team.
• Demonstrate reliability, cooperation, and professional accountability.

Marine Education and Guest Engagement

The Lead Aquarist contributes to educational, research, and conservation learning experiences for resort guests and the local community. The position requires confidence interacting with the public and delivering marine-related information. Public speaking skills are important when supporting guest experiences, PR activities, Marketing initiatives, and external parties connected with the marine field.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor 's Degree, preferably in Biology, Zoology, Marine Science, or a related field; and-or knowledge and skills equivalent to 5 years of aquarium experience and education.
• Minimum 1 year or more of supervisory experience.
• PADI Open Water Scuba Certification or equivalent.
• PADI Divemaster certification or above is desirable.
• Strong practical knowledge of marine and freshwater animal husbandry.
• Experience with quarantine procedures, animal treatment, transport, and handling.
• Understanding of Life Support Systems and troubleshooting.
• Experience with water quality analysis and record keeping.
• Knowledge of live-feed cultures, invertebrate care, and fish rearing.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Strong written and verbal professional communication skills.

Skills Set

• Marine animal husbandry.
• Freshwater animal husbandry.
• Aquarium exhibit management.
• Animal health observation.
• Fish disease recognition.
• Quarantine protocols.
• Animal treatment.
• Animal transport and handling.
• Water quality analysis.
• Life Support Systems.
• Preventive maintenance.
• Dive and exhibit equipment.
• Live-feed cultures.
• Invertebrate and fish rearing.
• Feeding and nutrition programmes.
• Animal behaviour and compatibility.
• Animal record keeping.
• Scuba diving.
• Aquarist team leadership.
• Coaching and mentoring.
• Public speaking.
• Conservation education.
• Research and learning experiences.
• Microsoft applications.
• Technical reporting.
• Professional email communication.
• Industry networking.

Professional Collaboration

The position requires effective networking and coordination with international aquarium organisations, vendors, internal departments, and colleagues at different levels of the organisation. Clear verbal and written communication is essential when working with management, team members, PR, Marketing, and external stakeholders.

Benefits

Atlantis Resorts offers a competitive tax-free salary paid in UAE Dirhams together with:

• Food and beverage privileges.
• Discounted rates at Kerzner properties worldwide.
• Comprehensive health insurance with dental coverage.
• Annual flights home.
• Life insurance.
• Incentive programme.
• Colleague wellness initiatives.
• Social initiatives and activities.

About Atlantis The Royal

Atlantis The Royal is part of Kerzner International and is located on the crescent of Palm Island in Dubai. The ultra-luxury experiential resort features 760 Rooms, Suites, and Signature Penthouses with panoramic sea and skyline views. More than 6,000 colleagues representing 129 nationalities support the resort 's operations. Atlantis The Royal combines luxury accommodation, internationally recognised dining, wellness, marine experiences, and guest attractions within a diverse hospitality environment focused on service, professional development, and memorable experiences.