Lead Aquarist

Organization: Puget Sound Estuarium

Location: Olympia, Washington

Reports to: Executive Director

Status: Part-Time, Hourly

Schedule: Approx 20 hours per week, with some weekend, evening, or flexible hours as needed

Compensation: $20-22 per hour (based on experience), paid bi-monthly on the 5th and 20th each month.

Benefits/Other Compensation: This part-time hourly position accrues paid sick leave in accordance with Washington State law at a minimum rate of one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked. The position is also covered by applicable Washington State employment protections, including workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave payroll contributions. Health, dental, vision, retirement, vacation, and holiday benefits are not currently offered for this part-time position.

Position Summary

The Lead Aquarist is responsible for the health, safety, care, and public presentation of the Puget Sound Estuarium’s live marine exhibits. This position maintains cold-water marine tanks, supports animal welfare, manages water quality and feeding systems, trains volunteers in basic animal care procedures, and helps ensure that the Estuarium’s aquarium habitats reflect the biodiversity, beauty, and ecological importance of South Puget Sound.

This is a hands-on technical position for someone with strong marine husbandry knowledge, reliable follow-through, and a clear commitment to safe, ethical care of live animal ambassadors. The role is part-time, with potential to expand as organizational needs and funding allows.

Core Responsibilities

Animal Care and Marine Husbandry

• Provide consistent care for marine fish, invertebrates, and other permitted animal ambassadors.
• Monitor animal health, behavior, feeding response, and habitat conditions.
• Feed animals according to established feeding schedules and species-specific needs.
• Maintain animal safety during public programs, open hours, exhibit interactions, and educational activities.
• Identify and troubleshoot emerging tank or animal health concerns quickly and responsibly.
• Support appropriate animal selection in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Collect live animals only from approved locations and only under the organization’s active permit requirements.

Aquarium Systems and Water Quality

• Test water quality on a regular schedule and respond to water quality concerns.
• Maintain appropriate cold-water marine aquarium conditions.
• Perform water changes at least twice per month, or more frequently when needed.
• Clean and maintain skimmers, pumps, filter socks, chiller prefilters, circulation pumps, overflow boxes, glass, algae growth, and related equipment.
• Replace or exchange filtration media and other system components as required.
• Vacuum gravel, sand, and tank surfaces to maintain water quality and exhibit appearance.
• Maintain clean, organized, safe, and functional aquarist workspaces.
• Keep tanks visually presentable for public display and learning.

Documentation, Tracking, and Compliance

• Maintain feeding, maintenance, water quality, and animal care tracking systems
• Inventory food, supplies, equipment, and basic replacement needs.
• Communicate clearly with the Executive Director about tank conditions, animal concerns, equipment needs, upgrades, and safety issues.
• Support completion of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Scientific Collection
• Permit process each January.
• Follow all applicable permits, animal care, safety, and organizational procedures.

Volunteer Training and Team Support

• Train and support volunteers who assist with tank cleaning, feeding, and basic aquarium care.
• Provide clear instructions, safety expectations, and task follow-up for aquarium volunteers.
• Work with education, exhibits, and visitor-facing staff to support accurate interpretation of aquarium habitats.
• Help staff understand basic animal safety practices during educational programs and public interactions.
• Collaborate respectfully across departments while maintaining clear animal care standards.

 Exhibit Interpretation and Stewardship

• Support aquarium themes that help visitors understand South Puget Sound marine life, estuary habitats, and local stewardship.
• Aquascape tanks in ways that support animal health, habitat realism, and public learning.
• Help update exhibit content when animal ambassadors, tank themes, or habitat stories change.
• Model care, curiosity, and respect for the living systems represented in the Estuarium’s exhibits.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of fish and invertebrate biology, marine biology, aquatic life support systems, water quality, and marine animal health.
• Experience maintaining aquariums, aquatic systems, laboratory systems, marine exhibits, or comparable animal care systems.
• Ability to test, interpret, and respond to water quality conditions.
• Ability to troubleshoot aquarium systems, equipment, filtration, and animal care concerns.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Clear oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to train and support volunteers with patience, clarity, and accountability.
• Commitment to safety, animal welfare, public education, and environmental stewardship.
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse ethnic, cultural, educational, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cold-water marine systems.
• Familiarity with Puget Sound marine life, nearshore habitats, estuaries, or local marine ecology.
• Experience working in an aquarium, nature center, museum, environmental education center, research setting, or nonprofit organization.
• Familiarity with scientific collection permits, animal care documentation, or public exhibit standards.
• Experience supporting volunteers, interns, or public-facing education teams.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work around saltwater, tanks, pumps, filters, wet floors, and live marine animals.
• Ability to lift, carry, bend, reach, clean, siphon, and perform hands-on aquarium maintenance tasks.
• Ability to safely lift up to 40 to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, or adjusted hours based on animal care needs, programs, or facility needs.
• Must follow all Estuarium safety procedures and animal care protocols.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Tanks are healthy, clean, stable, and ready for public learning.
• Animal care records are current, accurate, and easy to understand.
• Volunteers know what to do, how to do it safely, and when to ask for help.
• Equipment needs and animal concerns are communicated before they become emergencies.
• The aquarium habitats help visitors connect with the living estuary and understand why South Puget Sound matters.

We recognize that candidates may not bring every preferred qualification. Applicants should meet the required qualifications above, but the following experience is helpful:

• Experience with marine science, estuary science, ecology, environmental education, or watershed education.
• Experience coordinating school or nonprofit education programs.
• Experience working with K–12 students.
• Open water diver certification
• Data analysis skills

Applicant Instructions and Important Information

Application submission deadline: July 10 at 5pm PST.

Qualified candidates will be contacted on or before July 10.

This is expected to be a quick process with a decision made before July 12.

We expect those who apply to have 1 year or more of experience maintaining aquariums, aquatic systems, laboratory systems, marine exhibits, or comparable animal care systems, as well as knowledge of Puget Sound marine life and sustainable animal husbandry practices.

Your cover letter should outline your background as related to this position.

Send resume and cover letter outlining work experience relating to this position to:

Hap Clemons, Executive Director at estuarium@pugetsoundestuarium.org

• Subject Line: Resume and Cover Letter Attached.
• Cover letter and resume must be in one PDF file attached to your email..
• Printed copies can be dropped off on Saturdays or Sundays between 11am and 4pm at 309 State Ave NE, Olympia, WA

Please do not send via USPS postal mail. No phone calls please.

About the Puget Sound Estuarium

The Puget Sound Estuarium is a nonprofit marine science and estuary learning center serving South Sound communities through curiosity, education, and direct connection to the marine and estuary systems that shape our region. Our programs support learners from PreK through adulthood. We help people understand and care for the waters, shorelines, species, and estuaries that define the South Sound.