Lead Aquarist Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium - 3.2 Springfield, MO Job Details Full-time 3 hours ago Benefits Disability insurance Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Vision insurance Employee discount Life insurance Qualifications Animal behavioral training Optimizing workflow processes Animal health monitoring Collection development Biology Employee onboarding Record keeping 6 years Fish care Team leadership Operations coordination Facilities management Bachelor's degree in biology Team development Hiring Animal feeding Supervising experience Bachelor's degree Aquatic animal handling Team training Mentoring Animal housing management Aquatic and marine management Health status assessment Process improvement planning Senior level Leadership Communication skills Staff development Animal enrichment activities Full Job Description Lead Aquarist Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium | Springfield, MO Full-Time | Hourly Ready to Lead at One of America's Top Aquariums? Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium is seeking an experienced Lead Aquarist to join our Life Sciences team. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate animal care professional to combine hands-on husbandry with leadership, mentorship, and exhibit management in a world-class facility housing more than 35,000 animals. If you're looking to influence animal welfare, develop future aquarists, and grow toward a management career, we'd love to hear from you. What You'll Do As a Lead Aquarist, you will: Provide daily leadership, training, and mentorship to a team of Aquarists. Ensure exceptional animal care and husbandry standards across multiple exhibits. Coordinate daily operations, maintenance, enrichment, feeding programs, and recordkeeping. Collaborate with Curatorial Staff on animal welfare initiatives, collection planning, and exhibit development. Participate in veterinary rounds and support animal health assessments. Lead animal moves, introductions, and major husbandry projects. Assist with hiring, onboarding, and development of Aquarists, interns, and volunteers. Help shape the future of the department through process improvements and leadership initiatives.

What We're Looking For Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Biology or a related field (or equivalent experience). 6+ years of experience working with captive freshwater and saltwater fish and invertebrates. Previous leadership or supervisory experience. Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Experience with operant conditioning and animal training is a plus. Ability to meet dive and swim requirements within six months. Why Join Wonders of Wildlife? Work in one of the nation's premier aquarium and conservation facilities. Lead a talented team dedicated to animal welfare and excellence. Gain experience in exhibit planning, collection management, and leadership development. Clear growth potential into future Curatorial and management roles. Make a meaningful impact in conservation, education, and animal care. Benefits Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Company-Paid Life Insurance Short-Term & Long-Term Disability 401(k) Paid Time Off Employee Discounts About Wonders of Wildlife Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium is a 350,000-square-foot wildlife and aquarium destination featuring 1.5 million gallons of exhibits and more than 35,000 animals. Recognized as one of America's leading aquariums, Wonders of Wildlife inspires conservation through immersive experiences that connect guests with the natural world. Take the next step in your aquatic animal care career and apply today.