Aquarist Position Available In New Hanover, North Carolina

Aquarist
Job Details  This listing closes on 7/8/2025 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada). Employer State of North Carolina Salary $34,270.00 – $44,365.00 Annually Location New Hanover County, NC Job Type Permanent Full-Time Job Number 25-07892 AQM60093194 Department Dept of Natural and Cultural Resources Division Aquariums Opening Date 06/23/2025 Closing Date 7/8/2025 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada) Job Class Title
Museum Curator I
Position Number
60093194
Section
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Salary Grade
NC06
Description
Benefits
Questions
Description of Work Click here to learn about employee perks and benefits Click here to see the Total Compensation Calculator Application Process
Please watch our video here that walks you through each step of the application process.

This position is located at:

900 Loggerhead Road Kure Beach, NC 28449 Primary Purpose of this

Position:

The North Carolina Aquariums at Fort Fisher is seeking a dynamic, efficient, and enthusiastic individual to join our team as an Aquarist. The Aquarist position will work within the Husbandry Department providing daily care for the physical and psychological needs of the Asian small-claw otters in the aquarium’s collection. This position is responsible for the daily care of all animals assigned including their primary habitats and holding and quarantine systems. This individual is also required to maintain life support systems as well as exhibit aesthetics. Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Determining individual animal nutritional needs, securing, culturing, preparing, and feeding the animals assigned to them.
Daily care and maintenance of Asian small-claw otters, fish, aquatic invertebrates, some care of reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
Recognizing symptoms of disease and poor animal health and administering appropriate treatments.
Effectively utilizing operant conditioning and implementing behavior training.
Enthusiastically interpret animal care, enrichment, and training during scheduled public programs.
Maintaining life support systems.
Maintaining water chemistry in all assigned systems.
Managing effective quarantine of newly acquired specimens.
Ability to work within permitting guidelines of protected species.
Maintaining accurate databases.
Conducting SCUBA assisted diving to clean tanks, perform educational programs, and collect specimens.
Responding to animal stranding’s and rehabilitation.

Position/Physical Requirements:

Weekend, evening, and holiday work will be required.
Must meet DNCR Fleet Safety Guidelines and have ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license issued from within the United States or be able to obtain one within 90 days of employment.
SCUBA certification from a nationally recognized organization or have the ability to obtain within 6 months of employment.
Must be able to lift and carry 50 pounds. Follow us on Social Media at: Learn about the

NC Aquariums:

https://www.ncaquariums.com
www.facebook.com/NCAquariumFF
www.facebook.com/NCaquariumPKS
www.facebook.com/NCAquariumRI Knowledge, Skills and Abilities / Competencies To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must provide the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed as general statements, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit. Qualified candidates must have or be able to: Demonstrated experience managing otters and fish in a public Aquarium, Zoo or Museum setting.
Demonstrated experience with quarantine protocols of mammals, herps, amphibians, fresh or marine fish species.
Demonstrated experience with operant conditioning, training, and behavioral enrichment for otters in a public Aquarium, Zoo, or Museum setting.
Demonstrated experience maintaining life support systems and associated water chemistry at a public Aquarium, Zoo, or Museum. Minimum Education and Experience Requirements Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for detail. Bachelor’s degree in Art History, Biology, Botany, Conservation, Education, History or Zoology from an appropriately accredited institution AND two years of museum or related work; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Supplemental and Contact Information Section/Unit Description:

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, 20 miles south of Wilmington, NC, in Kure Beach, overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Fear River. A living collection of more than 4,000 animals in 93,000 square feet of exhibit space attracts and engages more than 500,000 visitors each year. The Aquarium is surrounded by protected woodland, marsh, and beach. Visitors often plan to stop at sites adjacent to the Aquarium – Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and historic Fort Fisher Civil War Museum. Fort Fisher Aquarium is a unique place to visit and work.