Aquarist

Merlin Entertainments; Manchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading entertainment company in Manchester seeks a full-time Aquarist to ensure the health and welfare of marine animals. Key responsibilities include maintaining life support systems, preparing diets, and providing 24-hour alarm cover. Experience in public aquariums and knowledge of animal husbandry are essential. The role offers progression opportunities and benefits like discounts and annual passes.

Benefits

Monthly bonus based on guest satisfaction

40% off LEGO online

25% discount in retail shops and restaurants

Free tickets to all attractions worldwide

Discounted rates at Merlin hotels

Employee pricing up to 55% off cinema tickets

Qualifications

• Experience working in public aquariums, including maintaining life support systems.
• Strong knowledge of animal husbandry and water chemistry in an aquarium setting.
• An eye for detail when it comes to lighting, theming, and water movement.

Responsibilities

• Caring for our animals with high standards of health and welfare.
• Managing water parameters, backwashing filters, and conducting health checks.
• Providing 24-hour alarm cover on a rota basis.

Skills

Animal husbandry

Water chemistry

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in animal care or marine biology

Job description

Dive into an adventure at SEA LIFE Manchester!

Fancy spending your days surrounded by glittering scales, humongous tentacles, and some truly wonderful marine creatures? We’re on the lookout for an Aquarist to join our curatorial team!

Why join us?

At SEA LIFE, your career can be as exciting as the creatures you’ll care for. With a structured progression plan for our display teams across the UK, you’ll have the chance to grow from this role (which sits between Levels 1 and 5) to potentially becoming a Senior Aquarist. And with SEA LIFE locations across the globe, the opportunities are endless – who knows where the tide could take you?

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll play a vital role in ensuring our animals are happy, healthy, and thriving. Here’s a snapshot of your responsibilities:

• Caring for our animals with high standards of health and welfare.
• Keeping our life support systems running smoothly – think filtration, water quality, and environmental alarms.
• Preparing tasty diets for our creatures and delivering treatments under direction.
• Managing water parameters, backwashing filters, and conducting health checks.
• Supporting animal training and enrichment
• Providing 24-hour alarm cover on a rota basis and ensuring all medications and chemicals are safely handled and recorded.
  
  

This is a full-time, permanent role, working 5 days out of 7, including weekends and bank holidays.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience working in public aquariums, including maintaining life support systems.
• Strong knowledge of animal husbandry and water chemistry in an aquarium setting.
• An eye for detail when it comes to lighting, theming, and water movement.
• A degree in animal care, marine biology, or equivalent (desirable, not essential)
  
  

Benefits

Alongside becoming an expert in washing up, you’ll also receive:

• Monthly bonus based on guest satisfaction
• 40% off LEGO online
• 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants
• Merlin Magic Pass - giving you free tickets to all our attractions worldwide for you, your family, and friends every year
• Enjoy the Ride Pass – giving you and 5 others a Merlin Annual Pass (Gold edition)
• Discounted rates at Merlin hotels all over the world
• Employee pricing up to 55% off cinema tickets
  
  

If you have any questions or if you require any assistance, because of a disability or medical condition, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and one of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.

Pay Range

Compensation between GBP £25,991.00/Yr.-GBP £28,391.00/Yr.