Padilla Bay Aquarist (Program Specialist 2)

Washington State Department of Ecology; Mount Vernon (WA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Padilla Bay Aquarist position at the Washington State Department of Ecology's Padilla Bay Office in Mount Vernon, WA, manages daily aquarium and touch-pool life support, ensures health of marine organisms, and maintains systems meeting state and NOAA expectations.

You will develop public education materials, deliver demonstrations, collaborate with educators, and train volunteers and interns to support aquarium care.

Qualifications

• Four (4) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position.
• Aquarium life support operations: operate, maintain, troubleshoot life support equipment and water quality instrumentation.
• Animal husbandry: health, feeding, habitat management, species compatibility.
• Water quality data & analysis: collect, track, analyze data to identify trends and fix issues.
• Emergency response & problem solving: respond to failures, outages, urgent conditions.
• Volunteer and staff coordination: organize schedules, training, and delegation.
• Environmental education support: convey concepts via demonstrations, presentations, or interactive learning.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operation, maintenance, and performance of aquarium and touch-pool life support systems.
• Independently conduct routine maintenance, troubleshoot equipment, and coordinate with the facility coordinator.
• Monitor water quality and organism health using technical equipment and data-tracking systems.
• Provide long-term planning guidance for facility improvements, system upgrades, and efficiencies.
• Deliver aquarium-based educational presentations and public engagement events.

Skills

Aquarium life support operations

Animal husbandry

Water quality data & analysis

Emergency response & problem solving

Volunteer and staff coordination

Environmental education support

Education

Environmental science or related field

Job description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Padilla Bay Aquarist (Program Specialist 2) within the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance Program.

Location

• This position will be located in our Padilla Bay Office in Mount Vernon, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule

• This position is NOT eligible for telework.

Application Timeline

• Apply by October 9th, 2026.
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Duties

This Padilla Bay Aquarist position offers a unique opportunity to manage and enhance the aquarium and touch pool systems that support public education, scientific understanding, and stewardship of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. In this role, you will oversee daily aquarium operations, ensure the health and well‑being of marine organisms, and maintain reliable and high‑performing life support systems that meet state, federal, and NOAA expectations. You will serve as the Reserve’s primary technical expert for aquarium care and system maintenance, providing sound professional judgement, responsive problem solving, and long‑term planning guidance that strengthens facility reliability and visitor experience.

You will also play a central role in Padilla Bay’s public education program by developing touch‑pool and aquarium‑based learning materials, supporting curriculum development, delivering engaging demonstrations for visitors, and collaborating with instructors across the Reserve’s sectors. In addition, you will coordinate and train volunteers, interns, WCC members, and Reserve staff who assist with aquarium care, ensuring consistent operations, clear communication, and a safe environment for both organisms and visitors. Through this work, you contribute directly to Ecology’s mission and the Reserve’s commitment to research, education, and estuarine conservation.

What You Will Do

• Manage daily operation, maintenance, and performance of aquarium and touch‑pool life support systems, ensuring stable environmental conditions and healthy living environments for resident organisms.
• Independently conduct routine and preventative maintenance, troubleshoot equipment issues, perform repairs, and coordinate facility needs with the Reserve’s facility coordinator.
• Monitor water quality and organism health using technical equipment and data‑tracking systems, analyze trends, diagnose system issues, and implement corrective actions to improve performance and animal welfare.
• Provide technical judgement and recommendations for long‑term aquarium facility planning, exhibit improvements, system upgrades, and operational efficiencies.
• Respond to critical aquarium needs during power outages, closures, or emergencies, ensuring the safety and care of organisms during after‑hours and holiday periods.
• Develop and deliver aquarium‑based educational presentations, demonstrations, and public engagement events, including fish feedings, touch‑pool interpretation, and hands‑on estuary science programs.
• Collaborate with Education, Research, Stewardship, CTP, and Facilities sectors to design exhibit improvements, align messaging, and develop curriculum materials that utilize aquarium systems.
• Coordinate, train, and oversee volunteers, interns, WCC members, and Reserve staff who support aquarium and touch‑pool care; maintain schedules, delegate tasks, and organize aquarium team meetings.
• Identify and support service‑learning and internship opportunities related to aquarium operations, environmental interpretation, and estuarine science.
• Maintain required permits and ensure full compliance with policies and regulations associated with capture, holding, and release of organisms.
• Follow agency policies for records and information management, maintaining accurate electronic and paper records that align with retention and public records requirements.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support Padilla Bay operations, public programs, facilities, and visitor services.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications

Four (4) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:

• Aquarium Life Support Operations: Ability to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot closed and open‑system aquarium life support equipment, including pumps, filtration systems, monitoring devices, and water quality instrumentation.
• Animal Husbandry: Experience observing, assessing, and supporting the health of marine organisms through appropriate feeding, preventative care, habitat management, and species compatibility evaluation.
• Water Quality Data & Analysis: Ability to collect, track, and analyze water quality and organism‑health data to identify trends, diagnose system performance issues, and implement corrective measures that ensure stable aquarium conditions.
• Emergency Response & Problem Solving: Ability to assess and respond to aquarium system failures, environmental fluctuations, power outages, and other urgent conditions that require timely action and sound technical judgment.
• Volunteer and Staff Coordination: Experience organizing task schedules, training volunteers or staff, and delegating daily operational activities to ensure consistent, safe care of aquarium systems and organisms.
• Environmental Education Support: Ability to convey biological, ecological, or aquarium‑system concepts clearly to public visitors, students, and community groups through demonstrations, presentations, or interactive learning experiences.

Education:

Involving a major study in environmental science, life science, environmental education, aquarium science, or related field

Examples Of How To Qualify

• 4 years of experience.
• 3 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 2 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 1 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• Bachelor’s degree or above.

Special Requirements & Conditions Of Employment

• Level 1 AALSO Life Support Operator Certification (or equivalent)
• Level 1 AALSO Water Quality Technician Certification (or equivalent)

Desired Qualifications

• Have level 2 AALSO Life Support Operator or Water Quality Technician Certification or equivalent.
• Additional experience leading environmental education programs and/or working independently in caring for and managing aquariums are preferred.

Supplemental Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov .

Our Commitment to DEIR

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Need an Accommodation?

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or [e-mail]
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Jude Apple at [e-mail]
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at [e-mail]

About

About the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program

The mission of the SEA Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.

About The Department Of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave *, 11 Paid Holidays per year *, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth * Click here for more information

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.