Animal Care Technician

Great Lakes Aquarium; Duluth (MN); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Vacation time

Paid leave

Free parking

Discounts & passes

Job summary

Great Lakes Aquarium seeks an Animal Care Technician to join the terrestrial team in the husbandry department. You will care for birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, and work closely with the Curator of Terrestrial Animals.

Responsibilities include training, enrichment, record-keeping, and assisting with health issues alongside veterinary staff. Weekend and holiday work is required, with opportunities to train behaviors and interact with visitors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Biology, or related discipline.
• One year of animal care experience.
• Must have experience working with raptors.
• Experience with turtle species and amphibians is desirable.
• SCUBA certification preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and administer animal diets.
• Clean habitats and work areas regularly.
• Test and monitor water quality parameters.
• Maintain life support systems and records.
• Observe animal behavior and report health issues.
• Assist with animal acquisition, quarantine, and training plans.

Skills

Communication skills

Scuba certification

Boat operation

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Zoology or Biology

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Access

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The Animal Care Technician is part of the terrestrial team in the husbandry department.The Animal Care Technician is responsible for the daily care of the Great Lakes Aquarium’s diverse collection of avian species, mammals, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians. While performing the essential functions of this position, the individual has regular contact with employees at all levels as well as contact with outside customers, suppliers, and vendors.

The Animal Care Technician will be working closely with the Curator of Terrestrial Animals. They will work closely with our resident Bald Eagle and Turkey Vulture. This person may also train and do programming with our resident American crow, as well as clean enclosures and provide enrichment. We also house two North American River Otters. This person will care for and train the otters as well. All training will be supervised by the Curator. This person will also be responsible for our Duck Pond which houses several ducks and several different species of turtles. There are opportunities to train some new behaviors with several of the above. They will also care for other various mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. They will assist with record keeping and learn to cover some aquatic systems. This position requires some weekend and holiday work.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Animal Care Tech duties include, but are not limited to:

• Preparing and administering animal diets.
• Cleaning habitats and work areas.
• Testing and understanding water quality parameters.
• Maintaining life support systems.
• Maintaining accurate records.
• Observing animal behavior.
• Assisting with animal health issues including: working with veterinarian staff, animal observations, and administering treatments.
• Assisting with animal acquisition and quarantine.
• Following and assisting with operant training protocols.
• Writing and executing training plans.
• Passion for conservation and environmental stewardship.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage positively with diverse audiences, volunteers, and educators.
• Flexibility to work some holidays and occasional evenings.
• All other duties assigned by supervisor.

SKILLS REQUIRED

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Individual must have excellent written and verbal communication skills. Individual must be able to communicate professionally with the public and during media events. Individual must have basic computer skills in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word and Access (or other database software). In addition, individual must also have and maintain a valid driver’s license. Scuba certification and ability to operate a boat is desired

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Biology, or related discipline.

One year of animal care experience

Must have experience working with raptors

Experience working with turtle species/amphibians is also desirable

SCUBA certification preferred but not required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS and/or WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the essential functions of this job, individual must have ability to lift 50 pounds. Individual must have a flexible schedule for overnight, weekend, holiday shifts and extra hours when needed. Individual must be capable of working safely with exposures, which may include but are not limited to: dust, dirt, chemicals (sanitizing and cleaning products, chlorine, and aquarium water conditioning chemicals) and humidity. In addition, employee is regularly expected to walk, crawl, kneel, climb, work overhead, listen and talk.

While performing the essential functions of this position, the individual has regular contact with employees at all levels as well as contact with outside customers, suppliers and vendors. Individual must be able to work both independently and within a team.

WORK SCHEDULE

40 hours per week, Monday-Friday with shifts starting at 7:30am. Usually one scheduled work weekend per month.

Anticipated Start Date: December 1, 2026. We recognize that the holiday season and potential relocation may affect availability, and we are happy to offer flexibility in determining a mutually agreeable start date.

BENEFITS

Great Lakes Aquarium offers a competitive benefits package, as follows:

• 401k through Ascensus, with a 3% company match.
• Medica health insurance, with the choice of a standard insurance plan or an HSA plan. Rates are determined annually.
• Delta Dental provides our dental insurance. The insurance covers basic needs, like cleanings, and a portion of other dental needs, up to $1500 per person per year.
• Life/accidental death & dismemberment insurance, as well as long term disability insurance through Unum. Life insurance is equal to one year’s pay. Long term disability is 60% of your income, or 70% minus any other sources of income, whichever is less. Long term disability starts after 90 days.
• Short-term disability insurance is provided through the state's Paid Leave system.
• New employees earn 4.0 hours of vacation per pay period. All employees earn 1.0 hours of Earned Safe and Sick Time for every 30 hours worked, per Minnesota state law.
• Free parking in the Aquarium lot, when available.
• Discounts at the gift store and for Aquarium programming, as well as free passes for friends and family.

*Please note, insurance rates are negotiated annually, and may be subject to change as needed.